Maryland . . . State 7

The flag of Maryland was adopted in 1904. Maryland's flag is the only US state flag based on British heraldry, the coats of arms of noble families. The flag's design was based on the coat of arms adopted by George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. Maryland was founded as an English colony in 1634 by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. The alternating yellow and black are from Lord Calvert's family shield; the red and white design is either from Calvert's maternal family, the Crosslands or his wife's family, the Mynnes.

Maryland was admitted as a state on April 28, 1788 as the 7th state. The capital city is Annapolis and largest city is Baltimore. Maryland is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay, Pennsylvania on the north, Virginia on the south. Maryland is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware. On the west Maryland is bordered by West Virginia and Virginia.

Maryland produces more seafood, oysters, crabs, clams and fin fish. Agriculture in Maryland is the largest single land use with more than 2,000,000 acres of farms and more than 32% of total land area used for farming. Important agricultural products are greenhouse and nursery products, broiler chickens, dairy products, hogs and pigs, eggs, and soybeans. Stone, coal, sand, gravel, cement and clay are the chief mineral products. Manufacturing industries include food products, chemicals, computer and electronic products, transportation equipment and primary metals.

Maryland enjoys four seasons. Summers are generally warm with averages in the 80's and milder days and cooler nights along the coastal areas. Snow is heavy and winters cold, with the greatest snow accumulations in the mountains. Lows in the winter are quite often below zero temperatures. Annual precipitation averages near 45 inches.

Maryland has 24 counties: Allegany - Anne Arundel - Baltimore - Calvert - Caroline - Carroll - Cecil - Charles - Dorchester - Frederick - Garrett - Harford - Howard - Kent - Montgomery - Prince George's - Queen Anne's - St. Mary's - Somerset - Talbot - Washington - Wicomico - Worcester - Baltimore City


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