Learn Why Baltimore is Called Charm City
Archeologists have discovered evidence of human visits to the area called modern-day Baltimore that dates back centuries. It wasn’t until Captain John Smith visited the region that we learned that although Native Americans used the area for hunting, there weren’t any tribes living in that specific area.
Within 25 years of Smith’s visit in 1608, European settlers arrived in the area. But determining a date for Baltimore’s birth proves difficult.
Do we say that Baltimore began in 1659 when records listed that a warrant was to be served by officials of “Baltimore County”?
Or do we say that Baltimore began in 1692 when a church was erected on land that would later become present-day Baltimore?
Some sources say that Baltimore was established in 1729, by Lord Baltimore of the Irish House of Lords. The land was given to Lord Baltimore by King Charles I of England. Charles had tried to provide Lord Baltimore a settlement in Newfoundland, but Lord Baltimore rejected it as being too cold and difficult for habitation.
Regardless of when it officially was born, Baltimore gained importance as being a port city. During the American Revolution, it became a center for shipbuilding as the fast-trading ships, the Baltimore Clippers, were built. Unfortunately, many of these Clippers would be used during the African slave trade.
Baltimore played another critical role during the revolution. Afraid that the British would attack the capital city of Philadelphia, the members of the Continental Congress met in Baltimore in 1776 to discuss the growing nation.
After independence was gained, the British attacked the valuable port city during the War of 1812. It was during the Battle of Baltimore at nearby Fort McHenry that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to a poem called the Star-Spangled Banner.
During the bulk of the Civil War, Union troops occupied Baltimore. Even though Maryland did not succeed from the Union, some of the citizens were sympathetic to the Southern ideals.
The city recovered from Union occupation only to have a fire raze most of its business district in 1904.
Ever ready to rebuild, the citizens of Baltimore enjoyed a rebirth in the steel, oil refinery, and war-related industries during World War I.
As the years passed, Baltimore continued to be an important seaport. Not only was it known for the ship-repair facilities, but it is also a shipping point for the automobile industry.
Besides relying on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Canal port, Baltimore also plays a vital role in the health care and insurance industry. The city houses the headquarters for the Federal Social Security Administration.
Baltimore is also home to Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the University of Baltimore.
Visitors to Baltimore enjoy visiting the U.S.S. Constellation and the National Aquarium.
The city is home to two major sports franchises. The Baltimore Ravens was established in 1996 and plays in the M&T Bank Stadium.
The Baltimore Orioles began playing in the city in 1954.
The current population of the metro area of Baltimore is 2.8 million.
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