Baltimore

Baltimore is the city of the the United States, most important of the state of Maryland. In 2005 its population was of 641.943 inhabitants. Its name comes from the founder of the colony of Maryland, Lord Baltimore. The city is sometimes called Baltimore City to differentiate it from the county of Baltimore which surrounds it and it is independent.

History

Baltimore was founded the July 30th 1729. The port was then defended by the Fort McHenry , which underwent the attack of the British troops during the Guerre of 1812. It is on this occasion that the poem was made up whose text was taken again for the national anthem of the the United States, The Star-Spangled Banner .

In 1851, Baltimore acquires the statute of “independent city” (it is not attached any more to a county).

Since 1873, a famous horse-race takes place every year in Baltimore (“Preakness Stakes”).

Baltimore shelters the founded Université Johns-Hopkins in 1876.

February 7th 1904, a big fire destroyed more than 1500 buildings.

The Baltimore World Trade Center is most Gratte-ciel world having five frontages.

At the end of the 20th century, several initiatives made it possible to revitalize the district of the port and to promote tourism: construction of the Baltimore Convention Center , a commercial complex on the shore (the Harborplace ), and of a large aquarium (national Aquarium of Baltimore).

July 18th 2001, the derailment of a goods train started a catastrophe (chemical fire follow-up of floods), which lasted several days and paralyzed the city. In 2003, Baltimore had also to suffer from the passage of the hurricane Isabel .

Criminality

Baltimore is the city where there are the most homicides between the Blacks (Black One Black Crime) in all United States and also one of the cities with the most murder at the sides of Strait and Camden.

Transport

Baltimore has a subway and is connected by a fast rail link to Washington, cd. (distant of only 60 km). Besides it divides with the capital its international airport, the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The other principal airport of the city, the Martin State Airport, is dedicated to the General aviation.

The principal highways passing by the city are the Interstate 695 or Baltimore Beltway, which surrounds the city, the highways I-95, I-83 (or Jones Falls Expressway) and the I-70 (whose terminus is right beyond the limits of the city). The highways I-95, I-83 and I-70 are not directly connected to Baltimore because of the movement of the Freeway revolts , that is to say the opposition of the citizens to the passage of the highways in the cities.

Culture

Museums

the Walters Art Museum, a rich person private collection, opened with the public as of 1875, become museum whose access free and is opened to all since 2006.

Religion

Archdiocese of Baltimore
Cathedral of Marie-Our-Queen of Baltimore

Sports

Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
Baltimore Orioles (MLB)

Celebrities born in Baltimore

David Hasselhoff (actor)
Michael Phelps (swimmer)

See too

Large fire of Baltimore

References

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