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'Annapolis' is the capital of the State of Maryland and the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It is a city with a population of 36,408 (July 2006 est.). The city is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, It is situated at the mouth of the Severn River which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, 26 miles (aprox. 42 km) south of Baltimore and about 35 miles (aprox. 56 km) east of Washington D.C. It is also home to the United States Naval Academy and St. John's College.

Contents

History

Colonial & early United States (1649–1808)

Civil War era (1849–late 1800s)

Contemporary (1900s to present)

Facilities and Attractions

The State House

United States Naval Academy

Theatre

Other

Geography

Climate

Demographics

Education

Facts

Noted natives and residents

Neighborhoods and suburbs

Sister Cities

See also

References

External links

History

Colonial & early United States (1649–1808)

A settlement named Providence was founded on the north shore of the Severn River in 1649 by Puritan exiles from Virginia led by William Stone. The settlers moved to a better-protected harbor on the south shore, and the town bore in succession the names of Town at Proctor's, Town at the Severn, Anne Arundel's Towne (after the wife of Lord Baltimore who died soon afterwards). The city became very wealthy through the slave trade. It was only in 1694 when Sir Francis Nicholson moved the capital of the royal colony there, soon after overthrow of the Catholic government of the lord proprietor, that the town received the name which it holds today, Annapolis, named for Princess Anne, soon to be the monarch of Great Britain; but it was not until 1708 that it was incorporated as a city. From the middle of the 18th century until the War of Independence, Annapolis was noted for its wealthy and cultivated society. The ''Maryland Gazette'', which became an important weekly journal, was founded by Jonas Green^[1]
[2] in 1745; in 1769 a theatre was opened; during this period also the commerce was considerable, but declined rapidly after Baltimore, in 1780, was made a port of entry, and oyster-packing became the city's only important industry. Currently, Annapolis is home to a large number of recreational boats that have largely replaced the seafood industry in the city.
Annapolis became the temporary capital of the United States after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Congress was in session in the state house here from November 26, 1783, to June 3, 1784, and it was here on December 23, 1783, that General Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. In 1786, a convention, to which delegates from all the states of the Union were invited, was called to meet in Annapolis to consider measures for the better regulation of commerce; but delegates came from only five states (New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware), and the convention, known afterward as the "Annapolis Convention", without proceeding to the business for which it had met, passed a resolution calling for another convention to meet at Philadelphia in the following year to amend the Articles of Confederation. By this Philadelphia convention, the present Constitution of the United States was framed. In 1808, the importation of slaves was prohibited by the Congress. (The ancestors of Alex Haley were deported from Gambia to Annapolis.)

Civil War era (1849–late 1800s)

During this period, a Parole Camp was set up in Annapolis. As the war continued, the camp expanded to a larger location just outside of the city. The area is still referred to as Parole.
The city was also the location of a major hospital where wounded Union (and captured Confederate) soldiers could be brought by ship to be treated.

Contemporary (1900s to present)

In 1900 Annapolis had a population of 8,585. (Source: Gannett, Henry. 'A Gazeteer of Maryland and Delaware.' Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979.)
To the north of the state house is a monument to Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice of the US Supreme Court and formerly a Maryland lawyer who won many important civil rights cases.
Close by are the state treasury building, erected late in the 17th century for the House of Delegates; Saint Anne's Protestant Episcopal church, in later colonial days a state church, a statue of Roger B. Taney (by W.H. Rinehart), and a statue of Baron Johann de Kalb.
There are a number of residences of 18th century architecture, and the names of several of the streets--such as King George's, Prince George's, Hanover, and Duke of Gloucester--recall the colonial days. The United States Naval Academy was founded here in 1845. Annapolis is the seat of St. John's College, a non-sectarian private college that was once supported by the state; it was opened in 1789 as the successor of King William's School, which was founded by an act of the Maryland legislature in 1696 and was opened in 1701. Its principal building, McDowell Hall, was originally intended for a governor's mansion; although £4000 current money was appropriated for its erection in 1742, it was not completed until after the War of Independence.
On September 26 to 27th, 2003, Hurricane Isabel created the largest storm surge known in Annapolis history, cresting at 7.58 feet (2.31 m), which easily surpassed the prior known record from the 1933 hurricane of 6.35 and the 5.5 feet (1.68 m) recorded during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. As a result, much of downtown Annapolis was flooded and many businesses and homes in outlying areas were damaged.[1]
Currently facing the many difficult challenges of American cities today, Annapolis is undergoing rapid low-density development along it's edges, ever-increasing traffic congestion, as well as ecological destruction of the very bay that it depends upon. The 1998 Comprehensive Plan will soon be replaced with a new document, containing initiatives and directives of the city government on development and infrastructure. This process was mandated by Maryland state law in the Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act of 1992.
From mid-2007 through December 2008, the city will be celebrating the 300th Anniversary of it's 1708 Royal Charter, which established democratic self-governance. The many cultural events of this celebration will be organized by Annapolis Charter 300 and will include historical symposia at St. John's College, as well as evening events, such as the Queen Anne's Ball. Annapolis Charter 300 will also be co-sponsoring a public lecture series with EnVISIONing Annapolis from September 2007 through June 2008 exploring the issues mentioned above.

Facilities and Attractions

The State House

The Maryland State House is the oldest in continuous legislative use in the United States. Construction started in 1772, and the Maryland legislature first met there in 1779. It is topped by the largest wooden dome built without nails in the nation. The Maryland state house housed the workings of the government from November 26 1783 to August 13 1784, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified there on January 14, 1784, so Annapolis became the first peacetime capital of the US.
It was in the Maryland state house that George Washington famously resigned his commission before the Continental Congress on December 23 1783. George Washington, who had argued vigorously for Annapolis to become the permanent home to the United States Capitol, had a strong attachment to the Maryland state house and instructed Pierre L'Enfant to model the dome of the Capitol building in Washington DC after it. (The Maryland Archives has no documentation supporting the point that George Washington instructed Pierre L'Enfant to model the dome of the Capitol building in Washington DC after the Annapolis state house. It would be very helpful if the source for this would be identified.)

United States Naval Academy

★ The United States Naval Academy was founded in 1845 on the site of Fort Severn, and now occupies an area of land reclaimed from the Severn River next to the Chesapeake Bay.

Theatre

Annapolis has a thriving community theatre scene which includes two venues in the historic district. On East St. is Colonial Players, a company that produces approximately six shows a year on its small theatre-in-the-round stage. During the warmer months, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents three shows on its stage, which is visible from the City Dock. All shows put on by King Williams Players, the student theatre group at St. John's College, are free and open to the public.

Other

The Annapolis area was the home of a VLF-transmitter called NSS Annapolis, used by the United States Navy to communicate with its Atlantic submarine fleet.

Geography

Annapolis is located at (38.972945, -76.501157), 28 miles (45 km) east of Washington DC, and is the closest state capital to the national capital, Washington, DC.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.7 km² (7.6 mi²). 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (11.70%) is water.

Climate

The city is a part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and is relatively flat, with the highest point being only 50 feet (15 m) above sea level. The climate is a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and cool winters.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,838 people, 15,303 households, and 8,676 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.0/km² (5,326.0/mi²). There were 16,165 housing units at an average density of 927.4/km² (2,402.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.66% White, 31.44% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 8.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The Hispanic population of Annapolis however has continued to grow in recent years and will encompass significantly more of Annapolis' population percentage by the next census reading.
There were 15,303 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,243, and the median income for a family was $56,984. Males had a median income of $39,548 versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,180. About 9.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were living in poverty, of which 20.8% were under age 18 and 10.4% were age 65 or over.

Education

Annapolis is served by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system.
Founded in 1898, Annapolis High has an internationally recognized IB International Program. Nearby Broadneck High School (founded in 1983) and Annapolis both have Advanced Placement Programs. St. Mary's High School and Elementary School are located in downtown Annapolis on Spa Creek. Aleph Bet Jewish Day School, Annapolis Area Christian School, Severn School, and Indian Creek School are also in the Annapolis area. The Key School, located on a converted farm in the neighborhood of Hillsmere, has also served Annapolis for over 50 years.

Facts

★ The center of Annapolis is the city dock, developed as a port for the tobacco trade in the 17th and 18th century. The city claims to have more 18th century buildings than any other city in the US.

★ The city's African-American heritage is celebrated by the Banneker-Douglass Museum, dedicated to Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, and memorials to Alex Haley, author of '', and his ancestor, Kunta Kinte, who arrived in Annapolis on the slave ship ''Lord Ligonier'' in 1767. (The Kunta Kinte plaque was stolen within 48 hours after its installation in 1981, allegedly by the Ku Klux Klan. The stolen plaque was never recovered, but it was replaced within two months.)

★ Annapolis has the highest concentration of public housing projects for a town its size, in the United States. Efforts are currently underway to help the high school students from these projects achieve higher goals.

★ Annapolis has had Jewish residents since at least 1746, when a Jewish servant, Henry Hart, lived in the city. An organized Jewish community was established in 1896, when a group of Eastern European Jewish immigrants formed the Annapolis Hebrew Association, which was formally chartered in 1906 as the Kneseth Israel Congregation (Orthodox). In 1961, a Reform congregation, Beth Shalom, was founded in nearby Arnold, MD, and in 1978 Annapolis became home to a third Jewish congregation, Kol Ami (Conservative).

★ There are five monuments in the city: Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Roger Taney, Revolutionary War General Johann de Kalb, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, longtime Maryland civil servant Louis Goldstein, and Author Alex Haley.

★ Annapolis holds the nation's largest in-water Annapolis Power and Sail Boat Show'sdisplay of recreational watercraft.

★ The Historic Annapolis Foundation works to preserve the historical aspects of the city.

★ The Archaeology in Annapolis program--a partnership between the University of Maryland, the Foundation, and the city--conducts continuing archaeological excavation to learn more about the city's historic past.

★ The Envisioning Annapolis project, commencing Fall 2007, is an independent investigation in the many alternative futures of the city.

Noted natives and residents

★ John Henry Alexander (1812-1867), born in Annapolis, noted scientist, businessman, and author ^[3]

★ Steve Belichick (1919-2005) father of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

★ Bill Belichick (1962-present), attended Annapolis High School, Three time Super Bowl winning NFL head coach for Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots

★ John Beale Bordley (1727-1804), noted government official, farmer, and author

★ James M. Cain, journalist and crime writer

★ Charles Carroll (1723-1783), Continental Congressman from Maryland

★ Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), United States Senator and signer of United States Declaration of Independence

★ John Wilson Danenhower (1849-1887), Arctic explorer of the ''Jeannette'' expedition ^[4]

★ John Beale Davidge (1768-1829), doctor associated with the development of several surgeries, author, co-founder of University of Maryland, and professor there

★ Henry Winter Davis (1817-1865), United States Representative from Maryland

★ Jonathan Reddick (1991-present), record breaking swimmer

★ Daniel Dulany, (1722-1797), born in Annapolis, prominent Loyalist and one of the most powerful lawyers in American prior to the American Revolutionary War

★ Robert Duvall, actor, lived in downtown Annapolis

★ Dying Fetus, technical/brutal death metal band

★ Bruce Farr, yacht designer

★ Gavin Floyd, baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox

★ John Davidson Godman, (1794-1830), born in Annapolis, noted naturalist, anatomist, college professor and author.

★ John Hall, (1729-1797), born in Annapolis, delegate to the Continental Congress from Maryland.

★ Alexander Contee Hanson (1749-1806), born in Annapolis, noted jurist.

★ Alexander Contee Hanson, (1786-1819), born in Annapolis, son of the above, United States Congressman and Senator from Maryland.

★ Reverdy Johnson, (1796-1876), born in Annapolis, United States Senator from Maryland and Attorney General of the United States.

★ Barbara Kingsolver, fiction writer (born in Annapolis, but raised in Kentucky)

★ James Booth Lockwood, (1852-1884), born in Annapolis, army officer and Arctic explorer, was the person who named Lockwood Island.

★ Ronald Damien Malfi, novelist

★ Margaret Mercer, (1791-1846), born in Annapolis, noted author, educator, and member of the American Colonization Society.

★ William Duhurst Merrick, (1818-1889), born in Annapolis, lawyer, professor at George Washington University, and United States Senator from Maryland.

★ Debbie Meyer, Olympic swimmer

★ William Paca (October 30, 1740–October 23, 1799), was a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland.

★ Travis Pastrana, motorcross champion

★ Billy Martin (musician), (raised in Annapolis) (Good Charlotte)

★ Spencer K. Stephens, is a prominent business attorney and rock musician who pioneered the theory of relative self determinism.

★ Leo Strauss, (September 20, 1899 – October 18, 1973), was a German-born Jewish political philosopher who specialized in the study of classical philosophy. Spent his last three years of life teaching at St. Johns in Annapolis.

★ Mark Teixeira, professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves

Neighborhoods and suburbs

★ Admiral Heights

★ Annapolis Walk

★ Arnold

★ Bay Head

★ Bay Ridge

★ Cape St. Claire

★ Crownsville

★ Downtown (Also known as the ''Historic District'')

★ Eastport

★ Edgewater

★ Epping Forest

★ Forest Drive

★ Germantown

★ Hillsmere Shores

★ Parole

★ Riva

★ Rolling Knolls

★ Saefern

★ Severna Park

★ Sherwood Forest

★ St. Margarets

★ West Annapolis

Sister Cities

Annapolis is a sister city of these municipalities[2]:

★ Tallinn, Estonia

★ Newport, Wales, UK

★ Dumfries, Scotland, UK

★ Wexford, Republic of Ireland

See also

★ Music of Annapolis

★ WRNR

★ The Capital

References

1. Green Print Shop William J. Cochran
2. Eighteenth-Century American Newspapers in the Library of Congress
3. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896, , , , Marquis Who's Who, ,
4. Dictionary of American Biography. vol. III., , , , Charles Scribner's Sons, ,


★ See D. Ridgely, ''Annals of Annapolis from 1649 until the War of 1812'' (Baltimore, 1841); S. A. Shafer, "Annapolis, Ye Ancient City," in L. P. Powell's ''Historic Towns of the Southern States'' (New York, 1900); W. Eddis, ''Letters from America'' (London, 1792); Eric L. Goldstein, ''Traders and Transports: The Jews of Colonial Maryland'' (Baltimore: Jewish Historical Society of Maryland, 1993).

★

External links

★ Annapolis official website

★ St.Johns College

★ United States Naval Academy

★ Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau

★ Historic images of Annapolis

★ Memorials, monuments & other outdoor art in & around Annapolis

★ Inside Annapolis Magazine