ORIOLES CITY

Baltimore is an independent city located in the U.S. State of Maryland. As of July 1, 2002, the population is 638,614, down from 651,154 in the 2000 Census. It is the largest city in Maryland, named after the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony, Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. This city is a major part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Because there is also a Baltimore County adjacent to (but not including) the city, it is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City when a clear distinction is desired. Baltimore became an independent city in 1851, being detached from Baltimore County at that time. Baltimore was founded on July 30, 1729. Baltimore grew swiftly in the mid-late 18th century as the granary for sugar producing colonies in the Caribbean. The value of sugar encouraged the maximum possible cultivation of cane and the importation of food. The relatively shorter distance between Baltimore and the Caribbean colonies allowed swift transport and minimized the spoilage of flour. The Great Baltimore Fire on February 7, 1904 destroyed over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours. Baltimore is the location of the Baltimore World Trade Center, the world's tallest equilateral five-sided building (the five-sided JPMorganChase Tower in Houston, Texas is taller, but has unequal sides). Baltimore is also the location of Pimlico Race Course, the home of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The Preakness has been run since 1873. In recent years, efforts to redevelop the downtown area have led to a revitalization of the Inner Harbor. In 1979, the Baltimore Convention Center was opened and was subsequently renovated and expanded in 1996. Harbor place, a modern urban retail and restaurant complex, was opened on the waterfront in 1980, followed by the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland's largest tourist destination, in 1981. In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball moved downtown to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and in 1998 the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League moved next door into the newly renamed M&T Bank Stadium, formerly known as PSINet Stadium until PSINet went bankrupt. A 60-car train derailment occurred in a tunnel in Baltimore on July 18, 2001. Also in 2003, Baltimore was affected by Hurricane Isabel from flooding as a result of tidal surge, affecting primarily the Fells Point community and the Inner Harbor and surrounding low areas. Many places were flooded including the ESPN Zone and the Baltimore World Trade Center that remained closed for several days after the hurricane moved out of the area. The current Mayor of Baltimore is Martin O'Malley. The headquarters of the Social Security Administration is located in Woodlawn, just outside the city limits. Public transit in Baltimore City is provided by the Maryland Transit Administration. Baltimore City has many bus routes, and a light rail and a subway system. Additionally, MARC commuter rail connects Washington, DC's Union Station with the city's two rail stations, Camden Station and Penn Station. The major highways serving the city are I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway), I-95 and I-83. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is Located in neighboring Anne Arundel County. The sporting teams based in Baltimore, Maryland are; Baltimore Orioles (Major League Baseball), Baltimore Ravens (National Football League), Baltimore Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse), Baltimore Blast - (Major Indoor Soccer League)