Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland. As of the 2000 census, its population was 641,943. The city is home to an important sea port, and historically was a center of manufacturing and industry as well. While the sea port remains important, industry has gone into relative decline, and today Baltimore's economy is more orientated towards the service sector.

Attractions in Baltimore include:

- American Visionary Art Museum

- Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

- Baltimore Maritime Museum

- Baltimore Museum of Art

- Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum

- The Maryland Zoo

- Medieval Times

- National Aquarium in Baltimore

- National Great Blacks In Wax Museum

- Sports Legends at Camden Yards

- Walters Art Museum

Here is some more information about the area:

- Some of the major companies headquartered in Baltimore include Black & Decker (in the suburb of Towson), Constellation Energy and Grace Chemicals (in the suburb of Columbia).

- Perhaps the most famous educational institution in Baltimore is Johns Hopkins University, which is a private institution of higher learning, which was founded in 1876 and was the first American research university.

- The main airport for Baltimore is Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

- Sports teams in Baltimore include the American football team, the Baltimore Ravens, and the baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles.

- During the 19th century, Baltimore was the second largest port for immigrants to the United States, after New York City.

- In 1996, Baltimore became the first American city to adopt 311 as a non-emergency "hot line" telephone number, leaving 911 reserved only for genuine emergencies. The scheme has been highly successful, and, as a result, has been widely emulated by other American cities.