Annapolis is a city in the United States of America with a population of 36,408 (July 2006 est.), the capital of the State of Maryland and the county
seat of Anne Arundel County. 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 part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The United States Naval Academy and St. John's
College are in Annapolis. It will be the site for the Annapolis peace
conference late Fall 2007.
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 was initially named Town at Proctor's, then Town at the Severn and later Anne Arundel's Towne (after the wife of Lord Baltimore who died soon afterwards). The city became very wealthy through the
slave trade.
In 1694, soon after the overthrow of the Catholic government of the lord proprietor, Sir Francis Nicholson moved the capital of the royal colony there and named the town Annapolis after Princess Anne,
soon to be the Queen of Great Britain;
it was incorporated as a city in 1708.
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 there 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, with its deeper harbor, was made a port of entry in 1780. Water trades such
as oyster-packing, boatbuilding and sailmaking became the city's chief industries. 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. The Philadelphia convention drafted and approved the Constitution
of the United States, which is still in force.
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. Wounded Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners were brought by
sea to a major hospital in Annapolis.
Contemporary (1900s to present)
View of Annapolis from the State House dome, 1911
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.
Annapolis has many 18th-century houses. The names of several of the streets—King George's, Prince George's, Hanover, and Duke
of Gloucester, etc.—date from 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 to be the governor's mansion;
although £4000 was appropriated to build it 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's history, cresting at 7.58 feet (2.31 m). Much of downtown Annapolis was flooded and many businesses and
homes in outlying areas were damaged.[1] The previous record was 6.35 feet during a hurricane in 1933, and 5.5 feet (1.68 m) during Hurricane Hazel in
1954.
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.
Annapolis Charter 300 and EnVISIONing Annapolis
are co-sponsoring a public lecture series from September 2007 through June 2008 exploring these issues.
From mid-2007 through December 2008 the city will celebrate the 300th Anniversary of its 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 and evening events such as the
Queen Anne's Ball.
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. According to some, 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.[citation needed] However, as noted in the
United States Capitol topic, that building was not designed by Pierre L'Enfant, and no mention of this claim is found in a comprehensive history.[3]
United States Naval Academy
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.
Planned Middle East Conference
-
As announced by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Annapolis was chosen as the venue for a planned Middle
East summit, with the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ("Abu Mazen")
and various other leaders from the region. The US is reported to be actively seeking the participation of Saudi Arabia, and to have assented witout great enthusiasm for the participation of Syria. On the other hand, participation of the rival, Gaza-based Palestinian
government headed by Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh was explicitly
ruled out.
Unofficially, the date of the conference was set for November 26, 2007, though there was
as yet no official announcement and the date might still change. Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian politicans, commentators and
editorial writers already started using the name "Annapolis" as a kind of shorthand, speculating about the possibilities for "The
success of Annapolis" or "The failure of Annapolis", i.e. the success or failure of the projected conference.[4]
Geography
Annapolis is located at 38°58′23″N, 76°30′4″W (38.972945,
-76.501157)1, 28 miles (45 km) east of Washington DC, and is the closest state capital to the
national capital, Washington, DC.
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.
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
Annapolis lies within the humid subtropical climate zone, with hot summers
and cool winters. Low elevation and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay give the area more
moderate temperatures, with warmer winter temperatures and cooler summer temperatures, than locations further inland, such as
Washington, DC.
Demographics
Main Street in downtown Annapolis
As of the census2 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, St. Martins Lutheran 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.
Noted natives and residents
- John Henry Alexander (1812-1867), born in Annapolis, noted scientist,
businessman, and author [5]
- 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[5]
- James M. Cain, journalist and crime writer
- Charles Carroll (1723-1783), Continental Congressman from Maryland[5]
- Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), United States Senator and signer of United States Declaration of Independence[5]
- John Wilson Danenhower (1849-1887), Arctic
explorer of the Jeannette expedition [6]
- John Beale Davidge (1768-1829), doctor associated with the development of several surgeries,
author, co-founder of University of Maryland, and professor
there[5]
- Henry Winter Davis (1817-1865), United States Representative from Maryland [5]
- 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 [5]
- Robert Duvall, actor, lived in downtown Annapolis [7]
- 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. [5]
- John Hall, (1729-1797), born in Annapolis, delegate to the Continental Congress from Maryland.[5]
- Alexander Contee Hanson (1749-1806), born in Annapolis, noted jurist. [5]
- Alexander Contee Hanson, (1786-1819), born in Annapolis, son of the above,
United States Congressman and Senator from Maryland. [5]
- Reverdy Johnson, (1796-1876), born in Annapolis, United States Senator from Maryland and Attorney
General of the United States. [5]
- 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. [5]
- Ronald Damien Malfi, novelist
- Margaret Mercer, (1791-1846), born in Annapolis, noted author, educator, and member
of the American Colonization Society. [5]
- William Duhurst Merrick, (1818-1889), born in Annapolis, lawyer, professor
at George Washington University, and United States Senator from Maryland.
[5]
- 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
Sister Cities
Annapolis is a sister city of these municipalities[2]:
Preceded by
Princeton |
Capital of the United States of America
1783–1784 |
Succeeded by
Trenton |
See also
References
- 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).
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia
Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public
domain.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Coordinates:
38.972945° N 76.501157°
W
