Baltimore, Maryland
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| City nickname: "Charm City" | |
Location in the state of Maryland |
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| Founded | 30 July 1729 |
| County | Independent city |
| Mayor | Martin O'Malley (Dem) |
| Area - Total - Water |
349.9 km² (135.1 mi²) 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) 12.24% |
| Population - City (2000) - Density - Metropolitan |
651,154 3,111.5/km² 2,552,994 |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC –5) |
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
39.2865° N 76.6149° W (http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=39.2865_N_76.6149_W_region:US_type:city) |
| www.ci.baltimore.md.us | |
Baltimore is an independent city located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of July 1, 2002, the population is 638,614, and the population of the Baltimore-Washington Metroplex as of 2000 is 7.6 million, up from 6.7 million in 1990.. It is the largest city in Maryland, named after the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony, Cęcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. The city is a major part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and a major U.S.seaport.
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.
During the 17th century, various towns called "Baltimore" were founded as commercial ports at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay. The present city dates from July 30, 1729 and is named after Cęcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore who was the first Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland. Baltimore grew swiftly in the mid-late 18th century as the granary for sugar producing colonies in the Caribbean. The profit from 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.
Baltimore's harbor is the location of Fort McHenry, which came under attack by British forces in the War of 1812 and whose defense inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which furnishes the lyrics to the United States national anthem. The city is also the site of the first architectural monument honoring George Washington, a 178 foot doric column erected in 1829 and designed by Robert Mills, who later designed the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.
Baltimore became an independent city in 1851, being detached from Baltimore County at that time.
Battle Monument, BaltimoreDuring the Civil War, Maryland was officially part of the Union but kept slavery legal. Many, if not most, people in Baltimore at the time were sympathetic to the Confederacy. Pro-Southern sentiment led to the Baltimore riot of 1861 when Union soldiers marched through the city. After the riot, Union troops occupied Baltimore and Maryland came under direct federal administration — in part, to prevent the state from seceding — until the end of the war in April 1865.
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 1955 Flag House Courts, public housing project made up of 3 12-story buildings was built. The buildings were eventually demolished in 2001.
Baltimore has become a prime city for filming movies and television. Many movies such as Hairspray, scenes from 12 monkeys and the film Hardball were filmed there, in fact many scenes from the 1972 cult classic film Pink Flamingos were shot in the city's Waverly section (the film was made by John Waters, a Baltimore native). Additionally, television shows such as NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street" and HBO's "The Wire" have also been filmed in the city.
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. Harborplace, 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 six years later 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.
On October 2, 1996, Baltimore became the first city in the United States to adopt 311 as a non-emergency "hot line" telephone number, in order to reserve the use of 911 for genuine emergencies. The concept has been highly successful, and numerous other American municipalities have since implemented the practice.
A 60-car train derailment occurred in a tunnel in Baltimore on July 18, 2001. The derailment sparked a chemical fire that raged for six days and virtually shut down the downtown area until the heat caused a water main to rupture, largely extinguishing the fire but also causing significant flooding in the streets above. Three weeks later, manhole covers flew into the air as underground explosions along West Pratt Street followed due to residual explosive chemicals from the fire left in the sewers.
In 2003, the Baltimore Development Corporation announced that three hotel projects were being reviewed. The hotel is expected to be built near the Baltimore Convention Center. The City of Baltimore hopes to have it finished and opened by 2005 or 2006.
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 sports center ESPN Zone, the Baltimore World Trade Center (The World Trade Center remained closed for approximately a month during cleanup efforts) and most of the Inner Harbor. Water levels rose some 20 feet in areas, flooding underground parking garages and displacing thousands of cubic yards of trash and debris.
Baltimore is an independent city; in other words, not part of any county. For most governmental purposes under Maryland law, Baltimore City is treated as a "county"-level entity.
The current Mayor of Baltimore is Martin O'Malley. Despite being a conservative Democrat in a city with a deep progressive history, O'Malley has maintained a high approval rating through both of his terms in office. His ambition to run for Governor of Maryland is well known. For a full list of mayors that served the city, see: List of Baltimore Mayors
Grassroots pressure for reform, voiced as Question P, restructured the City Council in November of 2002, against the will of the Mayor, the Council President, and the majority of the Council. A coalition of union and community groups, organized by ACORN, backed the effort.
The Baltimore City Council is now made up of 14 single member districts and one elected at-large Council President. Sheila Dixon is the current Council President. On November 2, 2004, Dixon won re-election in a two-way contest; Joan Floyd, a Green Party candidate, was the only challenger; the Republicans did not field a candidate.
The headquarters of the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are located in Woodlawn, just outside the city limits.
Baltimore is in the north central part of the state of Maryland, on the Patapsco River, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. It is on the western edge of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with low hills rising in the western part of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 238.5 km² (92.1 mi²). 209.3 km² (80.8 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.240% water.
The city has a humid subtropical climate, moderated by the warming influence of the bay and nearby ocean, with hot summers, cool winters, and moderate precipitation.
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, I-83 and I-70 (its eastern terminus is just beyond the city limits).
In the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses of the United States of America, Baltimore was the second largest city in population. It was among the top 10 cities in population in the U. S. in every census up to the 1980 census.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 651,154 people, 257,996 households, and 147,057 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,111.5/km² (8,058.4/mi²). There are 300,477 housing units at an average density of 1,435.8/km² (3,718.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 31.63% White, 64.34% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 257,996 households out of which 25.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 25.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% are non-families. 34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,078, and the median income for a family is $35,438. Males have a median income of $31,767 versus $26,832 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,978. 22.9% of the population and 18.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.6% of those under the age of 18 and 18.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
List of Baltimore neighborhoods
See:Baltimore City Public School System
Baltimore is a sister city of these municipalities:
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Baltimore is a sister city of these municipalities:. Note: not all players or conditions are listed, only those affected the team most significantly will be shown. See:Baltimore City Public
School System. None yet. List of Baltimore
neighborhoods. None yet. Out of the total population, 30.6% of those under the age of 18 and 18.0% of those 65 and
older are living below the poverty line. 22.9% of the population and 18.8% of families are below the poverty line. Vince Carter's mother also made comments to the media about a "wrestling match" that took place in the locker room between the coach and her son prior to his trade. The per capita income for the city is $16,978. Later in the season, Alston was suspended two games for "conduct detrimental to the team" for reportedly walking out of a scrimmage practice. In addition, Eric Williams requested a trade, unhappy with the lack of minutes he was receiving. Males have a median income of $31,767 versus $26,832 for females. Of note, point guard Rafer Alston in a post-game interview contemplated retiring after a tough loss, as he continued to butt heads with Sam Mitchell. The median income for a household in the city is $30,078, and the median income for a family is $35,438. Coach Mitchell was also mired in controversies off the court. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.9 males. However, the home fans were generally entertained as the team managed to thrive off the often well attended Air Canada Centre putting up a record of 22-19 at home. For every 100 females there are 87.4 males. The Raptors inability to win on the road (11-30) and generally poor defense made Sam Mitchell's first year as head coach unimpressive. The median age is 35 years. Shooting from beyond the arc was a big part of the Raptor's game as Toronto had the second best three point percentage after the Phoenix Suns. In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. However, GM Babcock held on to Marshall, who eventually scored 12 three pointers in a game versus the Sixers on March 13, tying an NBA record. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.16. There was much speculation that Marshall would be traded before the trade deadline since he was up for free agency in the up coming season. 34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. Veterans Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall also shined on an otherwise lackluster team. There are 257,996 households out of which 25.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 25.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% are non-families. After the trade that saw Carter leaving, Chris Bosh stepped up to take the helm of franchise player, and performed admirably in his sophomore campaign; he ranked 10th in defensive rebounds for the season. Apart from Bosh's emergence, the restructuring looked to take a bit of a hit with rookie 8th first round draft pick, Rafael Araujo, struggling to keep a spot in the line up during the Raptor's half-hearted run for a playoff spot during the last month of the season. 1.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The two Williams also saw few minutes, and were generally under utilized until the end of the season. The racial makeup of the city is 31.63% White, 64.34% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Mourning did not show up to Toronto, forcing Babcock to buy out the remainder of his contract, leaving Mourning free to sign with the Miami Heat, where he had spent 7 years of his career prior. There are 300,477 housing units at an average density of 1,435.8/km² (3,718.6/mi²). From that deal, the Raptors received Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two future first-round draft picks from the New Jersey Nets. The population density is 3,111.5/km² (8,058.4/mi²). The trading of the Raptors franchise player, Vince Carter finally came to fruition mid-season ending his 7 year tenure with the team. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 651,154 people, 257,996 households, and 147,057 families residing in the city. Thus, much of the 2004-2005 season's action played itself out off the court. in every census up to the 1980 census. Subsequently, their star player Vince Carter, demanded a trade during the off season. S. With new general manager, Rob Babcock, and new head coach, Sam Mitchell, it was evident that restructuring of the organization was in operation. It was among the top 10 cities in population in the U. Record: 33 Wins - 49 Losses. In the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses of the United States of America, Baltimore was the second largest city in population. Rob Babcock was named GM on June 7, 2004. The major highways serving the city are I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway), I-95, I-83 and I-70 (its eastern terminus is just beyond the city limits). He was replaced with Sam Mitchell, a former NBA player who had been an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks the previous two seasons. Additionally, MARC commuter rail connects Washington, DC's Union Station with the city's two rail stations, Camden Station and Penn Station. Immediately following the season, on April 17, head coach Kevin O'Neill was fired after making some remarks which were taken to question the team's commitment to winning. Baltimore City has many bus routes, and a light rail and a subway system. The star individual performers were Carter, with 22.5 points per game, Donyell Marshall, who led the team with 10.7 rebounds per game, and rookie Chris Bosh, a 6-10 forward-center who averaged 11.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg and was named to the rookie all-star team. Public transit in Baltimore City is provided by the Maryland Transit Administration. The Raptors finished up the season 3 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The city has a humid subtropical climate, moderated by the warming influence of the bay and nearby ocean, with hot summers, cool winters, and moderate precipitation. Grunwald had been the GM since 1997. The total area is 12.240% water. With eight games to go in the regular season, the Raptors fired Glen Grunwald, the general manager on April 1. 209.3 km² (80.8 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The team then suffered through a nine-game losing streak in February, dealing them a serious blow in the standings. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 238.5 km² (92.1 mi²). After 50 games, though, they were 25-25 and in position to make the playoffs. Baltimore is in the north central part of the state of Maryland, on the Patapsco River, not far from the Chesapeake Bay. It is on the western edge of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with low hills rising in the western part of the city. The Raptors were inconsistent throughout 03-04, partly due to injuries to key players Jalen Rose, Rod Strickland, Alvin Williams and Vince Carter, with Davis traded early in the season for Rose. The headquarters of the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are located in Woodlawn, just outside the city limits. Record: 24 Wins - 58 Losses. On November 2, 2004, Dixon won re-election in a two-way contest; Joan Floyd, a Green Party candidate, was the only challenger; the Republicans did not field a candidate. if anyone can add to this please do. Sheila Dixon is the current Council President. At the end of the disastrous season (a year marred by defensive breakdowns that still occur today), Wilkens was unceremoniously dumped, ending a three-year stint with the team that started with so much promise but ended with too much disappointment. The Baltimore City Council is now made up of 14 single member districts and one elected at-large Council President. This was the year that Wilkens overtook Bill Fitch for the lead in most losses by a NBA coach, with his loss total getting dangerously close to his win total. A coalition of union and community groups, organized by ACORN, backed the effort. Almost right from day one, the Toronto media went straight for the jugular when it came to Wilkens, chastizing him for his inability- or, perhaps, unwillingness- to really clamp down on his players when he had to (The Toronto Star's Dave Perkins once wrote that all Wilkens could do during a game where the Raptors self-destructed was sit and stand, instead of yelling at his players like Perkins says he should have been doing). Grassroots pressure for reform, voiced as Question P, restructured the City Council in November of 2002, against the will of the Mayor, the Council President, and the majority of the Council. However, right from the beginning of the season that optimism was lost: Carter went through a series of injuries, Davis started to express disinterest in Toronto (reportedly because his wife could not land a TV job in Toronto) and Wilkens' laissez-fair attitude created a team that lacked the motivation and spirit of the previous years' teams. For a full list of mayors that served the city, see: List of Baltimore Mayors. The 2002-03 season began with the same optimisim that the Raptors furnished in three straight playoff appearances. His ambition to run for Governor of Maryland is well known. Record: 42 Wins - 40 Losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Despite being a conservative Democrat in a city with a deep progressive history, O'Malley has maintained a high approval rating through both of his terms in office. Ben Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse's performances overwhelmed the offensively-limited Raptors. The current Mayor of Baltimore is Martin O'Malley. However, the injuries to Davis and Carter were highlighted in the 3-2 series loss to the Detroit Pistons. For most governmental purposes under Maryland law, Baltimore City is treated as a "county"-level entity. In spite of an injury to Antonio Davis in January and a subsequent injury to Carter, the team made a record comeback to clinch a playoff berth. Baltimore is an independent city; in other words, not part of any county. The first half of the season ran well with expected contributions from the starters and the improvement Morris Peterson and Keon Clark. Water levels rose some 20 feet in areas, flooding underground parking garages and displacing thousands of cubic yards of trash and debris. Expiring contracts had also been traded away, so unless the Raptors succeeded with their 2001-2002 lineup, it was unlikely they would remain a very competitive team. Many places were flooded including the sports center ESPN Zone, the Baltimore World Trade Center (The World Trade Center remained closed for approximately a month during cleanup efforts) and most of the Inner Harbor. Although the team was guaranteed a powerful starting line-up for one season, it was a dangerous gamble as overall player salary almost reached the cap, making significant free-agent signing impossible. 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. The Raptors' exciting playoff performance attracted even more fans and put unprecendented trust from the owners on Grunwald. In an attempt to satisfy Vince Carter so that he would resign with the team, long-term contracts were given to Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams and Davis, and former All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon was signed, to provide Carter with a good supporting cast. The City of Baltimore hopes to have it finished and opened by 2005 or 2006. Record: 47 Wins - 35 Losses; eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. The hotel is expected to be built near the Baltimore Convention Center. The series came down to the last 4 seconds of Game 7, when Vince Carter missed a fadeaway jumper, losing the series by 1 point. In 2003, the Baltimore Development Corporation announced that three hotel projects were being reviewed. Philadelphia took full advantage of its mismatch at center whereas Toronto counteracted with a fast-break offense with their shorter but quicker players. Three weeks later, manhole covers flew into the air as underground explosions along West Pratt Street followed due to residual explosive chemicals from the fire left in the sewers. Toronto's was much more balanced with Carter, Williams and Davis providing much of the offensive game and Chris Childs and Jerome Williams providing the defensive pressure. The derailment sparked a chemical fire that raged for six days and virtually shut down the downtown area until the heat caused a water main to rupture, largely extinguishing the fire but also causing significant flooding in the streets above. The Sixers relied on Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo for their respective offensive and defensive abilities, along with steady help from Aaron McKie and other teammates. A 60-car train derailment occurred in a tunnel in Baltimore on July 18, 2001. The next series against the Philadelphia 76ers was a landmark of exciting, entertaining play, and the best playoff performance by the Raptors so far. The concept has been highly successful, and numerous other American municipalities have since implemented the practice. These, however, were non-factors, as it was abundantly clear that the Raptors were vastly superior to the overhyped, undertalented Knicks. On October 2, 1996, Baltimore became the first city in the United States to adopt 311 as a non-emergency "hot line" telephone number, in order to reserve the use of 911 for genuine emergencies. The Raptors were also lucky, as Larry Johnson was shut down by a career-ending injury and Marcus Camby was plagued by his family kidnap. In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball moved downtown to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and six years later 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. In addition, Charles Oakley's remarks incited Vince to "play it like a man", and steady contribution from Antonio Davis prevailed over the less-focused Knicks. In 1979 the Baltimore Convention Center was opened and was subsequently renovated and expanded in 1996. Harborplace, 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. Wilkens was credited for having Williams defend shooting guard Allan Houston and Carter defend small forward Latrell Sprewell, the two major offensive threats of the Knicks. In recent years, efforts to redevelop the downtown area have led to a revitalization of the Inner Harbor. Toronto beat New York in the first round . Many movies such as Hairspray, scenes from 12 monkeys and the film Hardball were filmed there, in fact many scenes from the 1972 cult classic film Pink Flamingos were shot in the city's Waverly section (the film was made by John Waters, a Baltimore native). Additionally, television shows such as NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street" and HBO's "The Wire" have also been filmed in the city. As predicted by analysts, the team clinched a playoff berth without much difficulty. Baltimore has become a prime city for filming movies and television. Therefore, Raptors management decided to trade McGrady to the Magic during the 2000 offseason for a first-round draft pick in a sign-and-trade deal. The buildings were eventually demolished in 2001. Furthermore, McGrady's natural position is at shooting guard, the same position as Carter. In 1955 Flag House Courts, public housing project made up of 3 12-story buildings was built. Although McGrady and Carter showed impressive improvement at the same time, much of the media and fan attention was focused on Carter, who dunked more often and thus was more entertaining to fans. 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. The loss of former star small forawrd Tracy McGrady was also a factor in the Williamson trade. 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). As Vince familarized himself with the shooting guard position and played less time at small forward, Christie became expendable and was traded for small forward Corliss Williamson. However, he was a disappointment and was traded during the season for defensive workhorse Jerome Williams. The Great Baltimore Fire on February 7, 1904 destroyed over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours. Jackson was later traded to give more minutes for Williams. After the riot, Union troops occupied Baltimore and Maryland came under direct federal administration — in part, to prevent the state from seceding — until the end of the war in April 1865. He scored three quarters of his points in the 4th quarter during regular season. Pro-Southern sentiment led to the Baltimore riot of 1861 when Union soldiers marched through the city. The season marked the development of Alvin Williams as a clutch performer. Many, if not most, people in Baltimore at the time were sympathetic to the Confederacy. In addition, the team finally found a true point guard, when Grunwald signed veteran playmaker Mark Jackson to a 4-year deal with the team. During the Civil War, Maryland was officially part of the Union but kept slavery legal. Playoff failures led Grunwald to replace Butch Carter with Lenny Wilkens, who was a Hall-of-Fame coach and player with more than 30 years of coaching experience. Baltimore became an independent city in 1851, being detached from Baltimore County at that time. Record: 45 Wins - 37 Losses; eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The city is also the site of the first architectural monument honoring George Washington, a 178 foot doric column erected in 1829 and designed by Robert Mills, who later designed the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. This was also the first season at the Air Canada Centre, after four years of games at the cavernous SkyDome. Baltimore's harbor is the location of Fort McHenry, which came under attack by British forces in the War of 1812 and whose defense inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which furnishes the lyrics to the United States national anthem. Increased attendance and change of fan base also helped contribute to the decline of the Toronto Blue Jays. The relatively shorter distance between Baltimore and the Caribbean colonies allowed swift transport and minimized the spoilage of flour. Progressive team improvements and the rise to fame of Vince Carter attracted many fans around Toronto, many of whom were not previously basketball fans. The profit from sugar encouraged the maximum possible cultivation of cane and the importation of food. However, without significant playoff experience, the Raptors were swept by the New York Knicks in the playoffs. Baltimore grew swiftly in the mid-late 18th century as the granary for sugar producing colonies in the Caribbean. Rotation of Antonio, Oakley and Willis in the front court and the maturation of both Carter and McGrady helped the team make its first ever playoff appearance. During the 17th century, various towns called "Baltimore" were founded as commercial ports at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay. The present city dates from July 30, 1729 and is named after Cęcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore who was the first Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland. In the backcourt, Butch Carter rotated Carter, Christie, Williams and Dell Curry at the shooting guard position and Williams and Muggsy Bogues at point guard. 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. Thus, during the 1999 draft, he decided to trade first-round draft pick Jonathan Bender for veteran power forward Antonio Davis from the Indiana Pacers, who had been forced to play off the bench behind teammate Dale Davis. The city is a major part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and a major U.S.seaport. He also knew that the aging Willis and Oakley would eventually have to play fewer minutes or risk injury. It is the largest city in Maryland, named after the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony, Cęcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Grunwald decided that the solution to the Raptors' lack of a true point guard and a strong front court presence would have to come from mature veteran players. As of July 1, 2002, the population is 638,614, and the population of the Baltimore-Washington Metroplex as of 2000 is 7.6 million, up from 6.7 million in 1990. Record: 23 Wins - 27 Losses (a shortened 50-game schedule). state of Maryland. Although the team did not make the playoffs, many were optimistic with the brilliant performances from the Rookie of the Year Vince Carter and a much improved McGrady. Baltimore is an independent city located in the U.S. The new coach Butch Carter, besides doing an excellent coaching job, also helped develop the young players on the team, especially future All-Star Tracy McGrady. Frank Zappa. With those two holes temporarily filled, the team won more games than ever before. Montel Williams. Kevin Willis, another veteran acquired from trade, solidified the center position. John Waters. Alvin also showed improvement, on the offensive end. Johnny Unitas. This was an excellent move, as Christie greatly refined his defensive game and became one of the elite defenders in NBA. Anne Tyler. The coaching staff temporarily solved the lack of a true point guard by rotating Dee Brown, Alvin Williams and Doug Christie to play the position. Anne Truitt. However, Oakley's leadership proved crucial to the success of the 1998-1999 Raptors. Tupac Shakur. Many thought the trade would hurt the team, since he was trading away a promising prospect for an aging veteran. Pam Shriver. Grunwald showed his better management ability than his predecessor by trading Camby to the Knicks for proven veteran Charles Oakley, whose tough mentality and playoff experience helped the maturity of the young players. Babe Ruth. Record: 16 Wins - 66 Losses. Cal Ripken, Jr. However, the players reacted by playing harder and Marcus Camby earned the first two triple doubles of his career in the last four games of the season. Adrienne Rich. When Glen Grunwald was named to succeed Thomas in 1998, virtually nobody thought he could turn the team around, demonstrated by the booing from the crowd when he made his first appearance to Air Canada Centre for a speech. Edgar Allan Poe. Thomas, a brilliant player and skilled evaluator of talent but lacking in management skills, failed to stop the downfall of the team which led to the dismantling of the core players and resignations of the head coach Darrell Walker and eventually of Thomas himself. Jada Pinkett-Smith. All optimism evaporated when the team was hit by numerous injuries in early 1997-1998 season. Michael Phelps. Record: 30 Wins - 52 Losses. Nancy Pelosi. Marcus Camby who was drafted 2nd overall in the 1996 draft by the Raptors had a season to forget in his first season as a Raptor. Jim Palmer. Analysts predicted a playoff-contending or even a championship caliber team in a matter of a few seasons. Ric Ocasek. The team record improved by 9 games from its inaugural season and attendance was rising. Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson. Record: 21 Wins - 61 Losses. Kweisi Mfume. However, Stoudamire proved to be the one bright point in a terrible first season as he won Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 19 points and 9.3 assists per game. Mencken. The Raptors' pick of Stoudamire was greeted with boos from those present at the NBA Draft at the SkyDome in Toronto, many of whom bought into the hype surrounding UCLA star Ed O'Bannon. H.L. Isiah chose to build the franchise around Damon Stoudamire, a point guard out of Arizona. Jim McKay. After Isiah Thomas was named the general manager in 1995, he quickly staffed the management with his own personnel, including the first head coach Brandon Malone (who was later reunited with Thomas in the Knicks organization in 2003). Thurgood Marshall. They are currently the only NBA team based outside of the United States. Laura Lippman. The Toronto Raptors are a National Basketball Association team based in Toronto, Ontario. Barry Levinson. (December 17, 2004.). Francis Scott Key. 2004- 2005 season: traded Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, and two future first round draft picks. William Henry Cardinal Keeler. 2004 offseason: signed Rafer Alston. Johns Hopkins. 2003-2004 season: traded Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis to the Bulls for Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. Billie Holiday. 2002 offseason: lost Keon Clark through free agency to the Kings. David Hasselhoff. 2002 offseason: lost Chris Childs through free agency to the Nets. Dorothy Hamill. 2000-2001 season: traded Mark Jackson to the Knicks for Chris Childs. Philip Glass. 2000-2001 season: traded Kevin Willis to the Denver Nuggets for Keon Clark. Johnny Gill. 2000-2001 season: traded Corliss Williamson to the Detroit Pistons for Jerome Williams. Drew. 2000 offseason: signed Mark Jackson. Charles R. 2000 offseason: traded Tracy McGrady to the Magic for a 1st round draft pick. Elijah Cummings. 2000 offseason: traded Doug Christie to the Kings for Corliss Williamson. Ben Carson. 1999 offseason: signed Muggsy Bogues. Cab Calloway. 1999 offseason: signed Dell Curry. David Byrne. 1999 draft day: traded 1st round draft pick Jonathan Bender to the Pacers for Antonio Davis. Charles Joseph Bonaparte. 1998 offseason: traded with the Rockets for Kevin Willis. Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues. 1998 offseason: traded Marcus Camby to the Knicks for Charles Oakley. Eubie Blake. 1997-1998 season: traded Damon Stoudamire to the Portland Trail Blazers for Alvin Williams. Carmelo Anthony. 1996-1997 season: traded with the New York Knicks for Doug Christie. Baltimore Thunder - (National Lacrosse League) - moved to Pittsburgh, then D.C.; now Colorado. 2004 8th overall Rafael Araujo. Baltimore Skipjacks - (American Hockey League, Eastern Hockey League, Southern Hockey League). 2003 4th overall Chris Bosh. Baltimore Clippers - (American Hockey League). 2002 20th overall Kareem Rush (draft-day trade for 27th overall Chris Jeffries). Baltimore Bandits - (American Hockey League). 2001 17th overall Michael Bradley. Baltimore Blades - (World Hockey Association ). 2000 21st overall Morris Peterson. Baltimore Bays - (North American Soccer League). 1999 5th overall Jonathan Bender (traded for Antonio Davis). Baltimore Bayrunners - (International Basketball League). 1998 4th overall Antawn Jamison (traded on draft day for 5th overall pick Vince Carter). Baltimore Claws - (American Basketball Association). 1997 9th overall Tracy McGrady. Baltimore Bullets - (National Basketball Association). 1996 2nd overall Marcus Camby. Baltimore Colts - (National Football League). 1995 7th overall Damon Stoudamire. Baltimore Stars - (United States Football League). Current: Rob Babcock (hired on June 7, 2004). Baltimore Stallions - (Canadian Football League ). March 1998 - April 2004: Glen Grunwald. 2005-2006 ABA Expansion Team. 1995 - March 1998: Isiah Thomas. Baltimore Blast - (Major Indoor Soccer League). Current: Sam Mitchell (hired on June 29, 2004). Baltimore Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse). 2003 - 2004: Kevin O'Neill. Baltimore Ravens (National Football League). 2000 - 2003: Lenny Wilkens. Baltimore Orioles (Major League Baseball). Feb 1998 - 2000: Butch Carter. Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. 1996 - Feb 1998: Darrell Walker. Walters Art Museum. 1995 - 1996: Brendon Malone. USS Constellation. Rafer Alston PG. Star Spangled Banner Flag House and 1812 Museum. Morris Peterson F/G. Pimlico Race Course. Rafer Alston PG. National Museum of Dentistry. Alvin Williams G. National Aquarium in Baltimore. Jalen Rose G. Maryland Science Center. Donyell Marshall PF. Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame Museum. Chris Bosh C/F. Harborplace. Jerome Williams (JYD Junkyard Dog). Fort McHenry National Monument. Damon Stoudamire. Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum. Hakeem Olajuwon. Dime Museum. Tracy McGrady. B&O Railroad Museum. Antonio Davis. Blacks In Wax Museum. Keon Clark. Baltimore Maritime Museum. Doug Christie. Baltimore Museum of Industry. Vince Carter (Vinsanity, Half man Half Amazing, Air Canada). Baltimore Museum of Art. Marcus Camby. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption. Charles Oakley (Oaktree, Blagnum). Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. American Visionary Art Museum. Ashkelon, Israel. Xiamen, China. Pireaus, Greece. Odessa, Ukraine. Alexandria, Egypt. Luxor, Egypt. Kawasaki, Japan. Genoa, Italy. Gbarnga, Liberia. Enoch Pratt Free Library. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). University of Baltimore (UB). Morgan State University. Coppin State University. Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). Sojourner-Douglass College. Peabody Institute. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Loyola College in Maryland. Johns Hopkins University (JHU). College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Baltimore International College (BIC). Baltimore Hebrew University. Martin State Airport - (general aviation), located in Baltimore County. Baltimore-Washington International Airport - Located in neighboring Anne Arundel County. |