Annapolis (Crabtown)

Annapolis, Maryland, where the Severn River joins the Chesapeake Bay - Home of the Yard, as well as the Capital of the State of Maryland and Sailing in the US. Three major Airports, several Private Fields, AmTrak, Buses, and Marinas service the Area.

PROFILE

Annapolis is 27 Miles from both Washington, DC, and Baltimore. The City is located on the Severn River, with the Yard located on its Northeastern Border; on its Western Border is Route 50/301, and on its Southern Border is the Annapolis Neck Peninsula area just south of Forest Drive. In addition to being the Capital of the State of Maryland, Annapolis is also the county seat of Anne Arundel County.

The average Annual Temperature is 55.6 Degrees Fahrenheit. The average Winter Temperature is 35.5 Degrees and the average Summer Temperature is 85.2 Degrees. Breezes from the many creeks and the Chesapeake Bay itself moderate the temperatures. The average yearly Rainfall is 39.03 Inches, and the average yearly Snowfall is 14.4 Inches. The lowest land is near sea level at the City Dock, climbing to 92 Feet above Sea Level between Bay Ridge Avenue and Forest Drive.

Excluding the Yard, Annapolis boasts 17 Miles of waterfront and encompasses 7.2 Square Miles. In 1990, the U. S. Census Bureau reported a population of 33,187. This figure does NOT include 5,367 residents at the Yard. Annapolis is the largest incorporated municipality in Anne Arundel County and is a full-service City.

Annapolis is governed by a City Council composed of a Mayor and eight Aldermen. The Mayor is elected at large for a Four-Year term and serves full time as the chief executive officer of the City. The Mayor is limited to two terms by the City Charter. The eight Aldermen are elected for Four-Year terms to represent eight different geographic areas of the City known as Wards. Aldermen are not restricted as to the number of terms they may serve.

Nine Departments and nearly 500 full-time Employees provide City Services. The City's Operating Budget is approximately $39,618,490, and its assessable base is approximately $952,676,100. The City's Tax Rate per $100 of assessed value is approximately $1.73. The Department of Public Works operates 226 miles of water, sanitary sewer, and storm drains; it also operates a water treatment plant which supplies an average of 4.8 Million Gallons of Water each day to residents and businesses and a refuse system. Sewage treatment is provided through a City/County jointly owned facility which is operated by Anne Arundel County. The Department is also responsible for control and management of the three waterways, City Marina, and waterfront. Municipal, County and State Roads total 91.19 Miles. U.S. 50/301 passes on the West Side of the City through Anne Arundel County to the Eastern Shore over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

There are 2 primary entrances to Annapolis coming from the West. The first is located in the Parole area via t2o regional Shopping Malls, and the second provides direct access to the downtown historic area and central business District via Rowe Boulevard (MD Route 70). From the North, I-97 exits onto Route 50/301 just West of the City. Route 450 provides a scenic vista entrance to the City overlooking the Severn River and the Yard in the foreground.

From the South, the major entrances to Annapolis are MD Route 2, which affords direct access to the Parole area, and U.S. Route 301, which intersects and joins U.S. Route 50 West of the City. US Route 50/301 and MD Route 2/170/450 also serve Annapolis. The Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), located in northern Anne Arundel County approximately 18 Miles North of Annapolis, has 39 scheduled Air Carriers and Commuter Airlines. The County is served by the Chessie System (C&O/B&O/WM) and the Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL). There is also a rail terminus at BWI Airport. Over 100 Motor Carriers are authorized to serve the County. The Port of Baltimore has a 42-Foot Channel and is the 4th largest foreign tonnage port in the United States with excellent container Ship Facilities. Work is nearly completed on a dredging project to deepen the channel to 50 Feet.

The City operates a Shuttle Bus service using gasoline-powered trolleys within the central business district. Paid parking is available at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium off Rowe Boulevard. The City also provides a regular fixed-route Bus service and regular route and on-demand services for seniors and handicapped persons through the Annapolis Mobility program. There are two large parking garages located in the City's Historic District, as are several surface parking lots. There are two companies providing taxi service within the greater Annapolis area. All of these companies are operated on a 24-hour on-call basis. The Cab Companies in the City run on a metered basis. There are also a number of limousine services available for charters, social events, and direct services to and from BWI, National, and Dulles Airports. The 1990 Census found 16,438 Annapolis residents in the labor force. Of the employed, 4,875 were in technical, sales and administrative support occupations; 2,686 were in service occupations; 1,422 were in precision production, craft and repair occupations; 1,417 were operators, fabricators and laborers; and 100 were farming, forestry and fishing. Annapolis has been designated a Central City by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Major components of the local economy are government (State Capital, Anne Arundel County Seat, and the Yard), tourism, and maritime industries. There are nine Elementary and three Secondary Public Schools in the area. Approximately 6,000 Students were enrolled in 1994/95 with an average of 30 Student per Instructor. St. John's College, founded in 1696 as King William's School; the third oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, is a private liberal arts college and is known for a curriculum which is based on the Great Books of Western Civilization. Anne Arundel Community College, located 5 Miles from the City, off Ritchie Highway (Route 2) is a Public, Two-Year Community College with approximately 3,000 full-time Students, 9,000 part-time Students, and 20,000 non-credit Students enrolled in vocational, technical and liberal arts programs. The Yard, a National Historic Landmark, was founded in 1845. Its Brigade of Midshipmen pursue a rigorous academic program and undergo intense physical training in preparation for their commissioning as Ensigns in the Navy or Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Police services are provided by the City's Police Department, which is composed of 121 full-time professionally trained Officers, 30 full-time and 25 part-time Civilian Employees, 11 School Crossing Guards, and 4 Community Service Officers. Other agencies providing police services in and around the area are the Maryland State Police, the County Sheriff's Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department. The City is authorized 98 career Firefighters supplemented by trained Volunteers. They operate three Stations and 14 pieces of equipment including a Fireboat and three Advanced Life Support (ALS) Systems, which are strategically located throughout the City to provide Fire and Emergency Service. Professional and Volunteer Companies from the Yard and Anne Arundel County work in cooperation with the City Department.

The Anne Arundel General Hospital and Medical Center are located in downtown Annapolis and are full-service hospitals and providing 303 Beds. North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie provides 329 Beds. The Anne Arundel County Health Department offers out-patient services in 21 County locations. There are five Nursing and Convalescent Homes serving the greater Annapolis area. The Annapolis/Anne Arundel Medical Society includes nearly 350 practicing Physicians, Surgeons, and Dentists among its membership. A local Daily and Sunday newspaper, The Capital, as well as the Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post serve Annapolis. The Publick Enterprise is a twice-monthly newspaper distributed in the area. There are seven local Radio Stations, Bell Atlantic Telephone Company services the City with nationwide direct dialing, the U.S. Postal Service operates three Post Offices. Access to the media in the Baltimore and Washington area is readily available, and TCI Cable TV also serves Annapolis. The City's Parks and Recreation Department conducts over 50 Leisure Programs. There are 80 Acres of the City in parkland, street-end or Pocket parks. Truxtun Park at the headwaters of Spa Creek provides 67 Acres for outdoor activities, including 12 Tennis Courts and 5 Basketball Courts, an outdoor swimming pool, 3 outdoor playing fields and a multi-purpose facility. A joint-use agreement with the Public School System allows the use by the public of all County Public School Facilities for recreational and leisure activities.

Overnight visitors may choose from a wide variety of facilities ranging from Hotels and Motels to Historic Inns to Bed and Breakfast Homes. Information is available by calling the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau, 410-280-0445. Shopping is available in the Historic District and at several shopping centers and large regional malls. There are 19 banking institutions and savings and loan associations, each with several branches to serve the public. For special recreational interests, there is a Country Club, a Golf Course, a Bowling Facility, numerous Movie Theaters, many fine Restaurants, over 25 Marinas, and a Health and Racquet Club. There are over 60 Houses of Worship in the immediate area. The Annapolis, Annapolis Symphony, Annapolis Opera, Colonial Players, Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Brass Quintet, Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, Children's Theatre of Annapolis, and many other groups sponsor and present both professional and amateur shows, exhibits, and concerts. Historic Annapolis, Inc. and Three Centuries Tours coordinate presentations, organize tours of the City's Historic Homes and Buildings, and conduct on-going research into the City's past. The Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts provides space for artists in residence and classes in art, dance, music, and many other mediums. The entire downtown is a registered National Historic Landmark with over sixty 18th Century structures. City Dock, the Nation's only remaining pre-Revolutionary Seaport, has Oyster Boats, Sailboats, and other pleasure Craft that provide Harbor Cruises.

Anne Arundel County is also known for having the greatest number of boats registered in the State of Maryland. Over 31,148 Vessels are registered to County Residents, and Annapolis claims to be the Sailing Capital of America (Water depth at City Dock is 10 Feet with a 110-Foot turning basin, and the Severn River's average depth is 18 Feet, with Creeks running at depths of 4-to-11 Feet).

The Annapolis Visitor Information Center is located at 26 West Street with a seasonal Information Booth located next to the Theodore W. Johnson Harbormaster's Building at City Dock. Printed lists of accommodations, restaurants, guided tours, marine cruises, charters and rentals, and shopping are available. The Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau, a public/private partnership, operate the Center with funding provided by the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Information is available by calling 410-268-TOUR.

For Additional Information, contact City Of Annapolis, Office Of Public Information, 160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Telephone Numbers are 410-263-1183 in Annapolis and 410-269-0223 in Baltimore; the FAX Number is 410-263-8120; and the InterNet E-Mail Address is city@infi.net; roskelly@annapolis.gov.

MAP

LAYOUT OF ANNAPOLIS, MD, AND SURROUNDING AREA,

IS PRESENTED ON FOLLOWING PAGE

HISTORY

The original settlement in the area was on Greenbury Point, an area that is now mostly submerged by the Severn River. It was called Providence and was established by Puritans seeking religious freedom in 1649. The remainder of the century saw waterfront development on the banks of the creeks in the present City Dock area, and in 1694, Governor Sir Francis Nicholson redesigned a new Capital City for the Province of Maryland to replace the original seat of government in St. Mary's City. Named to honor the future Queen Anne of England, Annapolis literally translates to Anne's City. All of this early town is within the designated National Historic Landmark area. On November 22, 1708, Governor John Seymour, acting in the name of Queen Anne, granted a charter to Annapolis, making it the oldest incorporated municipality in Maryland.

Annapolis is the only Maryland City whose charter was issued under the Royal Seal. During this period, Annapolis was the site of the Nation's first State House, the establishment of the first parochial Libraries and of King William's School (later St. John's College), the first printing of the Maryland Gazette, the resignation of George Washington, the signing of the Treaty of Paris which officially ended the American Revolutionary War, and the founding of the United States Naval Academy.

For a short period, between November, 1783 and August, 1784, Annapolis served as the capital of the United States.