2010 Census  5,773,552 - 19th among states

Largest City  Baltimore - 620,961

Largest County  Montgomery - 971,777

Statehood  April 28, 1788; 7th State

Capital  Annapolis

Executive Branch  Governor Martin O'Malley is the chief executive of the state, re-elected to a four-year term in 2010.

Legislature  General Assembly, a 47-member Senate and 141-member House of Delegates. Convenes annually in January for a 90-day session.

Judiciary  Headed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. Four court divisions make up the Judicial Branch: the court of Appeals, the Court of Special Appeals, the Circuit Courts, and the District Court of Maryland.

Senators  Barbara A. Mikulski (D) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D); eight congressional representatives

County Government  23 Counties. Three forms of county government exist: county commissioners, code home rule and charter. Baltimore City, not part of a county, is considered on par with county jurisdictions.

Local Government  157 towns and cities

Bond Rating    AAA (Standard and Poor's); AAA (Moody's); AAA (Fitch) 

"Old Line State"  Maryland earned the nickname during the American Revolution. The Maryland Line achieved a reputation as the saviors of the Continental Army and the cause of independence. References to the “Old Line” are a tribute to the Maryland Line.

"Free State"  Name given by Hamilton Owens, editor of the Baltimore Sun, in a 1923 editorial in response to the state's refusal to pass a State enforcement act on Prohibition.