Population:

19th largest U.S. State by population, with 5,699,478 people (2009 estimate).
42nd largest state in the country by area, at 12,407 square miles.

Largest city: Baltimore

Median income:$70,545 (2008 estimate)

Climate:
Yearly rainfall: 41.8 inches per year
Yearly snowfall: 20.6 inches per year
Temperatures (High/Low) in capital city of Annapolis:
January, 46/31; July, 90/72

Foreclosures:
Foreclosure activity for 2009 increased in Maryland over the prior year. There was a total of 43,248 properties with filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 54 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little less than two percent of the state’s housing units.

Those figures represent a 33 percent increase over 2008 and a 129 percent increase over 2007.

In 2008 there were about 63,800 existing homes (including condos, co-ops, and single-family homes but excluding new homes) sold in Maryland, compared to about 86,400 sold in 2007.

Economy:
If you go by median household income, Maryland is the wealthiest state in the country. Because it's home to the 10th largest seaport in the United States, because of its proximity to several major cities, and because many of its residents work in Washington D.C., much of Maryland's economy is derived from transportation. There is also a lot of economic activity centered around government contracting. World famous for its crabs, a notable component of Maryland's economy is fishing.

Noteworthy:
Maryland is home to the National Aquarium, the Food and Drug Administration, the US Naval Academy, and Johns Hopkins University.