2/Maryland Manual

DISTANCES

Longest east-west, 198. 6 miles—Fairfax Stone to
Delaware Line; north-south, 125. 5 miles—Penn-
sylvania line to Virginia line at Smith Point on
south-shore mouth of Potomac River; shortest
north-south, 1. 9 miles—Pennsylvania line to south
bank of Potomac River near Hancock; farthest
points northwest corner to southeast corner at
Atlantic Ocean, 254. 7 miles.

LOCATION

Highway distance from Central Maryland (in
miles): Boston, 392; Chicago, 668; New York City,
196; Philadelphia, 96; Pittsburgh, 218; Richmond,
143; Washington, D. C., 37.

CLIMATE

Generally moderate, varies from mild to hot in
summer, and in winter from moderate in the east
and south to very cold in the western mountains.
Average annual rainfall: 42. 90 inches. Average sea-
sonal snowfall: 25 inches, ranging from 10 inches
on the southern Eastern Shore to 110 inches in
Garrett County. Average annual temperature: 54. 6
degrees Fahrenheit, with high temperatures in July,
the warmest month, averaging in the low 80s and
the low temperatures in January, the coldest month,
averaging in the low 30s. Duration of the freeze-free
period averages 185 days, ranging from 130 days in
Garrett County to 230 days in the southern Ches-
apeake Bay area.

CHESAPEAKE BAY

195 miles long with 1, 726 square miles in Maryland
and 1, 511 square miles in Virginia. Varies in width
from 3 to 20 miles. Navigable for ocean-going
ships; two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean, one
through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and
one through the mouth of the Bay between the
Virginia capes. The William Preston Lane, Jr. Me-
morial Bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge) spans 4. 2
miles between Sandy Point, Anne Arundel County,
and Kent Island, Queen Anne's County.

CHIEF RIVERS

Potomac, Wye, Patuxent, Susquehanna, Choptank,
Nanticoke, Elk, Magothy, Patapsco, Sassafras,
South, Severn, Gunpowder, Tred Avon, Bush,
Miles, Chester, Northeast, Wicomico, Pocomoke,
and Great Bohemia.

BOATING WATERS

Twenty-three rivers and bays with more than 400
miles of water tributary to the Chesapeake Bay;
Chincoteague Bay with 35 miles of water accessible
to and from the Atlantic Ocean; 714 boat ramps
and 42, 545 boat slips (1986 est. ).

WATER FRONTAGE

Sixteen of the 23 counties and Baltimore City bor-
der on tidal water. Length of tidal shoreline, includ-
ing islands, 4, 360 miles.

FOREST AREA

More than 2, 798, 000 acres, or approximately 44%
of the land surface. Chief forest products are lum-
ber, pulpwood, and piling. Nine State forests, one
State forest nursery, and two demonstration areas
cover 131, 822 acres.

STATE PARKS & RECREATION AREAS

Thirty-five operational State parks covering 73, 159
acres; 87 lakes and ponds open to public fishing; 9
State forests and portions of 15 State parks open to
public hunting; 34 wildlife management areas, cov-
ering 83, 023 acres, open to public hunting; 6 nat-
ural environment areas containing 13, 753 acres.

LABOR FORCE & EMPLOYMENT, 1987

Total Civilian Labor Force.....................2, 402, 000
employed (95. 8%)...........................2, 300, 000
unemployed (4. 2%)............................102, 000

Employed in Agriculture (12. 3%)...........282, 400

Employed in Manufacturing (9%)...........207, 200
durable goods......................................110, 000
nondurable goods.................................97, 200

Employed in Government (16. 9%)..... 389, 200
local....................................................169, 500
state.......................................................89, 800
federal..................................................129, 900

Employed in Private Sector Nonmanufacturing
Industry (61. 8%)..................................1, 421, 200
services................................................535, 300
mining.....................................................1, 900
trade....................................................516, 700
retail............407, 200
wholesale....... 109, 500
construction........................................150, 200
finance, insurance, real estate..............124, 300
transportation, communications,
public utilities.................................. 92, 800

ECONOMIC GROWTH, 1980—1986
Economic Growth Rate

Maryland................................................. +13. 6%
U. S..........................................................+10. 2%

Average Weekly Wage 1980 1986

Maryland.........................$267.... $386.. +44. 6%
U. S..................................$276.... $389.. +39. 1%

Between 1980 and 1986, the service industry grew
at a rate of 41. 7%, three times faster than other
industries. This sector of the economy consists
mainly of establishments providing services to indi-
viduals, businesses, and government. It includes