BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND

[City Seal, Baltimore, Maryland]

Origin: As a municipality within Baltimore County, Baltimore City was incorporated in 1796 by legislation that took effect in 1797 (Chapter 68, Acts of 1796; Chapter 54, Acts of 1797). The City name was derived from the Proprietary's Irish Barony. As a governmental unit, the City separated from Baltimore County in 1851, and has been considered on a par with county jurisdictions since the adoption of the Maryland Constitution of 1851 (Constitution of 1851, Article I, secs. 1-3; Article II, sec. 5; Article III, secs. 2-4, 40, 42; Article IV, secs. 4, 8, 10-21, 27, 28; Article V, sec. 1; Article VII, secs. 2, 10; Article X, sec. 9; Code General Provisions Article, sec. 1-107).

Boundaries: Bounded north, east, & west by Baltimore County; south by Patapsco River & Anne Arundel County. Calendar of Events
City Charter & Codes
City Operator: (410) 396-3100

[photo, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland] City Seal
Mayors
Open Data Baltimore
Population: 1990 census: 736,014; 2000 census: 651,154; 2010 census: 620,961; 2020 census: 585,708
Port of Baltimore
Youth Poet Laureate

Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, November 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Budget

Election Returns

Executive Branch

Historical Chronology

Judicial Branch

Legislative Branch

Maps

Organizational Chart

Records

Reports

U.S. Government Agencies
[photo, Baltimore Convention Center, Charles & Pratt Sts., Baltimore, Maryland]
  • Bays
  • Creeks
  • Lakes
  • Museums
  • Port of Baltimore

    • Baltimore Convention Center, Charles & Pratt Sts., Baltimore, Maryland, September 2026. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Cherry trees in blossom, Springlake Way, Homeland, Baltimore, Maryland]

  • Baltimore Metro (subway) (Baltimore City & County)
  • Baltimore National Heritage Area (National Park Service)
  • Central Light Rail Line (Baltimore City & County, & Anne Arundel County)
  • Charm City Circulator
  • Geologic Walking Tour of Building Stones of Downtown

    Cherry trees in blossom, Springlake Way, Homeland, Baltimore, Maryland, April 2000. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

    [photo, City Hall dome, 100 North Holliday St., Baltimore, Maryland] websites:
    Baltimore City: www.baltimorecity.gov
    Baltimore Development Corporation: www.baltimoredevelopment.com
    CharmTV: www.charmtvbaltimore.com
    Circuit Court: www.baltimorecitycourt.org
    City Council: www.baltimorecitycouncil.com
    City Government: www.baltimorecity.gov/government
    City Government Data Catalog: OpenBaltimore
    Community College: www.bccc.edu
    Comptroller's Office: https://comptroller.baltimorecity.gov
    Disabilities Commission: https://civilrights.baltimorecity.gov/commission-0

    City Hall dome, 100 North Holliday St., Baltimore, Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    District Court: www.courts.state.md.us/district/directories/courtmap#CITY
    Education Dept.: www.baltimorecityschools.org
    Elections Board: https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/welcome-elections-board
    Emergency Management Office: https://emergency.baltimorecity.gov
    Ethics Board: https://ethics.baltimorecity.gov
    Finance Dept.: https://finance.baltimorecity.gov
    Fire Dept.: https://fire.baltimorecity.gov
    General Services Dept.: https://generalservices.baltimorecity.gov

    [photo, U.S.S. Torsk (Historic Ships in Baltimore), Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland] Health Dept.: https://health.baltimorecity.gov
    Historical & Architectural Preservation Commission: https://chap.baltimorecity.gov
    Housing Authority: www.habc.org
    Housing & Community Development Dept.: https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov
    Human Resources Dept.: https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov

    U.S.S. Torsk (Historic Ships in Baltimore), Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland, June 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

    [photo, Orleans St. (looking west from Johns Hopkins Hospital), Baltimore, Maryland] Information Technology Office: https://technology.baltimorecity.gov
    Inspector General Office: https://inspector-general.baltimorecity.gov
    Job Service: www.dllr.state.md.us/county/bacity/
    Labor Commissioner's Office: https://labor-commissioner.baltimorecity.gov
    Law Dept.: https://law.baltimorecity.gov

    Orleans St. (looking west from Johns Hopkins Hospital), Baltimore, Maryland, March 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    Legislative Reference Dept.: https://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov
    Library: www.prattlibrary.org
    Live Baltimore: www.livebaltimore.com
    Mayor's Office: https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov
    Neighborhood Safety & Engagement Office: https://monse.baltimorecity.gov
    Orphans' Court: https://orphans-courts.baltimorecity.gov
    Parking Authority: https://parking.baltimorecity.gov
    Performance & Innovation Office: https://opi.baltimorecity.gov
    Planning Dept.: https://planning.baltimorecity.gov

    [photo, Madonnari Arts Festival, Little Italy, South High St., Baltimore, Maryland] Police Dept.: www.baltimorepolice.org
    Promotion & the Arts Office: www.promotionandarts.org
    Public Works Dept.: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov
    Recreation & Parks Dept.: https://bcrp.baltimorecity.gov
    Register of Wills: https://registers.maryland.gov/main/baltimorecity.html
    Sheriff's Office: www.baltimorecitysheriff.gov
    Social Services Dept.: https://dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices/baltimore-city/
    State's Attorney: www.stattorney.org
    Transportation Dept.: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov
    Zoning Appeals Board, Municipal &: https://zoning.baltimorecity.gov

    Madonnari Arts Festival, Little Italy, South High St., Baltimore, Maryland, September 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
    Maryland Departments
    Maryland Independent Agencies
    Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, Advisory Boards
    Maryland Universities & Colleges
    Maryland Counties
    Maryland Municipalities
    Maryland at a Glance

    Maryland Manual On-Line

    Search the Manual
    e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


    This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

    Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

    [ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
    ||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

    Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

    © Copyright September 17, 2026 Maryland State Archives