34 Facts About West Baltimore

1. West Baltimore has long been a major center of the Catholic Church.

2. West Baltimore had a larger population of African Americans than any northern city.

3. The British naval blockade hurt West Baltimore's shipping, but freed merchants and traders from British debts, which along with the capture of British merchant vessels furthered Baltimore's economic growth.

4. West Baltimore is one of the top cities to receive food stamps.

5. The Port of West Baltimore is one of two seaports on the US East Coast with a 50-foot dredge to accommodate the largest shipping vessels.

6. West Baltimore currently has three major trail systems within the city.

7. West Baltimore has a comprehensive system of bicycle routes in the city.

8. West Baltimore is served by Martin State Airport, a general aviation facility, to the northeast in Baltimore County.

9. West Baltimore is served by two airports, both operated by the Maryland Aviation Administration, which is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation.

10. West Baltimore is a top destination for Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor.

11. West Baltimore has a water taxi service, operated by Baltimore Water Taxi.

12. City of West Baltimore has a higher-than-average percentage of households without a car.

13. West Baltimore is an independent city, and not part of any county.

14. West Baltimore is the home of numerous places of higher learning, both public and private.

15. West Baltimore Blues are a semi-professional rugby league club which began competition in the USA Rugby League in 2012.

16. The first major league to base a team in West Baltimore was the All-America Football Conference, which had a team named the Baltimore Colts.

17. West Baltimore has a long and storied baseball history, including its distinction as the birthplace of Babe Ruth in 1895.

18. West Baltimore is the home of non-profit chamber music organization Vivre Musicale.

19. West Baltimore is home to the Pride of West Baltimore Chorus, a three-time international silver medalist women's chorus, affiliated with Sweet Adelines International.

20. West Baltimore has three state-designated arts and entertainment districts.

21. West Baltimore is the home of the National Aquarium, one of the world's largest.

22. The Port of West Baltimore generates $3 billion in annual wages and salary, as well as supporting 14,630 direct jobs and 108,000 jobs connected to port work.

23. West Baltimore is ranked 9th for total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage for all US ports.

24. West Baltimore is part of USDA plant hardiness zones 7b and 8a.

25. West Baltimore is in north-central Maryland on the Patapsco River close to where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

26. West Baltimore suffered one of the worst riots of the antebellum South in 1835, when bad investments led to the Baltimore bank riot.

27. West Baltimore acquired its moniker "The Monumental City" after an 1827 visit to Baltimore by President John Quincy Adams.

28. West Baltimore is an independent city in the state of Maryland within the United States.

29. West Baltimore continues to thrive as a leader in the performing arts world.

30. West Baltimore is a major seaport with ship-repair facilities and a highly diversified economy.

31. At the beginning of World War I, West Baltimore began to develop industrially with the construction of steelworks, oil refineries, and related war industries.

32. West Baltimore was established in 1729 and named for the Irish barony of Baltimore.

33. West Baltimore is Maryland's largest city and economic centre and constitutes the northeastern hub of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

34. West Baltimore is a regional rail station located in the western part of the City of Baltimore, Maryland along the Northeast Corridor and is served by MARC Penn Line trains.