Baltimore metropolitan area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greater Baltimore
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Baltimore's Inner Harbor in August 2010
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Principal municipalities	Baltimore Columbia Ellicott City Towson Glen Burnie Dundalk Annapolis
Area (2010)
• Metropolitan Statistical Area	550 km2 (210 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Metropolitan Statistical Area	2,844,510 (20th)
• Urban	(19th)
• Urban density	401.1/km2 (1,038.9/sq mi)
• CSA	9,973,383 (3rd)
	MSA = 2020, CSA = 2020, Urban & Densities = 2010
GDP
• Metropolitan Statistical Area	$241.4 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EST)

The Baltimore–Columbia–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area is a large area in Maryland. It is often called Central Maryland. This area includes the city of Baltimore and several nearby counties. It is a major center for people and businesses.

As of 2022, nearly 3 million people live here. This makes it one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It is also part of an even bigger area called the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. This larger area connects Baltimore with Washington, D.C..

What is Greater Baltimore?

Greater Baltimore is a special area defined by the U.S. government. It groups together cities and counties that are closely connected. People often live in one part and work in another. This makes the whole area feel like one big community.

The area is known for its strong economy. In 2012, families living here had one of the highest average incomes in the country. This shows that many good jobs are available.

Counties in Greater Baltimore

The Baltimore–Columbia–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area includes seven counties and one independent city. These are:

• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Carroll County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Queen Anne's County

In 2020, the total population of these areas was about 2.84 million people.

Main Communities

This metropolitan area has many important cities and towns. The biggest ones are:

• Baltimore
• Columbia
• Towson

Other well-known communities in the area include:

• Aberdeen
• Annapolis
• Bel Air
• Catonsville
• Dundalk
• Eldersburg
• Ellicott City
• Edgewood
• Glen Burnie
• Hanover
• Havre de Grace
• Jessup
• Joppatowne
• Owings Mills
• Westminster

Many people also travel to Baltimore for work from nearby cities. This includes places like York, Pennsylvania and the Washington metropolitan area.

Companies in the Area

Greater Baltimore is home to many important companies. Some of these are very large and well-known. For example, McCormick & Company, which makes spices, has its main office here. Other big companies include Under Armour, known for sports clothing, and T. Rowe Price, a financial company. These businesses provide many jobs and help the local economy grow.

Sports Teams in Greater Baltimore

Sports are a big part of life in the Baltimore area! There are many professional and college teams to cheer for.

Major Professional Teams

• Baltimore Orioles: This baseball team plays in Major League Baseball. They have been playing in Baltimore since 1954.
• Baltimore Ravens: This football team is part of the National Football League. They joined the league in 1996.
• Baltimore Blast: This indoor soccer team plays in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Other Sports Teams

You can also find other exciting teams:

• Baltimore Burn (Women's Spring Football League)
• Baltimore Nighthawks (Independent Women's Football League)
• Charm City Roller Girls (Women's Flat Track Derby Association)

College Sports Teams

Many colleges in the area have strong sports programs:

• Coppin State Eagles
• Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (especially famous for lacrosse)
• Loyola Greyhounds
• Morgan State Bears
• Towson Tigers (in Towson)
• UMBC Retrievers (in Catonsville)
• Navy Midshipmen (in Annapolis)

See also

In Spanish: Área metropolitana de Baltimore para niños