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Maryland on the US map
Maryland sits in the Northeast region of the United States — specifically the mid atlantic subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #42 of 50, Maryland is one of the smallest US states by total area. The map above highlights Maryland in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Maryland is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Maryland is Annapolis. The largest city by population, however, is Baltimore — not Annapolis. This pattern (capital ≠ largest city) holds for about 33 of the 50 US states, including most of the famous mismatches like California (Sacramento, not LA), Florida (Tallahassee, not Miami), and New York (Albany, not NYC).
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Maryland shares land borders with 4 other US states: Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #42 of 50
- Population: 5 to 10 million
- Coastline: atlantic
- Mountain ranges: appalachians
- Time zone: Eastern
- Region: Northeast — mid atlantic subregion
- Appalachian range: yes
Major highways and transportation
Maryland is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Baltimore and Annapolis, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Maryland to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Maryland notable firsts
- One of the 13 original colonies
🌟 Maryland trivia
- The US Naval Academy is in Annapolis — every Navy officer trains there.
- Maryland's state sport is jousting (since 1962, predating any other state's official sport).
- The Chesapeake Bay produces more blue crab than any other US body of water.
- The Star-Spangled Banner was written during the British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, 1814.
Maryland vs similar states
How does Maryland compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Annapolis | 5 to 10 million | #42 | 1788 |
| Connecticut | Hartford | 1 to 5 million | #48 | 1788 |
| Delaware | Dover | 1 to 5 million | #49 | 1787 |
| Maine | Augusta | 1 to 5 million | #39 | 1820 |
Bordering states (4)
Maryland shares borders with 4 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Maryland appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Maryland
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Maryland's region (Northeast) and similar size category: