Annapolis (/ə-ˈnä-pə-ləs/) is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is the main city of Anne Arundel County and the only officially recognized city in the county. Located on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, 25 miles (40 km) south of Baltimore and about 30 miles (50 km) east of Washington, D.C., Annapolis is part of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census reported a population of 40,812, which is a 6.3% increase from the 2010 census.
Annapolis was the main meeting place for the Confederation Congress, which was previously known as the Second Continental Congress. It served as the temporary national capital of the United States from 1783 to 1784. During this time, General George Washington appeared before the group meeting in the new Maryland State House and gave up his position as commander of the Continental Army. A month later, the Congress approved the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolutionary War and led Great Britain to recognize the independence of the United States. The city and state capitol were also the location of the 1786 Annapolis Convention, which encouraged states to send representatives to the Constitutional Convention held the next year in Philadelphia. The Annapolis Peace Conference occurred in 2007.
Annapolis is home to St. John's College, which was founded in 1696. The U.S. Naval Academy, established in 1845, is located near the city's boundaries.
History
A settlement named "Providence" was established in the Province of Maryland on the north shore of the Severn River, on the middle Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in 1649. It was founded by Puritan exiles from the Province/Dominion of Virginia, led by William Stone, the third Proprietary Governor of Maryland (1603–1660). Later, the settlers moved to a safer harbor on the southern shore of the Severn River. The settlement on the south shore was called "Town at Proctor's" from 1683, then "Town at the Severn," and finally became "Anne Arundel's Towne" in 1694. This name honored Lady Anne Arundell (1616–1649), the late wife of Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore (1605–1675).
In 1654, after the Third English Civil War, Parliamentary forces took control of Maryland, and William Stone left the colony and went into exile in Virginia across the Potomac River. Following orders from Lord Baltimore, Stone returned to Maryland in the spring of 1654 with a group of Cavalier royalists loyal to the uncrowned King of England. On March 25, 1655, during the Battle of the Severn—the first naval battle in North America—Stone was defeated, captured, and replaced by Lt. Gen. Josias Fendall (1628–1687) as the fifth Proprietary Governor. Fendall governed Maryland during the latter part of the English Commonwealth period. In 1660, after King Charles II (1630–1685) was restored to the throne in England, Fendall was replaced by Phillip Calvert (1626–1682) as the fifth/sixth Governor of Maryland.
In 1694, after the short rule of Thomas Lawrence, the second Royal Governor of Maryland (1645–1714), the third Royal Governor, Francis Nicholson (1655–1727/28), moved the capital of Maryland to Anne Arundel's Towne and renamed it "Annapolis" after Princess Anne of Denmark and Norway, who later became Queen Anne of Great Britain (1665–1714). Annapolis was officially incorporated as a city in 1708. In 1709, Governor John Seymour (1704–1709) wrote to Queen Anne about rules for city officials and plans for fairs and market days in Annapolis.
During the 17th century, Annapolis was a small village, but it grew quickly in the 18th century. It became a political and administrative center, a port for trade, and a major hub for the Atlantic slave trade. The Maryland Gazette, an important weekly newspaper, was founded in Annapolis in 1745 by Jonas Green. A theater opened in 1769, and the city had significant commerce until Baltimore became a major port in 1780. Later, industries like oyster-packing, boatbuilding, and sailmaking became important in Annapolis. Today, recreational boating has largely replaced the seafood industry in the city.
Dr. Alexander Hamilton (1712–1756), a Scottish doctor and writer, lived and worked in Annapolis. His 1744 travel diary, Gentleman's Progress: The Itinerarium of Dr. Alexander Hamilton, is described by Leo Lemay as "the best single portrait of men and manners, of rural and urban life, of the wide range of society and scenery in colonial America."
Annapolis became the temporary capital of the United States after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. From November 26, 1783, to August 19, 1784, Congress met in the state house in Annapolis. On December 23, 1783, General George Washington resigned his position as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in Annapolis.
For the 1783 Congress, the Governor of Maryland commissioned John Shaw, a local cabinetmaker, to create an American flag. Shaw's design was unique: the blue field covered the entire height of the flag's hoist. He made two versions—one starting with a red stripe and another with a white stripe.
In 1786, delegates from five states—New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware—met in Annapolis to discuss improving trade. They agreed to call for another meeting in Philadelphia the next year to amend the Articles of Confederation. This led to the Philadelphia Convention, where the Constitution of the United States was written and approved.
In 1861, midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island, and stayed there until 1865. That same year, the first of three camps for holding paroled soldiers was built on the campus of St. John's College. The second camp, near Forest Drive, held over 20,000 soldiers. The third camp, near the Elkridge Railroad, was completed in late 1863 to help transport soldiers and supplies. This area is still called "Parole." Soldiers who died in the camps were buried in the Annapolis National Cemetery.
In 1900, Annapolis had a population of 8,585. On December 21, 1906, Henry Davis was lynched in the city after being accused of assaulting a local woman. No one was ever tried for the crime.
During World War II, shipyards in Annapolis built PT boats. Military vessels like minesweepers and patrol boats were also built there during the Korean and Vietnam wars. In July 1940, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg arrived in Annapolis during World War II.
In 1984, the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis hosted soccer games as part of the XXIII Olympiad.
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused the largest storm surge in Annapolis's history, reaching 7.58 feet (2.31 meters). Much of downtown was flooded, and many homes and businesses were damaged. A Stanford University study found that high-tide flooding in 2017 led to 3,000 fewer visits and $172,000 in lost revenue for local businesses.
From mid-2007 to December 2008, Annapolis celebrated the 300th anniversary of its 1708 Royal Charter, which established democratic self-governance. Events were organized by Annapolis Charter 300.
Annapolis was home to the Anne Arundel County Battle of the Bands, held at Maryland Hall from 1999 to 2015. The event raised over $100,000 for high school music programs in the county.
On June 28, 2018, a gunman killed five journalists and injured two others at the Capital Gazette.
On September 1, 2021, an EF-2 tornado struck the western edge of Annapolis during the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Homes, businesses, and restaurants near Maryland Route 450 suffered significant damage. The tornado
Geography
Annapolis is located 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) south of Baltimore and 30 miles (about 48 kilometers) east of Washington, D.C. It is the closest state capital to the national capital. In land area, Annapolis (proper) is the smallest of the United States capital cities.
The city is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and has mostly flat land. The highest point in the city is only 50 feet (about 15 meters) above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.10 square miles (about 20.98 square kilometers). Of this, 7.18 square miles (about 18.60 square kilometers) is land, and 0.92 square miles (about 2.38 square kilometers) is water.
Annapolis has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers, cool winters, and plenty of rain throughout the year. Its low elevation and closeness to the Chesapeake Bay lead to milder spring and summer temperatures and less extreme winter cold compared to places farther inland, such as Washington, D.C.
In November 2020, NASA reported that Annapolis had 18 days of high-tide (non-storm-related) flooding from May 2019 to April 2020. This was an increase from 12 days in 2018 and higher than the 1995–2005 average of 2 days per year. The rise in flooding is linked to sea level rise caused by climate change. Flood damage caused local businesses to lose up to $172,000 each year. On Naval Academy grounds, seawater flowed from storm drains, and McNair Road and Ramsay Road flooded 20 times in 2020 and more than 40 times in 2018 and 2019. A $37 million sea wall was completed in 2024 to help manage flooding that occurs 30 to 40 times yearly. However, solutions like sea walls and raising roadways and athletic fields are expected to last only a few decades.
Annapolis has experienced the fastest increase in coastal flooding in the United States. The Naval Academy is especially at risk because it is surrounded by water on three sides and has land only three feet above the 2019 water level. Hurricanes, which have grown stronger due to global warming, add to the flooding threat. Hurricane Isabel caused $100 million in flood damage in 2003. The Academy’s Sea Level Rise Advisory Council has developed a plan to adapt to rising seas, including repairing seawalls, installing door dams and barriers, adding backflow preventers to storm drains, and raising building entrances.
After 120 flooding events in 2024, on November 3, 2025, work began on an $87 million City Dock Project. The project aims to protect the city from flooding through 2060, specifically against floodwaters up to 8.77 feet (about 2.67 meters) above the daily average lowest water level—higher than the 7.2 feet (about 2.2 meters) reached during Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The plan includes adding floodgates, raising land to block rising water, building a park, and constructing a Maritime Welcome Center.
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Demographics
As of the 2020 census, Annapolis had a population of 40,812. The median age was 37.0 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.6 males aged 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 16,751 households in Annapolis. 27.3% of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.8% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 18,455 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.
As of the 2010 census, there were 38,394 people, 16,136 households, and 8,776 families living in the city. The population density was 5,347.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,064.6/km²). There were 17,845 housing units at an average density of 2,485.4 units per square mile (959.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.1% White, 26.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 9.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 16.8% of the population.
There were 16,136 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 35.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.6% were non-families. Of all households, 35.0% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.02.
The median age in the city was 36 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 35,838 people, 15,303 households, and 8,676 families living in the city. The population density was 5,326.0 inhabitants per square mile (2,056.4/km²). There were 16,165 housing units at an average density of 2,402.3 units per square mile (927.5 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.66% White, 31.44% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 8.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,303 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 36.6% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. Of all households, 32.9% were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, 21.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.8 males aged 18 and over.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,243, and the median income for a family was $56,984. These figures had risen to $70,140 and $84,573, respectively, according to a 2007 estimate. Males had a median income of $39,548, versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,180. About 9.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were living in poverty, of which 20.8% were under age 18 and 10.4% were age 65 or over.
Economy
Based on the city's 2018 annual financial report, the top employers in the city, not including state and local government, are:
Arts and culture
Annapolis has an active community theater scene that includes two venues in the historic district.
On East Street, Colonial Players produces about six shows each year in its 180-seat theater. A Christmas Carol has been a seasonal tradition in Annapolis since it opened at the Colonial Players theater in 1981. Based on the play by Charles Dickens, the 90-minute production by the Colonial Players is an original musical version, with play and lyrics by Richard Wade and music by Dick Gessner. Colonial Players, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1949. Its first production, The Male Animal, was performed in 1949 at the Annapolis Recreation Center on Compromise Street. In 1955, the organization moved to its venue in a former automotive repair shop on East Street.
During the warmer months, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents three shows on its outdoor stage, which is visible from the City Dock. A nonprofit organization, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has been providing "theatre under the stars" since 1966, when it performed You Can't Take It with You and Brigadoon at Carvel Hall Hotel. It began renting its site at 143 Compromise Street, the former location of the Shaw Blacksmith Shop, in 1967, and became owner of the property in 1990.
The Naval Academy Masqueraders, a theater group at the United States Naval Academy, produces one "main-stage show" each fall and student-directed one-act plays in the spring. Founded in 1847, the Masqueraders is the oldest student activity at the Naval Academy. Its shows, performed in Mahan Hall, are chosen to help teach English classes.
The King William Players, a student theater group at St. John's College, holds two performances each semester in the college's Francis Scott Key Auditorium. Admission is usually free and open to the public.
The Banneker-Douglass Museum, located in the historic Mount Moriah Church at 87 Franklin Street, documents the history of African Americans in Maryland. Since its opening on February 24, 1984, the museum has provided educational programs, changing exhibits, and a research facility. Admission is free.
Preble Hall, named for Edward Preble, houses the United States Naval Academy Museum, founded in 1845. Its Beverley R. Robinson Collection contains 6,000 prints showing European and American naval history from 1514 through World War II. It is also home to one of the world's best ship model collections, donated by Henry Huttleston Rogers. Rogers's donation was the reason for building Preble Hall. The museum has about 100,000 visitors each year.
The Hammond-Harwood House, located at 19 Maryland Avenue, was built in 1774 for Matthias Hammond, a wealthy Maryland farmer. Its design was based on Andrea Palladio's Villa Pisani to fit American Colonial preferences. Since 1940, when the house was bought from St. John's College by the Hammond-Harwood House Association, it has served as a museum showing a collection of John Shaw furniture and Charles Willson Peale paintings. Its exterior and interior keep the original look of a mansion from the late Colonial period.
Annapolis City Dock lies at the foot of Main Street, which slopes down from Church Circle and St. Anne's Church. The dock is now a narrow waterway from Spa Creek, once named Carrol's Creek with the dock area called Dock Cove, into the heart of the lower town. At the head of the dock is a small park with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, the Market House, and a traffic circle in an area covered with asphalt surrounded by historic buildings. The Market House, though relatively modern, stands in a place once occupied by similar market houses dating to 1730 when the city market was moved from the State House area to the head of the dock. The dock itself is now used mostly by recreational boats rather than the commercial boats and boats of Chesapeake Bay watermen selling catches. The dock and surroundings are part of the Colonial Annapolis National Historic Landmark (NHL) District.
The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, located in a park at the head of Annapolis City Dock, honors the arrival point of Alex Haley's African ancestor, Kunta Kinte, whose story is told in Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. A group of statues at the memorial site shows Alex Haley sitting, reading from a book to three children. The last part of the memorial was completed in 2002.
The Paca House and Garden includes an 18th-century Georgian mansion built by William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The property includes a terraced garden that has been restored to its colonial-era design.
Annapolis often serves as the ending place for the 3,000-mile annual transcontinental Race Across America bicycle race.
To the north of the state house is a monument to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the US Supreme Court and a former Maryland lawyer who won many important civil rights cases.
Located just before the Naval Academy Bridge is the World War II Memorial, built in 1998 to symbolize the sacrifice made by the 275,000 citizens from Maryland who joined the military to fight in the war. The memorial includes 48 granite columns to represent the 48 states at the time of the war surrounding an amphitheater where the names of 6,454 men who died in the war are listed. Directly behind the memorial are both the Maryland and United States flags, and a star-shaped column with a base with seven sides to represent Maryland being the seventh state in the Union.
Sports
On March 9, 2010, the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse moved from Washington, D.C., to the Annapolis area, specifically at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. In 2013, the Bayhawks won the league's championship, the Steinfeld Cup, for the fifth time in the team's history.
Annapolis Blues FC is a men's amateur soccer team that plays in USL League Two, which also uses Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium as its home field.
Parks and recreation
The city has more than 200 acres (81 hectares) of parkland, with the largest park being Truxtun Heights Park, which covers 70 acres (28 hectares). Quiet Waters Park is a 340-acre (140 hectares) regional park managed by Anne Arundel County. It offers water access, a playground, more than 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) of paved trails, an ice skating rink, and a dog beach.
- Bayhead Park
- Bestgate Park
- Broad Creek Park
- Broadneck Park
- Browns Wood Park
- Generals Highway Corridor Park
- Jones and Anne Catharine Park
- Peninsula Park
- Truxton Park
- Whitmore Park
- Wiley H. Bates Heritage Park
Annapolis has many events and festivals that happen during different times of the year or for holidays. Some examples include the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, May Day, and the United States Naval Academy Commissioning Week.
Government
Annapolis is managed using a weak mayor system. The city council has eight members, called aldermen, who are elected from eight separate districts. The mayor is chosen by all city residents in a vote. Since 2008, some aldermen have tried to change the city's rules to create a council–manager system, but these changes were not approved. Both the Democratic mayor, Joshua J. Cohen, and the Republican mayor who followed him, Mike Pantelides, did not support this change.
The state government offices, including the legislature, governor’s office, and appellate courts, are located in Annapolis. Although Annapolis is the only capital city in the state, some administrative offices, such as several important government departments, are located in Baltimore.
Education
Annapolis is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system. Annapolis High School, which was founded in 1896, offers a well-known IB International Program.
Public schools in the Annapolis area include:
• Annapolis High
• Annapolis Middle
• Bates Middle
• Annapolis Elementary
• Eastport Elementary
• Georgetown East Elementary
• Germantown Elementary
• Hillsmere Elementary
• Mills-Parole Elementary
• Rolling Knolls Elementary
• Severn Run High
• Tyler Heights Elementary
• West Annapolis Elementary
Private schools in the Annapolis area include St. Anne's School of Annapolis, Aleph Bet Jewish Day School, Annapolis Area Christian School, St. Martins Lutheran School, Severn School, St. Mary's High School (Annapolis, Maryland), and Indian Creek School. The Key School, which is located on a converted farm in the Hillsmere neighborhood, has served Annapolis for more than 50 years. Anne Arundel County's alternative school, Mary E. Moss Academy, which has about 160 students in grades 6–9, is also located in the Annapolis area.
Media
The Capital reports on news from Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Annapolis is located within the broadcast areas of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., where many television and radio stations operate. Additionally, Annapolis is the location of the radio station WNAV.
Infrastructure
No major highways enter the city of Annapolis. Just outside the city, I-595 / US 50 / US 301 runs through the area on an east–west path, connecting Annapolis to Washington, D.C., and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I-97 connects with I-595/US 50/US 301 a few miles west of Annapolis and provides the most direct route to Baltimore. MD 2 also runs just outside the city and is the best way to reach Southern Maryland, while also offering an alternate route to Baltimore.
The most important roads that directly lead to Annapolis include MD 70, which connects downtown Annapolis to US 50/US 301, and MD 665, which also connects the southwestern parts of the city to US 50/US 301. Other state highways that serve Annapolis include MD 181, MD 387, MD 393, MD 435, MD 436, MD 450, MD 788, and MD 797.
The Annapolis Department of Transportation offers bus service with eight routes, all named Annapolis Transit. This system connects the city to recreational areas, shopping centers, schools, hospitals, and job centers. ADOT also provides transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. Several Maryland Transit Administration commuter buses also help people travel to Baltimore or Washington, D.C.
From 1840 to 1968, Annapolis was connected to other places by railroad. The Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway operated two electric rail lines that brought passengers into the city from the South and the North. The southern line ran along King George Street and Main Street, leading directly to the statehouse, while the northern line came into the city through Glen Burnie. In 1935, the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway went out of business because of the Great Depression and stopped service on its southern line. However, the new Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad kept service on the northern line. Steam trains from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad sometimes ran on the line to Annapolis, mainly for special Naval Academy events. Passenger rail service on the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad ended in 1950, and freight service stopped in 1968 after the old and broken bridge over the Severn River was declared unsafe. The tracks were finally removed in 1976.
In popular culture
The 1992 movie Patriot Games was partially filmed in Annapolis, especially near the United States Naval Academy. The 1955 movie An Annapolis Story is set at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. The 2006 movie Annapolis is set in the city named Annapolis. The 2014 movie Are You Here was partially set in Annapolis.