City of Baltimore

Although it is the birthplace of the National Anthem, home to the first commercial ice cream factory in the US, and among the nation's oldest cities, Baltimore is more than an asterisk to history. With a population of more than 630,000, the city -- Maryland's largest -- supports a major seaport, and is part of the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. The city's economy is founded on shipping, transportation, auto manufacturing, and steel processing. It is, however, shifting to a diverse service base attractive to tourists. Baltimore is governed by an elected mayor, 14 city council members and a council president, who oversee an annual budget of $2.8 billion. It is home to the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens.