The Baltimore–Columbia–Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Central Maryland, is a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in Maryland as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It is part of the larger Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. As of 2022, the combined population of the seven counties is 2,985,871, making it the 20th-largest metropolitan statistical area in the nation.
The area has the fourth-highest median household income in the United States, at $66,970 as of 2012.
The area includes the following counties:
County | 2021 estimate | 2020 Census | Change | Area | Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baltimore County | 849,316 | 854,535 | −0.61% | 598.30 sq mi (1,549.6 km) | 1,420/sq mi (548/km) |
Anne Arundel County | 590,336 | 588,261 | +0.35% | 414.90 sq mi (1,074.6 km) | 1,423/sq mi (549/km) |
Baltimore City | 576,498 | 585,708 | −1.57% | 80.94 sq mi (209.6 km) | 7,123/sq mi (2,750/km) |
Howard County | 334,529 | 332,317 | +0.67% | 250.74 sq mi (649.4 km) | 1,334/sq mi (515/km) |
Harford County | 262,977 | 260,924 | +0.79% | 437.09 sq mi (1,132.1 km) | 602/sq mi (232/km) |
Carroll County | 173,873 | 172,891 | +0.57% | 447.59 sq mi (1,159.3 km) | 388/sq mi (150/km) |
Queen Anne's County | 50,798 | 49,874 | +1.85% | 371.91 sq mi (963.2 km) | 137/sq mi (53/km) |
Total | 2,838,327 | 2,844,510 | −0.22% | 2,601.47 sq mi (6,737.8 km) | 1,091/sq mi (421/km) |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 96,201 | — | |
1830 | 120,870 | 25.6% | |
1840 | 134,379 | 11.2% | |
1850 | 210,646 | 56.8% | |
1860 | 266,553 | 26.5% | |
1870 | 330,741 | 24.1% | |
1880 | 415,649 | 25.7% | |
1890 | 507,348 | 22.1% | |
1900 | 639,332 | 26.0% | |
1910 | 720,387 | 12.7% | |
1920 | 852,051 | 18.3% | |
1930 | 984,606 | 15.6% | |
1940 | 1,083,300 | 10.0% | |
1950 | 1,337,373 | 23.5% | |
1960 | 1,820,314 | 36.1% | |
1970 | 2,089,092 | 14.8% | |
1980 | 2,199,531 | 5.3% | |
1990 | 2,382,172 | 8.3% | |
2000 | 2,552,994 | 7.2% | |
2010 | 2,710,489 | 6.2% | |
2020 | 2,844,510 | 4.9% | |
2022 (est.) | 2,835,672 | −0.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 |
The metropolitan area includes the following principal communities:
It also includes several other communities (not necessarily incorporated as cities or towns):
In addition to its technical metropolitan area, Baltimore also receives a large number of commuters from cities such as York, Pennsylvania and the Washington metropolitan area.
Four Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Greater Baltimore: Grace Chemicals in Columbia and Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, and McCormick & Company in Hunt Valley.
Other companies headquartered in Greater Baltimore include AAI Corporation and Sinclair Broadcast Group in Hunt Valley and Adams Express Company, Brown Advisory, Alex Brown, First Home Mortgage Corporation, FTI Consulting, Petroleum & Resources Corporation, Prometric, Sylvan Learning, Laureate Education, Under Armour, DAP, DeBaufre Bakeries, Wm. T. Burnett & Co, Old Mutual Financial Network, Fila USA, and Firaxis Games in Sparks.
The capital of Maryland and the agencies of the Maryland state government are located in the Baltimore MSA, mainly in Annapolis and Baltimore City. The area is also home to the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters in Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, as well as the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in Woodlawn in Baltimore County.
Year | DEM | GOP | Others |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 61.7% 878,185 | 35.7% 507,676 | 2.7% 38,014 |
2016 | 55.8% 733,718 | 37.9% 497,637 | 6.3% 83,046 |
2012 | 57.8% 746,052 | 39.8% 513,164 | 2.4% 31,212 |
2008 | 57.4% 725,858 | 40.7% 513,811 | 1.9% 24,189 |
2004 | 52.2% 602,806 | 46.5% 536,565 | 1.3% 15,019 |
2000 | 53.9% 529,648 | 42.6% 418,775 | 3.4% 33,713 |
1996 | 52.0% 449,711 | 39.8% 344,488 | 8.2% 71,112 |
1992 | 48.8% 489,922 | 35.8% 359,098 | 15.4% 154,849 |
1988 | 48.2% 417,858 | 51.1% 443,183 | 0.7% 6,268 |
In Baltimore County: