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Home of the state capital, its oldest university, and the region’s largest airport, with borders defined by the Chesapeake Bay and two of its major rivers, Anne Arundel County and its seat of Annapolis are among Maryland’s most important political, economic, and cultural crossroads. In 1694, Maryland’s provincial capital was relocated from St. Mary’s City to Anne Arundel Towne, which was renamed Annapolis in honor of then Princess Anne. During the 1700s, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County grew rapidly along with the area’s status as the economic, social, and political center of the colony. The City was laid out according to a modified Baroque plan by Francis Nicholson, Maryland’s second royal governor. Nicholson, who also planned Williamsburg, Virginia, steered away from the common colonial grid pattern in favor of a more European urban environment with public circles and radial streets.

As Baltimore grew thanks to its superior ports, Anne Arundel County’s northern areas developed strong mining and manufacturing industries with important links to westward areas via the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the late 1800s, the rest of the primarily agricultural economy shifted its focus from tobacco to food products, such as seafood, and later, to truck farming. At the same time, the county’s coastal beauty supported the growth of the summer resort and recreational industry that residents and visitors still enjoy today.

The presence of the U.S. Naval Academy and Fort Meade provided robust defense activity in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis. In 1950, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport opened in the northern part of the county. It now has the highest passenger count of any Baltimore-Washington area airport and is ranked 23rd nationally. Anne Arundel is currently one of Maryland’s most populous and attractive counties in which to live, work, and visit. Likewise, Annapolis maintains a position of political authority as Maryland’s capital, and has continued to preserve and cultivate its historic, seafaring culture.

Anne Arundel County is Maryland’s 4th largest, with over 550,000 residents in 2014. Annapolis is the 7th most populous incorporated community in Maryland, with just shy of 39,000 residents.

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Course Roster

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

Summer 2017

Fall Showcase Photos (December 13, 2016)

Photos courtesy of Bethany Swain and the City of Annapolis