European colonization of Maryland began with the arrival of an English ship at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River on March 25, 1634.
Europeans began to settle the area further north, beginning to populate the area of Baltimore County.
The original county seat, known today as "Old Baltimore", was located on Bush River within the present-day Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The colonists engaged in sporadic warfare with the Susquehanna, whose numbers dwindled primarily from new infectious diseases, such as smallpox, endemic among the Europeans.
In 1661 David Jones claimed the area known today as Jonestown on the east bank of the Jones Falls stream.

The colonial General Assembly of Maryland created the Port of Baltimore at old Whetstone Point (now Locust Point) in 1706 for the tobacco trade.
The Town of Baltimore, on the west side of the Jones Falls, was founded and laid out on July 30, 1729.
By 1752 the town had just 27 homes, including a church and two taverns.
Jonestown and Fells Point had been settled to the east.
The three settlements, covering 60 acres (24 ha), became a commercial hub, and in 1768 were designated as the county seat.

Being a colony, the Baltimore street names were laid out to demonstrate loyalty to the mother country.
For example, King George, King, Queen, and Caroline streets.

Baltimore grew swiftly in the 18th century, its plantations producing grain and tobacco for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean.
The profit from sugar encouraged the cultivation of cane in the Caribbean and the importation of food by planters there.
As noted, Baltimore was as the county seat, and in 1768 a courthouse was built to serve both the city and county.
Its square was a center of community meetings and discussions.

Baltimore established its public market system in 1763.
Lexington Market, founded in 1782, is known as one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States today.
Lexington Market was also a center of slave trading.
Slaves were sold at numerous sites through the downtown area, with sales advertised in The Baltimore Sun.
Both tobacco and sugar cane were labor-intensive crops.

Baltimore in 1774 established the first Post Office system in what became the United States, and the first water company chartered in the newly independent nation (Baltimore Water Company, 1792).

Baltimore played a key part in events leading to and including the American Revolution.
City leaders such as Jonathan Plowman Jr. led many residents in joining the resistance to British taxes, and merchants signed agreements to refuse to trade with Britain.
The Second Continental Congress met in the Henry Fite House from December 1776 to February 1777, effectively making the city the capital of the United States during this period.
European colonization of Maryland began with the arrival of an English ship at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River on March 25, 1634. Europeans began to settle the area further north, beginning to populate the area of Baltimore County. The original county seat, known today as "Old Baltimore", was located on Bush River within the present-day Aberdeen Proving Ground. The colonists engaged in sporadic warfare with the Susquehanna, whose numbers dwindled primarily from new infectious diseases, such as smallpox, endemic among the Europeans. In 1661 David Jones claimed the area known today as Jonestown on the east bank of the Jones Falls stream.
The colonial General Assembly of Maryland created the Port of Baltimore at old Whetstone Point (now Locust Point) in 1706 for the tobacco trade. The Town of Baltimore, on the west side of the Jones Falls, was founded and laid out on July 30, 1729. By 1752 the town had just 27 homes, including a church and two taverns. Jonestown and Fells Point had been settled to the east. The three settlements, covering 60 acres (24 ha), became a commercial hub, and in 1768 were designated as the county seat.
Being a colony, the Baltimore street names were laid out to demonstrate loyalty to the mother country. For example, King George, King, Queen, and Caroline streets.
Baltimore grew swiftly in the 18th century, its plantations producing grain and tobacco for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean. The profit from sugar encouraged the cultivation of cane in the Caribbean and the importation of food by planters there. As noted, Baltimore was as the county seat, and in 1768 a courthouse was built to serve both the city and county. Its square was a center of community meetings and discussions.
Baltimore established its public market system in 1763. Lexington Market, founded in 1782, is known as one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States today. Lexington Market was also a center of slave trading. Slaves were sold at numerous sites through the downtown area, with sales advertised in The Baltimore Sun. Both tobacco and sugar cane were labor-intensive crops.
Baltimore in 1774 established the first Post Office system in what became the United States, and the first water company chartered in the newly independent nation (Baltimore Water Company, 1792).
Baltimore played a key part in events leading to and including the American Revolution. City leaders such as Jonathan Plowman Jr. led many residents in joining the resistance to British taxes, and merchants signed agreements to refuse to trade with Britain. The Second Continental Congress met in the Henry Fite House from December 1776 to February 1777, effectively making the city the capital of the United States during this period.
Baltimore