WERE THEY BORN IN BALTIMORE CITY OR BALTIMORE COUNTY? IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR AND LOCATION.

The expansion of Baltimore City into Baltimore County occurred in several distinct phases, starting back when the city was still just a town, and culminating in a final expansion in the early 20th century.

Here are the specific years and major acts that defined how Baltimore City grew by taking land from Baltimore County:

1. The Early Additions (1745–1783)

During the 18th century, the Maryland General Assembly expanded the boundaries of Baltimore Town twelve different times to absorb surrounding developments. These were relatively small parcels of land (such as absorbing Jonestown in 1745 and Fells Point later on) and caused very little political friction because Baltimore Town was still officially a part of Baltimore County.

2. The Expansion of 1816 (Effective 1818)

The first major, sweeping expansion occurred via an act passed by the General Assembly in 1816.

• The Land Taken: The city absorbed the heavily populated suburban rings right outside its borders, known as "the precincts" (stretching the borders out to what is now North Avenue).
• The Scale: This legislative fiat enlarged the city's territory to roughly 14.71 square miles.

Note on 1851: While not a land expansion, 1851 is the pivotal year Baltimore City officially separated from Baltimore County entirely, becoming an independent city. From this point forward, any land the city took was a permanent loss of territory and tax base for the county.

3. The First Major Post-Separation Annexation (1888)

As populations boomed after the Civil War, the city looked to expand its borders into a surrounding 2-mile-wide suburban band known as "The Belt."

• The Land Taken: The city successfully annexed large portions to the north and west. This absorbed industrial areas and growing commuter suburbs like Hampden and Woodberry, pushing the western city line out toward Yale Avenue.
• The Catch: The eastern suburban areas of Canton and Highlandtown strongly resisted and voted against joining the city at this time, successfully remaining in Baltimore County for three more decades.

4. The Final Expansion (1918)

The last time Baltimore City expanded its borders was 1918. After a fierce, decade-long political battle between city leaders and county residents, the Maryland General Assembly passed a statewide referendum that redrew the map.

• The Land Taken: The city absorbed 35 square miles of suburban territory. This included the areas that fought off the 1888 annexation (like Canton and Highlandtown) as well as land from Anne Arundel County (such as Brooklyn and Curtis Bay). This expansion established the city's modern footprint.

Why the Borders Stopped Moving

Baltimore City hasn't expanded since 1918 because the borders were effectively locked by law. In 1948, Maryland voters approved a state constitutional amendment known as Question 5. This amendment required that any future annexation by Baltimore City must be approved by a majority vote of the residents living in the area to be annexed. Because county residents heavily opposed joining the city, Question 5 permanently sealed Baltimore City into its 1918 boundaries.

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Do you know the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard?

While people often use the words interchangeably, there's actually a subtle historical difference:

Graveyard:

• Traditionally, a graveyard is a burial place located next to a church.
• It's usually smaller and grew up as part of a church property.
• The term has a slightly older, more religious connotation.

Cemetery:

• A cemetery is a larger, more modern burial ground, not necessarily next to a church.
• Cemeteries are planned and landscaped more like parks and can serve the wider community.
• The term comes from the Greek word koimeterion, meaning "sleeping place."

So basically, all graveyards are cemeteries, but not all cemeteries are graveyards!

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Common Polish names and their English equivalents

https://blogs.transparent.com/polish/common-polish-names-and-their-english-equivalents/

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