Annapolis << uh NAP uh lihs >> (pop. 40,812) is the capital of Maryland and the home of the United States Naval Academy. Annapolis lies along the Severn River on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.
The layout of the city features two central circles, with narrow streets branching off in all directions. Colonial buildings give Annapolis a historic charm. They include Paca House, built in 1763 by Governor William Paca; and the red brick State House, built in 1772. The State House is the oldest state capitol still actively used by a legislature. The Continental Congress met in the State House when Annapolis was the United States capital, from Nov. 26, 1783, to June 3, 1784. It was in this building that George Washington resigned as commander of the Continental Army on Dec. 23, 1783. St. John’s College was founded as an academy in Annapolis in 1696.
The economy of Annapolis is based heavily on tourism and government activities. The city is a yachting center. Puritans founded Annapolis in 1649. Annapolis (meaning Anne’s city) was named for Queen Anne of Britain, a country now called the United Kingdom, who gave the city its charter in 1708. Annapolis has a mayor-council government. The city is the seat of Anne Arundel County.
