Maryland is a state on the eastern seaboard, bordered by Virginia , West Virginia , Pennsylvania , and Delaware .  Originally founded by Virginians growing tobacco along the tidal rivers in the south, the King of England granted the land to Lord Baltimore.  He then established a colony which was tolerant to Catholics. 
Maryland has changed a lot over the years, with the big city of Baltimore both growing and declining to create an eclectic mix of people.  Annapolis has retained its charm of a colonial port city where locals enjoy the picturesque Chesapeake Bay.  Crabs, particularly soft-shell crabs, are synonmyous with Maryland and much of the local cuisine incorporates seafood from the bay.  More recently, the area around D.C. has overgrown itself into a suburban nightmare of gridlock, while western Maryland still looks much the same as it did several hundred years ago