Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Baltimore, Maryland
State Maryland
City Baltimore City
County1 Baltimore*
City Population (2005)2 608,481 11.1% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 18 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 18 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium High Density
State Capitol City Annapolis
State Population (2005)2 5,461,318
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/17/2007) Sheila Dixon
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.baltimorecity.gov/mayor/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 410-396-3835
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 4, 2008
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Martin O'Malley
State/Governor Website http://www.maryland.gov/portal/server.pt?
State/Governor Contact Information 410-974-3901
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.41    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 20.4%    
     Disability Status 20.9% 61  
     Emphysema 1.40% 69  
     Cardiovascular Disease 27.04% 68  
     Diabetes 5.76% 68  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.54% 60  
     Adult Asthma 8.03% 33  
     Adult Obesity 19.8%   20
     People Without Health Insurance 14.2%   26
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.5% 36  
     Age: 65 years and over 12.2% 56  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 38.0% 64  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 26.1% 10  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 52.1% 21  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 11.4% 61  
     Individuals Below Poverty 23.9% 61  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 30.6% 57  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 71.5% 51  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 7.0% 10  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.3    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 23.1 (of 51) 24  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 16,354,245 pounds   19
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 22,259,157 pounds 20
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,304,649 pounds 15
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 164,125,518 pounds 19
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 250,791,228 pounds 22
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 50.4 grams 31
Number of Superfund Sites in County 2 sites 37  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.988 tons per person 21
Recycling Rate (1997) 29.0% 20
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 7,015,513 tons 32
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.3 tons/person 24
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 2,200,625 tons 17
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 31.4% 15
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 19.6% 6
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 31.6% 25
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 8.3% 13
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    3.2***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 255,400 tons   35
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 71,500 tons   20
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 31,420,500 tons   19
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,330.0 pounds   35
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 4.5 days 26  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 12.3 PM2.5 64  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 16.6 PM2.5 50  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 10.5 days 48  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 5.0 PM2.5 51  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 14.9 PM2.5 45  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.01 ug/m3 2  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.026 ppm 49  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 27 ug/m3 31  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 20 days 41  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score) 3.5    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade Good ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Good ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Fair ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Gunpowder-Patapsco ---  
# of Units in Watershed 111 units 14  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 79 units 14  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 54 units 48  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 68.4% 30  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 28.8% 41  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 40.76 inches 25  
Water Area Total, square miles 2,522 square miles 31  
Water Area Inland, square miles 680 square miles 47  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 1,842 square miles 4  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Baltimore ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 48 years 48  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 114 days 29  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Baltimore ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 48 years 50  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 21.1 inches 26  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 7,730,000,000 gallons/day 38  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 289,000,000 gallons/day 67  
Ground water, gallons/day 246,000,000 gallons/day 58  
Surface water, gallons/day 7,480,000,000 gallons/day 34  
Irrigation, gallons/day 57,000,000 gallons/day 52  
Public Supply, gallons/day 907,000,000 gallons/day 29  
Industrial, gallons/day 331,000,000 gallons/day 40  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 6,360,000,000 gallons/day 27  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 150,000,000 gallons/day 64  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Baltimore City ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 1,600,000 people 7  
Year(s) Included in Summary (Not Available) ---  
Total Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water (Not Available) ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 1 violation 35  
Health Violations 1 violation 54  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score) 3.2    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 8,058.4 people per square mile 12  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 3,718.6 housing units per square mile 9  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 31.1 minutes 67  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 26.6 minutes 61  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 15.2% 21  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 19.5% 8  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 7.4% 14  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.3% 52  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 101.7 29  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 71.0 MV registrations   9
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 38.3%   22
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 45.4 MV registrations   20
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.09 MV registrations   12
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 30,688 miles   11
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.714%   46
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 54.7%   7
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.01 miles   7
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 7.92 miles   7
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,885,000,000   31
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $61,425 per mile   45
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 46.2%   17
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 27.0 hours per person 37  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $458 per person 38  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $1,057,000,000 33  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 17 gallons per person 37  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $34,055 55  
Median Household Income (2000) $30,078 64  
Per capita income (2004) $19,921 50  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $16,978 60  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 19.3% 58  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 22.9% 61  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 23.9% 61  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 7.3% 60  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 30.6% 57  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 33,744 people 55  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.2% 61  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 11.4% 61  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 6.0% 61  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 10.7% 64  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 17.0% 29  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 6.1% 22  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $6.15 per hour 23  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 112,759 kids (2.1% of total pop.) 20  
Largest School District Enrollment 99,859 kids (1.8% of total pop.) 15  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 71.5% 51  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 47.9% 48  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 73.9% 63  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 24.0% 53  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 38% 64  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Ahead of the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 244,634 units 20  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 46.1% 37  
Cost of Living: Housing 146.2 57  
Cost of Living: Utilities 119.5 51  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 96.3 15  
Cost of Living: Overall 116.0 52  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 63.72%   26
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 46.80%   31
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 59.90%   21
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 30.7%   21
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 7,524.4 incidents per 100,000 people 51  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,839.4 incidents per 100,000 people 69  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,685.0 incidents per 100,000 people 39  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 7,548.3 incidents per 100,000 people 50  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 2.8    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 4.3 parks per square mile 5  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 78.0 park acres per city square mile 6  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 8.8 acres 34  
Parkland as % of City Area 11.1% 14  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $42 per resident 5  
Total City Tree Canopy % 33.5% 8  
Total City Urbanized Area % 42.1% 12  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks No ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.54% 60
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.03% 33
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.30% 68
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.40% 69
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 27.04% 68
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.76% 68  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 19.8% 20
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 8.6% 26
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 9.0% 10
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 7.5% 32
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 200.9 34
Cost of Living: Health 94.2 15  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 14.1% 25
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 14.2% 26
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.7% 27
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.1% 26
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 24 farms 8
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 29 markets 12
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 1 restaurant 28
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 5 grocery stores 8
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 1 other source 45
Cost of Living: Food 92.8 7
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 82.5% 54
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 50.1% 61
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score) 3.2    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 2 programs   6
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 500 kW   4
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 500 kW   4
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds support Energy Effeciency   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 8%   18
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2019   14
States with Green Pricing Programs None   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Exercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings

LEED or Green Globe certification Required (for all capital projects greater than 5,000 sq. ft.)

   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 6.7%   20
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 45 years 46
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 58% 29
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.9 mph 30
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.6 mph 31
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.7 mph 35
Heating Degree Days 4,707 days 29
Cooling Degree Days 1,137 days 35
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 45 years 11
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 77% 16
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 54% 15
Elevation, feet 33 feet 12
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 608,481 18 (of 72 in EDN study) 11.1% of state population
City Population (2000) 651,154 17 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 5,461,318 19 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Mid-Atlantic ---  
EPA Region 3 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 81.0 square miles 49 1.4% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 9,775 square miles 42  
Watershed Name Gunpowder-Patapsco ---  
Elevation, feet 33 ft. (10.0 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 32.3°F (0.2°C) 41
Average Daily Temperature - July 76.5°F (24.7°C) 34  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 35.9 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 74.0% 39  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 12.2% 16  
Under 5 years of age 45,626 kids (7.5% of total pop.) 21  
One Race-White % (2005) 30.2% 66  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 69.8% 7  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 2.3% 65  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 7.0% 63  
Largest School District Name Baltimore City Public School System ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network