Preface
Regional Economic Indicators, published by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and its predecessors since 1978, is recognized as a standard source for statistics on the Baltimore region. It is a compendium of the most current data available on a wide variety of key economic criteria, i.e., population and housing, health and education, employment and income, business conditions, government finances and transportation. Each major section of the report includes a brief narrative presenting the highlights of recent trends in the respective subject areas.

The report focuses on the six local jurisdictions that comprise the Baltimore region: Baltimore City and the five surrounding counties – Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard. However, its use of comparative data puts the local data into a unique perspective within the state of Maryland and the United States.

The report contains data for these jurisdictions, the Baltimore region, the state of Maryland, and the U.S. It does not include data for Queen Anne’s County, (unless otherwise noted) which is technically part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as used by the U.S. Census Bureau. Inclusion of such data would make about a one percent difference in the regional population totals.

The annual statistics that make up the 2005 edition are generally for the period from 1970 to 2000 or later. Many of the tables have been revised and updated with data available through 2004. In particular, population, household and housing data from the 2000 census, released by the U.S. Bureau of the Census between 1960 and 2004, are now included in this edition. For certain key indicators, projections for future years are available in other reports published by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council such as periodic releases of Cooperative Forecasts, prepared in cooperation with state and local planners.

For future updates of the tables in this report or additional information, please contact the Regional Information Center, ric@baltometro.org or 410-732-9570.

Regional Economic Indicators, 2006 Edition was prepared by the staff of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council as a service to its local government members and the general public.

Several individuals had responsibility for researching and updating the tables, preparing the graphs and charts, and writing narrative sections highlighting some of the new findings. The principal contributors were Starr Burton, Mary Logan and Victor Bonaparte. The work was carried out under the direction of Dunbar Brooks, Manager of Data Development. Others contributing to the preparation of the 2006 edition include Frederick Bennett, Bala Akundi, William Leonard and Stephanie Walsh.