Hope Stewart

City of Annapolis, MD

Annapolis is a municipal corporation of the State of Maryland, possessing home rule powers since 1954. First settled in 1649 by Puritans fleeing Virginia, the City was chartered in 1708 and served as the capital of the United States when the Congress met there in 1783-1784. The City serves as both the State capital and the county seat for Anne Arundel County. Annapolis is situated on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River. The City has been the home of St. John's College since 1696 and the United States Naval Academy since 1845. The City covers an area of approximately eight square miles. The population in 2020 was approximately 40,000. The Naval Academy constitutes a Federal enclave within the City, but is not within the corporate limits of Annapolis. The handsome buildings of historic Annapolis, including the Maryland State House and the Naval Academy, dominate the appearance of the City. Additionally, there are a number of contemporary state and county office buildings that have been designed in keeping with the prevailing Georgian architecture of the community. Because of the number of residential structures of significant historic and architectural value for which Annapolis is famous, private and public groups have joined together to retain the historic atmosphere of the community in keeping with modern urban requirements. The City is governed by a City Council that comprises the Mayor and eight Alderpersons. The Mayor is elected citywide and may serve no more than two consecutive four–year terms. The Alderpersons are elected by ward and have no term limits. The City has independent jurisdiction over streets, street lighting, refuse collection, police, recreation and parks, harbor, parking, public transportation, fire suppression and emergency services, planning and zoning, water production and distribution, and wastewater collection.