ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the primary activities in Maryland. People in Maryland earn their livelihood from a variety of occupations—from farming and fishing to research and development—representing all sectors of the economy, but specific occupations tend to be concentrated in specific areas or locations. In Maryland, as in the United States as a whole, only a small percentage of the labor force is employed in the primary sector. The theme of diversity within a relatively small area clearly carries over into Maryland agriculture. Maryland's dairy industry had its start with the growth of cities and towns within the state and nearby. Although only 1 percent of Maryland's employment is in fishing, it remains an important economic activity, especially on the Eastern Shore and parts of the western shore. Beginning in the colonial period and continuing into the late 1800s, Maryland was a significant producer of metallic minerals: principally ores of iron, copper, and chrome.