#### History, Background, and Facts (This section continues from the Profile found at the Home Page of the Region III Web Site)

![](media/image1.png){width="3.3229166666666665in"
height="2.0520833333333335in"}

In general terms our Region can trace its history back to the 13
original colonies.   The Region is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean on
the East, and the Appalachian Mountains to the West.  The land varies
between flat seacoast to moderately steep mountains, with large areas of
forest, and several dense metropolitan areas.    Region III contains all
of the types of transportation.  There are airports, shipping ports,
freight rail, long distance rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail,
ferryboats, bus, trucking, and highway.  Four of the top twenty transit
properties in the country are located within the Region.

**Delaware**

Henry Hudson claimed Delaware for the Dutch in 1609, however the Indians
killed the Dutch settlers shortly after the construction of the
settlement about 1631.  Next the Swedes constructed a colony, which was
later turned over to the Dutch.  The English were also interested in the
area, and they took control in 1664.  By 1704 the English had started
its own government.  Delaware was the first state to ratify the
Constitution, December 7, 1787, giving the state the nickname First
State.  Delaware used canals and waterways for transportation and
commerce.  Presently Wilmington and Dover are areas very involved with
the manufacturing of chemicals, an outgrowth of manufacturing
gunpowder.  The southern part of the state is mainly an agriculture area
with some tourism.  Delaware's Capital is Dover, and its largest city is
Wilmington.  The city of New Castle had the distinction of having the
first scheduled steam railroad in 1831.  More information on the State
of Delaware and transit in Delaware can be found at the Delaware State
web site (
[http://www.delaware.gov/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7911_ENG_HTML.htm)
) or the Delaware Department of Transportation web site
([http://www.deldot.net/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7912_ENG_HTML.htm)
).

**District of Columbia**

The Constitution includes the requirement for the District of Columbia. 
It was to be no larger than 10 square miles.  On December 1, 1800, an
area on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland became the
permanent capital of the United States.  The District has had several
types of government including a three-member commission, elected and
appointed leaders, two-house legislature, and a nine-member council. 
The residents first voted for the president in 1961.  A mayor and a City
Council now run the local government.  The District currently has a
non-voting representative in Congress.  Additional information on the
District of Columbia may be found at (
[http://www.dc.gov/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7913_ENG_HTML.htm) )
and for transit visit the DC Department of Transportation at

([http://www.ddot.dc.gov/main.shtm](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7914_ENG_HTML.htm)
).

**Maryland**

Early Europeans explored the Chesapeake Bay, however the area was not
settled until 1632 when Lord Baltimore received a royal grant, for a
colony of Catholics from England.  The government of the colony,
initially, allowed religious freedom until the Puritans gained a
majority.  From then on, Catholics were persecuted.  Maryland\'s early
resistance to English rule lead to the colony playing a big part during
the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.  During the battle for Fort
McHenry, Francis Scott Key wrote \"The Star-Spangled Banner."  Maryland
was the seventh state to ratify the Constitution, on February 6, 1788. 
It became an important commerce center during the 1800's by the
construction of the railroads and canals.  Maryland was included with
the Union during the Civil War.  Presently its ports and factories are a
strong point of the state.  Annapolis is the Capital of Maryland, and
its largest city is Baltimore.  The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built
the first railroad station in Baltimore about 1830.  Web sites for
Maryland include the state site (
[http://www.mec.state.md.us/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7916_ENG_HTML.htm)
) and transit information is available on the Maryland Department of
Transportation web site
([http://www.mdot.state.md.us/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7915_ENG_HTML.htm)
).

**Pennsylvania**

English settlers arrived in the Delaware River in the 1600's.  They
constructed temporary settlements.  However, the Swedes constructed the
first permanent settlements on the river.  In 1681 King Charles II of
England gave William Penn a charter for his settlement.  He hoped for a
free government for all men.  Soon settlers of other religions arrived,
including Mennonites, Amish, Welsh and Scottish-Irish heritage.  In
1776, Philadelphia was the location of the Continental Congress, which
produced the Declaration of Independence and, in 1787, the U.S.
Constitution. Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution on December 12,
1787, five days after Delaware to become the second state.  It was the
scene of many of the Revolutionary War battles, including Valley Forge,
Brandywine, and Germantown.  During the Civil War, Gettysburg was the
scenes of a famous battle.  Gettysburg was also the location of
Lincoln's famous address.  During the 1800's and 1900's, Pennsylvania
was important in the processing of iron and steel.  The Capital of
Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, and Philadelphia is the commonwealth's
largest city.  Pennsylvania has the distinction of having the first
service station.  It opened in 1913 in Pittsburgh.  Philadelphia had the
first daily newspaper and the first zoo.  Additional Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania data can be found at the state web site (
[http://www.state.pa.us/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7918_ENG_HTML.htm)
) or additional information on transit in Pennsylvania can be found at
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation  web site
([http://www.dot.state.pa.us/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7917_ENG_HTML.htm)
).

**Virginia**

In 1607, colonists first came to Jamestown Virginia, and it became the
first permanent British settlement in North American.  Tobacco was the
primary crop.  Early colonists from this area include the famous
patriots Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry.  They were a major
influence on the colonies and in the Revolutionary War.  Virginia became
the 10th state on June 25, 1788.  Virginia, a slave state seceded from
the Union, and joined the Confederate states in 1861.  At this time
western Virginia seceded from Virginia itself, and formed the new state
of West Virginia.  During the Civil War many battles were fought in
Virginia, including the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) and
Appomattox.  After the damage and destruction of the war Virginia had to
work hard to return to prosperity.  Being close to the nations capital
it is the home to many of the government's offices.  Virginia's largest
city is Virginia Beach, and its Capital is Richmond.  Richmond is also
known for having the first electric streetcar in 1888.  Dulles
International Airport, near the District of Columbia, is one of the
world's busiest.  The state is also known for having the longest
bridge-tunnel complex, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  The
Commonwealth of Virginia
([http://www.virginia.gov/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7919_ENG_HTML.htm)
) and Virginia Department of Transportation
([http://virginiadot.org/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7921_ENG_HTML.htm)
) both maintain interesting web sites.

**West Virginia**

The Europeans began to settle West Virginia in the 1700s while it was a
part of Virginia.  Early visitors to the region include George
Washington and Daniel Boone.  Later many English came and built
settlements.  The Native Americans and the French resisted and a part of
the French and Indian war took place in West Virginia.  Originally a
part of Virginia, it separated and became the 35^th^ state on June 20,
1863.  West Virginia sided with the Union in the Civil War.  The region
was an early agricultural area until coal was found.  Its economy was
changed as the area became and still is one of the largest producers of
coal.  Today the area is also a tourist destination and an important
producer of chemicals.  The state produces 15% of the coal produced in
the United States.  The Capital, and largest city of West Virginia is
Charleston.  On December 3, 1787 James Rumsey launched the first
steamboat on the Potomac River in New Mecklensburg.  Wheeling has one of
the first suspension bridges completed in 1849.  Web sites include the
State
([http://www.state.wv.us/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7923_ENG_HTML.htm)
) and the West Virginia Department of Transportation
([http://www.wvdot.com/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7922_ENG_HTML.htm)
).

#### **Demographics** 

 

+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
|             | Region | [D   | [M    | [P     | [V    | [W  | [Dis  |
|             | III    | elaw | aryla | ennsyl | irgin | est | trict |
|             |        | are] | nd]{. | vania] | ia]{. | Vir | of    |
|             |        | {.un | under | {.unde | under | gin | C     |
|             |        | derl | line} | rline} | line} | ia] | olumb |
|             |        | ine} |       |        |       | {.u | ia]{. |
|             |        |      |       |        |       | nde | under |
|             |        |      |       |        |       | rli | line} |
|             |        |      |       |        |       | ne} |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Population  | 28,4   | 817  | 5,508 | 12,3   | 7,38  | 1,8 | 56    |
|             | 51,923 | ,491 | 9,909 | 65,455 | 6,330 | 10, | 3,384 |
|             |        |      |       |        |       | 354 |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Number of   | 60     | 2    | 10    | 23     | 18    | 6   | 1     |
| Transit     |        |      |       |        |       |     |       |
| Properties  |        |      |       |        |       |     |       |
| -Urban      |        |      |       |        |       |     |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Annual      | 1      | 8    | 1     | 402,4  | 54,49 | 3,7 | 4     |
| Ridership   | ,002,1 | ,529 | 16,44 | 98,938 | 2,913 | 13, | 16,46 |
| -- Urban    | 42,744 | ,100 | 3,725 |        |       | 068 | 5,000 |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Number of   | 64     | Prov | 15    | 19     | 18    | 12  | N/A   |
| Transit     |        | ided |       |        |       |     |       |
| Properties  |        |      |       |        |       |     |       |
| -Rural      |        | by   |       |        |       |     |       |
|             |        | De   |       |        |       |     |       |
|             |        | lDOT |       |        |       |     |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Annual      | 10,7   | 516  | 5,20  | 3,1    | 94    | 9   | N/A   |
| Ridership - | 39,802 | ,181 | 2,054 | 66,926 | 5,241 | 09, |       |
| Rural       |        |      |       |        |       | 400 |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Persons/[\  | 2.46   | 2.54 | 2.61  | 2.48   | 2.54  | 2   | 2.16  |
| ]{.underlin |        |      |       |        |       | .40 |       |
| e}Household |        |      |       |        |       |     |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Per Capita  | \$     | \$23 | \$2   | \$     | \$2   | \$  | \$2   |
| Income      | 23,152 | ,305 | 5,614 | 20,880 | 3,975 | 16, | 8,659 |
|             |        |      |       |        |       | 477 |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Land Area\  | 1      | 1    | 9,774 | 44,817 | 3     | 24, | 61    |
| (Sq Miles)  | 20,278 | ,954 |       |        | 9,594 | 078 |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| [Highest    | \-     | New  | Bac   | Mt.    | Mt.   | Spr | T     |
| Point\      |        | Ca   | kbone | Davis  | Ro    | uce | enley |
| ]{.un       |        | stle | Mtn.  | 3,212  | gers\ | Kn  | town\ |
| derline}Ft. |        | 442  |       |        | 5,729 | ob\ | 410   |
| Above Sea   |        |      | 3,360 |        |       | 4,  |       |
| Level       |        |      |       |        |       | 861 |       |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Persons/\   | 1,798  | 4    | 541.9 | 274    | 178.8 | 7   | 9,    |
| Square Mile |        | 01.1 |       |        |       | 5.1 | 316.4 |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+
| Number of   | 43     | 1    | 8     | 19     | 11    | 3   | 1 --  |
| Co          |        |      |       |        |       |     | Non   |
| ngressional |        |      |       |        |       |     | V     |
| Districts   |        |      |       |        |       |     | oting |
+-------------+--------+------+-------+--------+-------+-----+-------+

#### **Congressional Delegates**

Region III serves the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and West Virginia.  There are a total of 43 House and Senate
delegates in the five states and the District of Columbia, divided as
follows:

**House of Representatives**

District of Columbia: 1 (Non-Voting)\
Delaware: 1\
Maryland: 8\
Pennsylvania: 19\
Virginia: 11\
West Virginia: 3

**Senate**

Two Senators per state.

The ability to contact a Congressional Delegations regarding matters of
concern is one of the foundations of government.  In order to contact a
Congressional Delegation please see the following U. S. Congressional
web sites: House:
[http://www.house.gov/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7926_ENG_HTML.htm)
or Senate:
[http://www.senate.gov/](http://www.fta.dot.gov/7087_7927_ENG_HTML.htm)