The cities of Washington and Baltimore and their suburbs were combined after the 1990 Census into a Washington-Baltimore Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). Geographical areas that have this federal designation include communities with “a high degree of economic and social integration.” This integration between the Washington and Baltimore areas is evidenced by such indicators as: the joint application to host the Olympic Games, the joint use of the Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and the many Washington area fans who attend the Baltimore Orioles’ games. Nevertheless, the two areas have been experiencing different growth trends in the 1990s.
