Located as it is on the Atlantic coast, industry and trade have historically been important segments of the city of Baltimore's economic picture. People with a zip in Baltimore have always depended on the port for their livelihoods, although the exact jobs generated by the city's location have changed over time in terms of importance.

Baltimore is of course one of the most storied cities in the United States, being one of the first colonies established on the continent. The roots of the city were laid precisely because of its location close to the Atlantic Ocean, with a natural port which was perfect for shipping. The booming tobacco industry at the time provided the main wealth from which the city would grow and expand.

The port also became a major shipyard within the first half century of its existence. Mills began to spring up behind the wharf. These mills processed the wood needed to build ships of all types, which were then moved into the harbor with through the assistance of other ships and cable glands. Before long, the Baltimore shipping yards were among the most important in the 13 colonies.

That presence began to allow the city to take on critical mass, which would allow both the industrial and trade sectors to flourish well in the last half of the 20th century. Case packing systems were used to bundle the bread, cereals, and other products made from the grainfields of Maryland after they were shipped to the city for processing.

The technological revolution begun after the first world war would benefit the city for years to come as well. Steel became one of the most important materials in the Baltimore economy, and was processed in any number of different applications. The General Motors plant in the city would process steel for rotary airlock frames in American submarines, and later in their vehicle models as well.

Today, while the port still remains important in the economic picture of the city, its purpose has shifted somewhat. While steel is still shipped to and from the city, it is more likely to arrive and leave packaged according to a coil labeling system rather than be processed right in town. The low skill and high wage jobs which once defined the economy of the city have long since gone to other areas. This has resulted in a more service based industry, complemented by the processing of value added goods.

Today, while trade and industry remain important parts of the Baltimore economy, they have taken on an entirely new face. The mills have been replaced with warehouses, where PVC tubing cutters are used to break the constraints of goods as they are received. It's likely that this trend will continue into the future, as the city concentrates less on production and more on shipping and selling the actual products.