Cecil County Questions (Baltimore, Hagerstown, Aberdeen: how much, stores, suburbs)

[bluecountry]

I had a couple of questions about Cecil County for those familiar with the area.

First, let me say I drive through this county regularly on I-95.
I always have found it interesting because heading north it seems you are still in the Baltimore region given it's less than 40 miles from the city, has the same area code, and is in state south of the Mason Dixon line.
At the same time, when headed south it seems hard to believe this county isn't part of Philadelphia since that city is also very near, under 50 miles, and much bigger.
The suburbs in particular of Philadelphia, those in DE, are right near Cecil County.

Yet what strikes me as odd is how once crossing the DE state line headed south it becomes at once a lot more rural.
I would have thought given how close this is to Philadelphia and the DE suburbs Cecil County would be very built up.
You would never guess it was smack in between two cities.
This seems odd in a state where Hagerstown, 70 miles from DC and BAL, is considered proximity.
All of this leads me to ask

1) Is this county rural/suburban, or both?
-If rural...how much in jeopardy is it...and really how could it be rural?
-If suburban...how much is it growing?

2) What city does this county identify with more, PHI or BAL?
-What is the split?
-Does it vary by location, if so where?
-Is it shifting to one?

3) Which sports teams does this area identify with most?
-In the NFL, Eagles or Ravens?
-In MLB, Orioles or Phillies?

Thanks.

[CHIP72]

Here's a thread about Cecil County that was active less than a week ago:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/maryl...territory.html

[dwade266]

1) Is this county rural/suburban, or both? - MOSTLY RURAL
-If rural...how much in jeopardy is it...and really how could it be rural?
-If suburban...how much is it growing? GROWING LIKE ALL THE EAST COAST, EVEN MORE DUE TO MILIATARY RELOCATION FROM FT. MONMOUTH NJ TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. We have lots of farming, but there is a definite trend to crops of McMansions rather than corn or soybeans

2) What city does this county identify with more, PHI or BAL? - BALTIMORE
-What is the split? ALL BALTO TEAMS
-Does it vary by location, if so where?
-Is it shifting to one?
...All the local stores stock U of MD, Orioles, Ravens gear. You will see Phillies or Eagles stuff in Delaware stores
...We receive network broadcasts from Phila; receiption from Baltimore is pretty bad; but Philly news totally ignores Maryland (i.e., newscaster says "the only place you can ger PowerBall tickets is in NJ" - wrong - you can get them in MD!! Baltimore is closer to Phila than Princeton, but they concider Cecil Co a "Baltimore" market(

3) Which sports teams does this area identify with most?
-In the NFL, Eagles or Ravens?
-In MLB, Orioles or Phillies?