Maryland is emerging as one of the nation’s most colorful states when it comes to swearing, with a notable concentration of profanity on social media. Maryland ranked first in the United States in 2024, according to a FOX5 report, and remains in first place according to the most recent data.
Recent data from a study released by WordTips, shows that Maryland registers 66.3 swears per 1,000 tweets– a figure rivaled only by Louisiana (61.7) and Georgia (57.4). However, when zooming in on Maryland, one city in particular– Baltimore– stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Baltimore has earned the title of America’s sweariest major city, posting 78.2 profane tweets per 1,000. This rate significantly outpaces Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s 72.9 swears per 1,000 tweets, placing Baltimore at the top of the profanity leaderboard. The average swear frequency in Maryland is heavily influenced by Baltimore’s statistics, making it a focal point for cultural and social analysis in the state.
Experts suggest that this high level of profanity in Baltimore might reflect the city’s unique social and cultural dynamics. One contributing factor could be the influence of local voices like The Wire’s David Simon (a Montgomery County native), a well-known figure celebrated for his candid– and often imaginative– twitter outbursts. His unabashed style resonates with a population unafraid to express genuine emotion, whether in frustration, humor, or celebration.
While other regions like Louisiana and Georgia also show high levels of swearing, Baltimore’s numbers underscore how localized culture in Maryland can drive broader statewide trends. As Maryland navigates its identity in a nation known for its contrasting regional dialects and attitudes, its colorful language on social media offers a fascinating insight into an authentic, unsanitized voice of urban American life.