Maine

Maine
source
Name	Maine
Nickname	The Pine Tree State
Motto	Dirigo (I lead)
Capital	Augusta
Largest city	Portland
Admission date	March 15, 1820
Admission rank	23rd
Governor	Janet Mills
Lieutenant governor	Shenna Bellows
Legislature	Maine Legislature
U s senators	Susan Collins and Angus King
Area rank	39th
Area total sq mi	35,385
Population rank	42nd
Population as of	2020
Population total	1,362,359
Population density sq mi	43.8
Official lang	None (English, de facto)
Traditional abbr	Me.
Postal abbr	ME
Time zone	Eastern Time Zone
Website	www.maine.gov

Maine. The Pine Tree State is the northeasternmost constituent state of the United States, bordered by the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the north and northwest, and by New Hampshire to the west. Its dramatic coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, indented by numerous bays and inlets, and its vast, forested interior define its geography and economy. Admitted to the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise, its capital is Augusta and its largest city is the historic port of Portland.

Geography

Maine's landscape is dominated by the rugged, forested interior of the Appalachian Mountains, which include the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. The state's long, irregular coastline, stretching from Kittery to Lubec, features iconic rocky headlands, deep natural harbors like Penobscot Bay and Casco Bay, and over 4,600 offshore islands, including the popular Mount Desert Island, home to much of Acadia National Park. Major river systems include the Saint John River, the Penobscot River, and the Kennebec River, which have historically powered its industrial centers. The state also shares the Lake Champlain basin with Vermont and New York and contains large inland bodies of water such as Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Sebago Lake.

History

The territory was historically inhabited by Algonquian-speaking peoples, including the Wabanaki Confederacy nations of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseet. Early European exploration is attributed to Giovanni da Verrazzano and Samuel de Champlain, with the first French settlement established on Saint Croix Island in 1604. The area became a contested frontier between New France and New England, with conflicts like King William's War and the Battle of Fort Loyal. Following the American Revolutionary War, the region was part of Massachusetts until achieving statehood through the Missouri Compromise. The 19th century saw a thriving shipbuilding industry in cities like Bath and Belfast, and the state played a significant role in the American Civil War, with figures like Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment gaining fame at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Economy

Traditionally reliant on natural resource extraction, Maine's economy is led by industries such as papermaking, centered in Millinocket and Old Town, and commercial lobster fishing, which dominates its iconic maritime sector from ports like Stonington and Vinalhaven. Agriculture remains important, with the state being a leading producer of wild blueberries and a major source for the nation's maple syrup. Tourism is a vital sector, drawing visitors to destinations like Bar Harbor, the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport, and its many ski resorts. In recent decades, sectors like biotechnology, supported by institutions like The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, and composite materials manufacturing have grown in prominence.

Demographics

Maine has the highest percentage of French American population in the nation, concentrated in cities like Lewiston and Biddeford, a legacy of 19th-century migration from Quebec. Other significant ancestry groups include English, Irish, and German. The Wabanaki Confederacy maintains a continued presence through the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The population is largely concentrated in the southwestern corner around the Portland metropolitan area, with the expansive North Maine Woods and Aroostook County being sparsely populated. The state has the oldest median age in the U.S., a trend influencing its health care and labor markets.

Culture

Maine's cultural identity is deeply tied to its maritime and literary heritage. It is the setting for many works by Sarah Orne Jewett and E. B. White, and was the home and inspiration for Winslow Homer and Andrew Wyeth. The state is famous for its culinary staples, including the Maine lobster, clam bakes, and whoopie pies. Annual events like the Yarmouth Clam Festival, the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, and the American Folk Festival in Bangor celebrate its traditions. The state also has a vibrant craft beer scene, with breweries like Allagash Brewing Company, and is home to prestigious summer music institutions like the Kneisel Hall chamber music festival.

Government and politics

Maine's state government operates under its constitution with a governor and a bicameral Maine Legislature consisting of the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The state's judiciary is headed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. A notable feature of its electoral system is the use of ranked-choice voting in federal and state primary elections, as upheld by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Politically, Maine is known for its independent streak, having two Independent U.S. Senators in recent decades, Angus King and the late Olympia Snowe, alongside long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins. The state awards its Electoral College votes by congressional district, a method shared only with Nebraska.

Category:Maine Category:1820 establishments in the United States Category:States of the United States