Maine State Guide

Known as the "Pine Tree State", Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Maine is bordered to the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by New Hampshire and to the northwest by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick to the north and northeast. Augusta is the capital and the Greater Portland metropolitan area is the most densely populated in Maine. Maine became the 23rd state of US on March 15, 1820^[1].


Maine Fast Facts

• Capital: Augusta
• State Animal: Moose
• State Tree: White Pine
• State Flower: White Pine Cone & Tassel
• State Bird: Chickadee
• State Fish: Landlocked Salmon
• State Insect: Honeybee
• State Gemstone: Tourmaline
• State Herb: Wintergreen
  
  

History of Maine

The earliest inhabitants of Maine were descendants of Ice Age hunters. In 1607, at Popham, the first settlement in the region was started by the Plymouth Company. A number of English settlements were established along the Maine coast in the 1620s. During the 18th century, only a half dozen settlements could survive. Throughout the first half of the 18th century England and France were involved in dispute for Maine's ownership.

Resistance to the oppressive colonial tax policies of the British Parliament began early in Maine. In June 1775 the first naval battle of the Revolution took place because a group of Maine patriots captured the armed British cutter "Margaretta" off Machias. Following the Revolution, frontier settlers pressed for separation from Massachusetts. The separation movement went forward and Congress established Maine as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.

Following statehood Maine saw a period of tremendous economic growth in which a number of important manufacturing and mining industries emerged and flourished. The temperance movement had its origins in Maine which dominated the political life of the state for more than a century. The world's first Total Abstinence Society was founded in Portland in 1815. Maine was known to have a strong anti-slavery tradition.

Prohibition and the abolitionist movement gave the Republican Party its start in Maine in 1854. Following the Civil War,Maine's textile and leather industries enjoyed a dramatic upward surge. The Great Depression of the 1930s brought the state's economy to a grinding halt. The state came to rely heavily on small manufacturing enterprises, tourism and defense-related activities and installations for much of its economic base. In political sphere the Republican Party dominated Maine politics.

Geography of Maine

Situated in the New England region, Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost portion of New England. Maine is bordered to the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by New Hampshire and to the northwest by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick to the north and northeast. The state covers a total land area of 30,842.92 square miles^[2]. Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain range. The longest river in the state is St. John River. The largest lakes in the state are Moosehead Lake, and Sebago Lake.


Geography Fast Facts

• Total Area: 30,842.92 square miles
• Latitude: 43^o 4'N to 47^o 28'N
• Longitude: 66^o 57'W to 71^o 7'W
• Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean
• Highest Point: Mt. Katahdin
• Central Point: Piscataquis County
• Major Cities: Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Auburn, Biddeford
• Major Rivers: Androscoggin River, Penobscot River, Kennebec River, St. John River
• Major Lakes: Moosehead Lake, Richardson Lake
  
  

Topography of Maine

Maine has mostly rocky coastline and low, rolling mountains. Maine divides into three major regions-- the Coastal Lowlands, Eastern New England Uplands and White Mountains.

Coastal Lowlands: Starting at the Atlantic Ocean the region extends ten to forty miles inland. The Coastal Lowlands comprises flat, sandy beaches in the south, small sandy beaches in the north and salt marshes and tidal creeks in the western part of the Coastal Lowlands.

Eastern New England Uplands: The Eastern New England Uplands are area lying to the northwest of the Coastal Lowlands. About twenty to fifty miles wide the region stretches from Canada south to Connecticut. The Aroostook Plateau lie in the northern portion of the New England Uplands. This area has fertile soil and is famous for Maine Potato crops.

White Mountains: The White Mountains are an extension of New Hampshire's White Mountains and cover the northwestern part of the state. The highest point of Maine Mount Katahdin is found in this region.

Mountains in Maine

Mountains in Main include:

• Mount Katahdin
• Old Speck Mountain
• Crocker Mountain
• Goose Eye Mountain
• North Brother
• White Cap Mountain
• Spaulding Mountain
• Saddleback Mountain
• Elephant Mountain
• Mount Kineo
  
  

Climate of Maine

Maine has a humid continental climate with warm and humid summers and cold and snowy winters. Due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean the coastal areas have a moderate climate. The average temperatures vary from 62^o to 66^o F. The average January temperatures range from about 10^o F. in the north to 24^o F. in the south. Precipitation is abundant during all seasons and ranges from 34 to 46 inches annually. Snow generally blankets Maine all winter long. Maine is generally safe from hurricanes, tornadoes and tropical storms.

Forests in Maine

Forests in Maine are home to varied flora and fauna. Maine forests are important for the economic growth of the state. They are also important source of timber, paper, wood product, bio fuel and bio energy resources. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry looks after the forests of Maine. The department makes plans and policies for the conservation, development and uplift of Maine forests.

Contact Details
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
22 State House Station
18 Elkins Lane
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: (207) 287-3200
Fax: (207) 287-2400

Read more on Maine forests

Facts on Maine Forest

• $1 out of every $16 in Maine’s gross state product and 1 of every 20 jobs is associated with the forest products sector of Maine^[3].

• 16.3 million acres of land are privately owned.

• 1.1 million acres of land are State and local government owned.

• About a third of the working forestland in Maine are family-owned forests providing about 25 percent of the wood used in making forest products.

• Forests in Maine are a recreation and tourism destination.

• Paper manufacturing is the largest segment of forest products sector of Maine.
  

White Mountain National Forest

The White Mountain National Forest supplies forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.

Contact Details
White Mountain National Forest
71 White Mountain Drive
Campton NH 03223
Phone: (603) 536-6100
Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain

Demographics of Maine

Maine had an estimated population 1,330,089 as of 2014 estimation by the U.S Census Bureau, which reflected an increase of 0.13% since the year 2010^[4]. The population density of the state is 41.3 people per square mile. Maine’s center of population is situated in Kennebec County. Some of the major ancestral groups in Maine include French or French-Canadian, English, Irish, American, German.

Major racial ethnic groups in Maine

• White alone: 95.2%
• Black or African American: 1.4%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7%
• Asian: 1.1%
• Two or More Races: 1.6%
• Hispanic or Latino: 1.4%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 94.0%

The common languages spoken in the state are French, English, Irish, Italian and Polish. The common religious groups in Maine are Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical Protestant, Methodist, Buddhism, Bahai, Hinduism and Islam.

Maine Population Quick Facts

• Population, 2014: 1,330,089^[4]
• Population, 2013: 1,328,702
• Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014: 0.1%
• Population, 2010: 1,328,361
• Persons under 5 years, percent, 2013: 4.9%
• Persons under 18 years, percent, 2013: 19.7%
• Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2013: 17.7%
• Female persons, percent, 2013: 51.0%
  
  

Economy of Maine

Maine's total gross state product for 2010 was $52 billion^[5] and per capita personal income for 2007 was US$33,991, according to the survey done by Bureau of Economic Analysis. As regards to employment in Maine in January 2015, 656.3 people were employed in Maine while 36.1 remained unemployed and the unemployment rate was 5.2%^[6].


Maine Economy Fast Facts:

Gross domestic product (GDP) in millions of current dollars (2013)^[7]

• All industry total: 54,755
• Private industries: 47,206
• Construction: 2,338
• Manufacturing: 5,675
• Durable goods manufacturing: 2,717
• Nondurable goods manufacturing: 2,958
• Whole sale trade: 2,943
• Retail trade: 4,554
• Transportation and warehousing: 1,271
  
  

Agriculture in Maine

• The top five agricultural products of Maine are dairy products, chicken eggs, greenhouse and nursery products, potatoes and aquaculture products.

• Eggs, chicken eggs and milk are the leading livestock products in the state.

• Maine's largest crop is Maine State Potatoes crop.

• Apples are Maine's most valuable fruit crops.

• Maine is a leading producer of wild blueberries.
  
  

Industry in Maine

• Maine's leading manufactured products are paper products, including paper, cardboard boxes, paper bags and pulp.

• Other important manufacturing sector are computer and electronic equipment and transportation equipment.

• Sand and gravel and limestone are the base products of mining industry of Maine.

• The fish and shellfish industry of Maine is ranked high among the states.

• Maine's leading service industry is Community, business, and personal services (hotels, private health care, law firms, repair shops)

• Other topmost service industries are wholesale and retail trade industries and the finance, insurances and real estate industries.
  
  

Tourism in Maine

Tourism also plays a vital role in Maine economy. Many plans and programs are implemented to improve Maine's transportation network and accordingly enhance the tourism sector. Some of the major tourist attractions in Maine include:

• Acadia National Park
• Kennebunkport
• Bowdoin College Museum of Art
• Old Fort Western Museum on the Kennebec
• Monhegan Island
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
• Coos Canyon
• Baxter State Park
• Cadillac Mountain
• Cranberry Isles
  
  

Education in Maine

Maine has a very well functioning education system. The Maine Department of Education supervises and manages the workings of all schools, and higher education systems in the state. The department’s mission is to provide world class education and best values to the students to ensure overall progress and success. The department provides technical assistance, resources and guidance for school districts to implement proficiency-based education to promote student learning.

Contact Details
Maine DOE
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6600
Fax: (207) 624-6700
Website: http://www.maine.gov/doe/

The topmost universities and colleges in Maine are the following:

• University of Maine at Augusta
• University of Maine at Farmington
• University of Maine at Fort Kent
• University of Maine at Machias
• University of Maine at Presque Isle
• University of Southern Maine - Portland
• Maine Maritime Academy
• Central Maine Community College
• Eastern Maine Community College
• Southern Maine Community College

For list of universities and colleges in Maine click here

Government of Maine

The Constitution of Maine is the guardian of the Government of Maine as the government is structured and established by the State Constitution of Maine. The State Constitution of Maine divides the powers of the government into three distinct departments— the legislative, the executive and the judicial.

The Maine Executive Branch is a well functioning body of the state government. Several state government departments work under the executive branch for the smooth functioning of the government. The Governor of Maine leads the executive branch of the government as the supreme executive head.

The Maine Legislature is the law making and supervising body of the state government of Maine. The Legislative power is vested in the legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature and consists of 151 members. The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature and consists of an odd number of Senators, not less than 31 not more than 35.

The judicial power of the State is vested in the Supreme Judicial Court and such other courts. The Supreme Judicial Court is Maine's highest court and the court of final appeal.

Read more on Maine Government

Maine Health Care

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services provides health care and social service support to the citizens of the state. The Department protects the lives of the people, strives to control and prevent disease and provides oversight to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care entities in the state. The department works efficiently to improve the health and living standards of the community by implementing many health regulating services and policies. The health department also has divisions which provide all vital records and health statistics of the state.

Hospitals in Maine provide quality health care to the citizens of the state. The Maine hospitals provide emergency, inpatient, outpatient care and diagnostic every day to those in need. The hospitals in Maine are well equipped with state of art technology and provide committed services to the patients. The topmost hospitals in Maine known for giving outstanding services to the people of the state are Maine Medical Center, Central Maine Medical Center, MaineGeneral Health, Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center among others.

Read more on Maine Healthcare

Transportation in Maine

The Maine Department of Transportation overviews the entire transportation network of the state and ensure safe and easy commuting of people and goods. The MaineDOT provides safe and secure mobility and travel options for the residents of the state and provide for a transportation system and services that are well maintained, reliable and efficient. The department strives to achieve transportation excellence in the state and develops plans and programs relating to the system of highways, roads, railways and airways and waterways in Maine.

The road transport in Maine comprises of highways, state routes, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian routes. The Maine transport department is committed to provide convenient, safe and reliable road transportation and easy connectivity to various cities and states.

Maine has a well developed air transportation network that serves the locals and tourists from all over the world. Air transportation in Maine offers all round efficient and easy connectivity to the people.

Railways play a major role in transportation in Maine. The Maine department of transportation overviews the rail services and proper functioning of railways in the state.

Water Transportation in Maine is another major transportation system in the state. Water transport network serves the people as an enjoyable mode of transportation as well as a major mode for freight movement to various cities and states. Ports in Maine serve the people by giving cargo, ferry, boating and cruising services.

Read more on Maine Transportation

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References:

1. Maine Statehood
2. Maine Area
3. Maine forest
4. Maine population
5. Maine GDP
6. Maine Employment
7. Economy Fast Facts