Maine
Pine Tree State · Capital: Augusta · Northeast (New England)
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Bordering states: New Hampshire.
About Maine
Maine touches only one state, New Hampshire; the rest of its land border, about 611 miles, runs with Canada, and West Quoddy Head in Lubec is the easternmost point of the contiguous states. The coast is a landscape of ridges and valleys drowned by the sea, so 228 miles of general coastline stretch to about 3,478 miles of tidal shore. Mount Katahdin, 5,267 feet, is the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. About 89 percent of Maine is forest, the highest share of any state, and more than half its land has no municipal government. Glaciers left more than six thousand lakes and ponds. Its record low is 50 degrees below zero.
The Wabanaki nations, including the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy, lived here before Europeans arrived. French colonists wintered on Saint Croix Island in 1604, and the English Popham Colony lasted one winter in 1607. Massachusetts governed Maine from the 1650s. The Royal Navy burned Falmouth, now Portland, in 1775, and British forces occupied eastern Maine in 1814. Maine entered the Union on March 15, 1820 as the 23rd state, the free half of the Missouri Compromise. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 settled the northern border after the bloodless Aroostook War, and in 1863 the 20th Maine held Little Round Top.
Maine had 1,362,359 residents in 2020, up 2.6 percent from 2010, and holds two House seats. Augusta has been the capital since 1832, and Portland is the largest city. Lumber, ice, granite and textile mills built the 19th-century economy, and French-speaking families from Quebec shaped mill towns such as Lewiston and Biddeford. Maine now lands about 80 percent of the American lobster catch, and Bath Iron Works has built Navy warships for more than a century. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland in 1807, and Margaret Chase Smith of Skowhegan was the first woman elected to both houses of Congress. The state motto is Dirigo, meaning I lead.
4 fun facts about Maine
- Maine lands most of the lobster caught in the US, around 80% in most years.
- Eastport is the easternmost city in the United States and one of the first places in the country to see the sunrise.
- Stephen King lives in Bangor and sets many of his novels in fictional Maine towns (Castle Rock, Derry, 'Salem's Lot).
- L.L. Bean has been based in Freeport since 1912, when Leon Leonwood Bean began selling his waterproof hunting boot.
More about Maine
Frequently asked questions about Maine
Is Maine a US state?
Yes, Maine is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1820, making it the 23rd state. Its capital is Augusta and its largest city is Portland.
What is the capital of Maine?
The capital of Maine is Augusta. Note that the largest city in Maine is Portland, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Maine become a state?
Maine became a US state in 1820. It is the 23rd state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Maine?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Maine is ME.
How big is Maine?
Maine ranks #39 of 50 US states by area. With 44.2 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 38th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Maine?
Maine had 1,362,359 residents at the 2020 census, the 42nd largest population of the 50 states, up 2.6% since 2010. That count gives it 2 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Maine in?
Maine is in the Northeast region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Maine in?
Maine observes Eastern Time.
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How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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