Geography and Climate of Maine
As the northernmost state in New England, Maine, or the “Pine Tree” state, borders New Brunswick and Quebec in Canada to the north, New Hampshire to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east. Maine also has the distinction of having some of the easternmost points of interest in the U.S., such as West Quoddy Head in the town of Lubec. Machias Seal Island and North Rock are still disputed areas of territory between the U.S. and Canada.
Geologists believe that rising sea levels coupled with glacial activity created bays out of valleys, hence giving it a distinctive craggy coastline. Somes Sound is the only fjord on the eastern seaboard, with an extreme depth of 175 feet and a steep drop-off that lets ships navigate most of the length. Bubble Rock, on the other hand, is a glacial anomaly at the edge of Bubble Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Jagged rocks and cliffs characterize Maine’s 3,500 miles of coastline and ocean scenery. Thousands of bays and inlets are distinguishable, with tons of lighthouses, beaches and fishing villages dotted along the rocky coast. There are also offshore islands, including the Isles of Shoals, located between the Maine and New Hampshire border. Contrast the picturesque ocean views with forests, mountains, lakes and rivers in the background, and it is easy to see why Maine is a tourist attraction.
Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in New England, while Old Sow is the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere. Maine is sparsely populated, with an abundance of uninhabited land. For example, the Northwest Aroostook unorganized territory has one person for every 100 square miles.
Maine has a humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and snowy cold winters. The climate tends to get worse in the most northern areas of the state. Areas next to or near the coast are more likely to experience moderate weather due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Although severe snowstorms and thunderstorms can happen throughout the year, Maine is relatively safe from tornadoes and hurricanes.
History of Maine
The originally inhabitants of Maine were Algonquin, Penobscots, Abenaki, Passamaquoddy and Wabanki Native American tribes. An expedition led by Samuel de Champlain in 1604, prompted French settlement. The French named the area Arcadia. Three years later, English settlers from Plymouth established the Popham Colony in 1607, which failed to survive.
In 1652, the province became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The English and French fought over the province during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Once the French were defeated, the territory became part of the Province of Nova Scotia, until the American Revolutionary War.
Since the language was vague with regard to the placement of Maine’s boundary with British North America, the state became part of Massachusetts. Eventually, population growth and geographical separation from the rest of Massachusetts led Maine to become an independent state in 1820, through the Missouri Compromise.
River valleys like Penobscot and Kennebec grew as Maine adopted an industrialized economy. In the 1820s, lumber production led to the establishment of various sawmills. The copious amount of wood and long coastline led to the development of Maine’s shipbuilding industry, which became important for coastal towns.
Pulp and paper production, granite quarrying, fishing, shoemaking and brick masonry rounded out Maine’s economic growth. The influx of immigrant laborers during the 1800s led to a cultural backlash of French language and culture, which was later reversed by more French-Canadians migrating from Quebec and New Brunswick.
Despite these new industries, Maine remained an agricultural state, with most people living in separate small villages. Farming communities began to decline in the 1850s, as towns were deserted or left stagnant in favor of westward expansion. However, tourists arriving in the mid-1800s, building summer resorts and cottages in beach towns like Sorrento, Bar Harbor and Islesboro. The wealthy, the middle class and the artistic nomad came to Maine for its beauty and helped shift its culture and economy to tourism.
Demographics of Maine
As of 2008, Maine has an estimated population of 1,321,504. Most people from Maine are Christian, with 57 percent Protestant and 25 percent Catholic. However, 17 percent claim to be non-religious.
There is a large percentage of French Americans residing in Maine due to proximity to the Canadian border and French-Canadian immigration. Other noteworthy ancestral groups in Maine include English, Irish, German, Italian and Polish. Most of rural northern Maine is settled by Franco-Mainers, while British settlers mostly occupy the mid-coast and southern parts of the state.
Given its stunning surroundings, Maine is a popular vacation choice and tourist destination. However, large numbers of people arrive during the warm and pleasant summer months before escaping the harsh, cold winters. Hence, the census count on Maine residents can be misleading, since it may seem as though some communities are larger than their small population can justify.
Economy of Maine
Maine’s total gross state product for 2003 was $41 billion, with a per capita income of $29,164.
Although much of the state has rocky soil, Maine has long depended on agricultural products in its economy, producing a quarter of North America’s blueberries and making the state the largest blueberry producer in the world. Maple syrup and sugar, apples, poultry, dairy, eggs and potatoes are also main agricultural outputs. Commercial fishing is also a big industry, particularly for juicy Maine lobsters.
Paper, lumber and wood products, along with shipbuilding and textiles, are very important industries for Maine. Tourism and outdoor recreation are increasingly significant contributors to the state’s overall economy.
Maine Law and Government
Democrat John Baldacci presently serves as the Governor of Maine, while Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe represent Maine in the U.S. Senate and Democrats Mike Michaud and Tom Allen serve as congressional representatives in the U.S. House. The Maine House of Representatives and Senate have 151 and 35 members, respectively.
Historically, Maine’s political legacy was closely tied to the Republican Party, supporting it from the Civil War to the 1930s, when most states voted Democrat in favor of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The expression “as Maine goes, so goes the nation,” came from Maine’s ability to predict presidential winners based on the party of its governor, including the elections of Presidents William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.
By the 1960s, Maine started leaning towards the Democratic Party, and is a bellwether or swing state with leftist tendencies. Maine tends to support independent and third party candidates, such as Ross Perot’s Reform Party during the 1990s.
Maine Transportation
The Portland International Jetport and Bangor International Airport handle most of Maine’s commercial aircraft. Maine residents also use nearby airports in New York and Boston. A few other smaller regional airports serve different areas of Maine.
I-95 is a main thoroughfare in the state, which branches off into I-295 running north. Route 1 goes from Fort Kent to Florida following the coastline, while Route 2 begins near the Canadian border and travels into New York. Route 6 and Route 9 are also frequently in use, as passageways to other states or Canada.
Amtrak has a passenger train that goes from Portland to Boston, stopping at a few coastal towns along the way.
Major Cities and Towns of Maine
There are 22 cities, 432 towns and 34 plantations within the state of Maine, all which cover less than half of the territory. Many organized towns in Maine participate in the town meeting and council-manager form. Augusta is the state’s capital.
Portland is Maine’s largest municipality, equal parts educational and cultural. Those who want to explore the woods of Maine can jog down a trail stretching from the city to Brunswick. Take a walk around one of the historical parks like Baxter Boulevard, while the Downtown Arts District features art museums, galleries and theatres.
Maine Educational System
Since Maine is so small and consists primarily of towns, many local schools and regional school districts incorporate two or more towns. Many private schools, especially high schools, often develop contracts with the town to subsidize tuition so more people can afford to send their children.
The state has several community colleges, along with the University of Maine system, with its flagship school in Augusta and several other campuses in Machias, Fort Kent, Farmington, Rockland and Presque Isle. Bates College, Bowdoin College and Colby College are among the nation’s top liberal arts universities.
Maine Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
While there are no major sport franchises located in Maine, the state is home to the Portland Sea Dogs, a minor league baseball team, and the Portland Pirates, part of minor league hockey.
Maine is a popular state for hunting, especially moose, bear and deer, as well as fishing, camping, biking and hiking. Summertime visitors can enjoy the beaches or exploring wooded areas, while winter travelers come to the area for its phenomenal skiing and snowboarding.
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