23rd state, admitted on March 15, 1820
What do you know about the state of Maine? Honestly, before writing this article, apart from the fact that this region in New England is the largest, or more precisely, it’s the size of all the other states in the region combined (!) and that it’s incredibly beautiful in the fall, we didn’t know much at all.
But now, after researching a ton of information, we can tell you the most valuable and interesting facts to help you decide: is Maine the place of your dreams, or maybe not?
Maine is the land where Stephen King and Rockefeller were born. A place where cliffs meet ocean waves, and where about 60 (!) lighthouses stand along the coastline. The state is home to 6,000 ponds and lakes! There’s also Acadia National Park – one of the most visited parks in the U.S.
Agree, there’s plenty to see.
But let’s take a look at Maine not as tourists, but through the eyes of its residents!
Maine is the easternmost state on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. The easternmost point is considered to be the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse.
The state covers an area of 91,644 sq. km (of which 11,714 sq. km is water) and ranks 39th among other U.S. states in terms of size.
According to the map, the state of Maine borders New Hampshire and Canada. It has no other neighboring states, making it the only region that borders just one U.S. state.
Capital of Maine: Augusta
Largest cities: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor
Maine has earned the title of one of the least populated states. The total population reaches 1,330,000 across the entire region, ranking 41st in the U.S.
In terms of population density, Maine ranks 38th in the U.S., with nearly 17 people per square kilometer. This is one of the lowest figures in the entire New England region.
Although Augusta is considered the capital of Maine, most people choose to live in Portland (over 65,000 people, 40,000 residents), and Bangor (over 35,000).
In the capital itself, Augusta, only about 20,000 residents live.
Maine is known for its high percentage of non-Hispanic white people, as well as a large number of residents who speak French (about 5%).
If we look at the raw numbers, the population in Maine is as follows:
Most active economic sectors – tourism, shipbuilding, science, biotechnology, agriculture (focused on growing potatoes, legumes, and blueberries), salmon and trout farming, commercial fishing (there is a great variety of fish in the state), and the extraction of construction materials.
Portland has a major port on the Northeastern coast.
Maine is also considered one of the largest producers (in the New England region) of maple syrup and sugar.
Maine also holds the record for lobster harvesting in the U.S.
Minimum wage in the state – from $12.15 per hour.
The average annual household income is around $66,000, assuming two working adults.
It’s worth noting that this is an average figure for the country, with some states having higher averages (Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut…) and others lower (Arkansas, South Dakota, and others).
Table of Contents