Last updated on June 21st, 2022
Culture
58. New Year Polar Plunge
A few bold swimmers start the New Year in the cold waters of Maine beaches. In Portland, they call it the Polar Bear Dip. In Old Orchard Beach, it’s the Lobster Dip. In Kennebunk, they have the Freezin’ for a Reason – charity projects all over the state.
59. Fryeburg Fair
In 1851, a few visionary farmers and merchants started the Fryeburg Fair to show off their products to the community. The small event continued to grow through the years until it became one of Maine’s biggest fairs, drawing visitors across the region.
60. Bar Harbor Music
Maine appreciates good music across all genres. At the Bar Harbor Music Festival, there is something for everyone as concertgoers can enjoy jazz bands, string orchestras, brass ensembles, operas, and a lot more. That’s quite a treat if you love live music.
61. Trek Across Maine
It’s a fun charity cycling event that attracts entire families. The full 180-mile route starts at the Sunday River and ends at the town of Belfast. If that’s too long, then cycle the 97-mile route instead. The scenic route will make you fall in love with the state.
62. North American Wife Carrying Championship
Couples flock to Bethel’s Sunday River to compete in a unique race. Men must run with their wife on their back across a muddy route. The winning pair is rewarded with the woman’s weight in beer and 5x her weight in prize money.
Places of interest
Sugarloaf Ski Resort
Maine’s Sugarloaf Mountain is a ski paradise in Carrabassett Valley. It has a 4,237-foot peak that is visible from the nearby Appalachian Trail. The resort has 14 lifts that can accommodate 21,810 skiers per hour and provide runs of up to 3.5 miles.
Old Orchard Beach’s Palace Playland
This amusement park has been around since 1902, offering 28 exciting rides within the 5-acre property. It is famous for retaining its classic atmosphere, having the largest arcade in the state, and lighting up the fireworks every summer.
Houlton
The town of Aroostook in Houlton is a testament to the state’s colorful past. You can see well-preserved Victorian homes and the National Historic District called Market Square. It’s home to Temple Theater, Maine’s oldest cinema.
Freeport
Walk around downtown Freeport and you might see a giant 16-foot boot casually displayed outside a building. It’s the famous L.L. Bean flagship store, located in a bustling shopping district that also features charming artisan shops and restaurants.
10 largest cities in Maine
Portland
It was the first state capital of Maine and serves as the closest transatlantic port to Europe. Portland is also the 20th largest fishing port in the United States.
Lewiston
It is the second-largest city in Maine and was named one of the top 25 places to retire in 2017 by Forbes magazine.
Bangor
Popularly known as Maine’s “Queen City,” the city of Bangor was established in the mid-1800s by European-Americans. Today, retail, education, healthcare, and services are the main drivers of prosperity in the Bangor economy.
South Portland
It broke off from Cape Elizabeth in 1895 and is widely known as the region’s center for industry and retail. The city’s economy is driven by its proximity to transportation options including marine, air, rail, and highways.
Auburn
Located in south-central Maine, Auburn was first settled in 1786 at which time it was a part of Bakerstown. Today, the city is also one-half of the Lewiston-Auburn Twin Cities.
Biddeford
A city in York County Maine, Biddeford is home to the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival and The University of New England. It is also one of America’s earliest European settlements – first visited in 1616.
Sanford
The seventh-largest city in Maine, Sanford is located on the Mousam River and features many wooded areas and lakes. It is also a part of the Maine metropolitan area.
Saco
It was originally settled by the Sokoki tribe of Abenaki Indians. It got its name in 1653 from an Algonquian term that means “river mouth.” Saco is also a popular tourist attraction in Maine thanks to the amusement parks and recreational spots.
Westbrook
The city of Westbrook got its current name from Colonel Thomas Westbrook. Originally, the city was named after Saccarappa Falls. Westbrook is also home to the Rock Row activity hub where residents and visitors alike can enjoy everything from an intimate date night to a rock concert.
Augusta
Not to be confused with Augusta, Georgia, Augusta is the current state capital of Maine. At its current population of approximately 19,000, Augusta Maine is one of the least populated state capitals in the United States. In fact, Pierre, South Dakota and Montpellier, Vermont are the only two state capitals with smaller populations than Augusta.
About Maine flag
History
The current Maine state flag was adopted in February 1909 by the state legislature; it features Maine’s coat of arms on a blue background. Maine is among 26 American states that use a blue flag with a state seal.
Before 1909, there was the 1901 Maine flag that featured a green pine tree and a blue North Star. The pine tree was a common symbol in New England and it represented freedom.
A 2001 survey ranks Maine’s flag as one of the worst in America. In 2019, a bill was introduced by Maine lawmakers suggesting the adoption of a simpler flag based on the 1901 flag. A Maine resident also presented a design for a new flag. Measures to change the flag have failed.
Who Designed It
The state seal was created by Bertha Smouse. The original Maine state flag is the creation of General John T. Richards. He suggested a simple flag with a blue star in the canton and a pine tree in the center. The congress of Maine played a central role in designing the 1909 flag.
How & When It Came Into Being
To know about Maine flag, it is vital to understand how it came into being. The story of Maine’s flag starts in 1901 when the legislature published an official pattern of the flag featuring a green pine tree. A law was passed in 1909 that enacted a state flag; the law describes the size, colors, and other elements of the flag.
What Does the Flag Represent
The flag features a seaman and a farmer which represents Maine’s traditional reliance on agriculture. The blue color symbolizes justice, truth, vigilance, and loyalty. The pine tree represents Maine’s timber industry.
Why is The Flag Blue
War veterans in the legislature wanted a flag that resembled the battle flags of prior wars. They wanted the color blue because the uniform of the Union soldiers was blue while that of Confederacy soldiers was grey.
About Life in Maine
Maine is known for its jagged, rocky Atlantic Ocean coastlines, its mountains, forests and picturesque waterways. It is celebrated for its wild blueberries and excellent seafood (especially lobster and clams). Today, the coastal and ‘down east’ parts of the state (especially Portland), have become recognized as vital region for the creative economy although it also suffers from a high incidence of poverty, especially in its rural areas.
The culture of Maine inheres in the attributes of people struggling with the frontier who live in a diverse and eclectic society that has contact with a range of other cultures. The songs, folktales, stories and humor of its people are earthy and direct that usually highlight the absurdity of people’s awkward and humorous attempts (and failure) to conquer nature.
The state has a well-known connection with the sea (as well as a reputation for fine seafood) and has a rich history of voyages that its inhabitants made to Europe and Asia. It has a rich history of shipbuilding as well as examples of its sailors’ art of wood carving and scrimshaw. Today Maine also leads a revival in local crafts such as pottery, weaving, carving and metal work.
Maine has a rich tradition for serving as the birthplace, or permanent/seasonal home, for many famous American artists including writers such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Stephen King and painters including Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer. Maine’s heritage in art is also reflected in the state’s finest museum, the Portland Museum of Art, and its support for many cultural and arts programs throughout its communities.
Maine is celebrated by its inhabitants as one of the quietest, most serene and peaceful states to live in. It has a population of only 1.3 million people and an estimated 24 billion trees making it an ideal location for people that want to escape city living. With over 90% of its area covered by forest it also features over 3500 miles of rugged Atlantic coastline making it a nature lovers paradise.
Maine – Quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | ME |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Augusta |
| Largest City | Portland |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 35,385 sq miles; Land Only: 30,862 sq miles |
| Population | 1,095,962 (Estimate July 1, 2023 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | March 15, 1820 |
| State rank by population | 42nd |
| State rank by date of formation | 23rd |
| State rank by area | 39th |
| Number of Counties | 16 |
| Demonym | Mainer |
| Bordering States | New Hampshire |
| Official Language | None |
| Highest Point | Mount Katahdin 5,270 ft (1606.4 m) |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean Sea level |
| Length | 320 miles (515 km) |
| Width | 210 miles (338 km) |
| Governor | Janet Mills (D) |
| Electoral Votes | 4 |
| State Motto | Dirigo (I lead) |
| State Nickname | Pine Tree State |
| % Water | 13.5 |
| Famous people | Anna Kendrick (Actress) Patrick Dempsey (Actor) |
| State Flag |
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| State seal |
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| State coat of arms |
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| State Animal | Moose
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| State Berry | Blueberry
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| State Bird | Chickadee
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| State Cat | Coon Cat
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| State Dog | Chinook
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| State Fish | Landlocked salmon
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| State Floral Emblem | White Pine Cone and Tassel |
| State Fossil | Pertica quadrifaria
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| State Gem | Tourmaline
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| State Insect | Honey bee
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| State Crustacean | Lobster |
| State Tree | Eastern white pine
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| State Herb | Wintergreen
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| State Vessel | Bowdoin
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| Longitude | 66° 57′ W to 71° 5′ W |
| Latitude | 42° 58′ N to 47° 28′ N |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone |
| Website | www.maine.gov |
| Area Codes | 207 |
| Table last updated | December 21, 2023 |
