Maine (ME) is located in the northeastern part of the country on the North Atlantic coast near the border with Canada. It is the easternmost state of the USA. Forestry and fishing are important to Maine’s economy, with lobster being a popular product. The capital of Maine is Augusta, and the largest city is Portland. Popular tourist attractions include Acadia National Park and the historic 1791 Portland Head Light.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Maine Abbreviation ME Capital Augusta Largest city Portland (Population: 69 104) Current time 15:00 Time zone EST (UTC-5), the state observes EDT (UTC-4) daylight saving time Population 1,363,177 (#42 most populous US state) Area 35,385 mi² (#39 largest US state) Admitted to the Union March 15, 1820 (#23 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Maine
The capital of Maine is Augusta, which was built after 1754 on the foundations of a French and Indian War-era fortified log cabin. It was named for Augusta Dearborn, daughter of then-politician and Secretary of War Henry Dearborn. Augusta became the official capital in 1832.
🏙️ Largest City in Maine
The largest city in Maine is Portland, with a total population of 69,104 in 2023. Lewiston is second with a population of 38,404 and Bangor is third with a population of 31,628.
🕒 Time in Maine
The current time in Maine is 15:00. The entire state uses Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5), with the state switching to Daylight Saving Time from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Maine
According to 2023 data, Maine had a reported population of 1,363,177, making it the 42nd most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Maine
The total area of Maine is 35,385 mi², of which 30,890 mi² is land and 4,527 mi² is water. Maine is the 39th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About Maine
🧩 Maine Neighboring States
Maine is bordered by a single American state, which is New Hampshire. However, it shares a border with the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, and has 228 mi a long coastline with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east.
📅 Date of Maine Statehood
Maine was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state in order when it seceded from Massachusetts.
📛 Nickname of the State of Maine
Maine is nicknamed “The Pine Tree State” because of its many pine trees. The other nickname used on license plates, for example, is “Vacationland,” a play on words that highlights the fact that Maine is a popular summer vacation destination.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Maine
Maine’s highest mountain is with 5,270 ft Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. The name Katahdin comes from the language of the Penobscot tribe and translates to “Great Mountain”.
🏞️ Rivers in Maine
The longest river flowing through the state of Maine is the Saint John River with a total length of 418 mi. It is followed by the Androscoggin River (178 mi), the Kennebec River (168 mi), the Saco River (136 mi), and the West Branch Penobscot River (117 mi).
🎓 Universities in Maine
The largest university in the state is the private University of New England, which was founded in 1978 and has about 13,500 students. The second largest is the University of Maine with around 13 thousand students and the third largest is the University of Southern Maine with over 10 thousand students enrolled.
✉️ Maine ZIP Codes
Maine has an assigned zip code range of 039xx-049xx, searchable by address on the USPS website. For detailed information on how they work, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in Maine
The best time to visit Maine is from July to September, when temperatures are pleasant and the weather is ideal for outdoor activities.
Spring in Maine is slow to start, with March temperatures in Portland usually ranging between 25°F and 43°F. In April and May, while it warms up to 45°F to 63°F during the day, temperatures near freezing persist at night. Snow melts in the spring months, resulting in swollen rivers and, in some areas, flooding. In areas of northern Maine, snow lasts longer. Rainfall is common in the spring, with the heaviest rainfall in April.
Summers in Maine are short and rather cool, with temperatures in June and July generally only between 64°F and 79°F. Humidity is lower than in other states along the east coast, making summer more bearable. Temperatures tend to be lower in areas along the Atlantic coast, such as Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the summer, occasionally accompanied by thunderstorms.
Autumn in Maine begins with relatively mild weather, with temperatures in September generally staying between 50°F and 68°F. In October and November, however, they drop rapidly to 30°F–48°F, and rainfall tends to be rather moderate. In northern and inland Maine, the first snow may appear in November.
Winters in Maine are long and cold, with temperatures in Portland staying between 14°F and 32°F from December to January. It tends to be even colder upstate, with heavy snowfall in the mountains. Travel can be complicated by heavy snowstorms that cause road closures.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Maine
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Things to Do in Maine
1️⃣ Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is one of the most visited in the USA, located entirely on Mount Desert Island on the Atlantic coast. One of the park’s symbols is its lighthouses, the photogenic Bass Harbor Head Light Station has helped guide ships into port since 1858. There are several hiking and biking trails right in the park that combine mountain, forest and oceanfront settings.
2️⃣ Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, built in 1791, and it remains in operation today. The lighthouse is located on the rocky coast of Cape Elizabeth, offering beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Inside the former lighthouse keeper’s house is a small museum that documents the history of the site. Next to the lighthouse is Fort Williams Park, which provides a nice setting for a picnic.
3️⃣ Old Port District in Portland
The Old Port District is a historic neighborhood in Portland that has always been influenced by the presence of the port. The district is characterized by brick buildings and cobblestone streets, and after dark it transforms into a center of nightlife. During the summer months, festivals, markets and other cultural events are held here. Restaurants are a big attraction of the Old Port District, thanks to its fresh seafood, especially the popular lobster rolls.
4️⃣ Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park offers great conditions for hiking, camping and fishing in a beautiful and undisturbed wilderness setting. Maine’s tallest mountain, 5,270 ft tall Mount Katahdin, lies within the park. It is the start (or end) of the famous Appalachian Trail, which is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in the USA with a length of 2,198 mi.
5️⃣ Penobscot Narrows Bridge
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is a 2,119 ft long road bridge built in 2006 that connects the towns of Prospect and Verona Island. The modern structure is interesting in its own right, and one of the piers hides a platform that offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding area from 420 ft. From the top of the bridge it is possible to see the Penobscot River, Fort Knox and the surrounding woods.
6️⃣ Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
Maine is a state of lighthouses, and among the most popular is Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. The white lighthouse was built in 1827 and is now open to tourists who can climb to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the ocean and coastline. The lighthouse includes a small museum dedicated to the history of maritime navigation.
7️⃣ Seashore Trolley Museum
One of the largest and oldest museums in the world dedicated to historic streetcars is located in Kennebunkport. The exhibit includes over 250 streetcars, buses and railroad cars from around the world. The collection also includes cars from Hungary, Japan, Australia and Canada. Visitors can ride some of the trams on a short track that is part of the museum.
8️⃣ Maine Maritime Museum
The museum in Bath is dedicated to the maritime history of Maine. Visitors can see exhibits on shipbuilding, fishing and shipping. Boat cruises on the Kennebec River are an interesting attraction, with close-up views of famous shipyards and maritime sites. The museum also includes a historic shipyard where traditional wooden boats are still made.
🗺️ Bath, Maine
9️⃣ Moosehead Lake
Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in the state of Maine and a favorite destination for all anglers. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests, which makes for great recreational conditions. Visitors can rent boats, explore the lake by kayak, or watch for elk, which are abundant in the local forests.
🔟 Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine with 5,270 ft and is also the northern end of the popular Appalachian Trail. There are various hiking trails to the top of the mountain, some of which are very challenging. The reward for summiting the mountain is beautiful views of the surrounding area.
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Largest Cities in Maine
The table below shows the ten largest cities in Maine in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose primary function is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Portland Cumberland 69,104 Map of Portland 2 Lewiston Androscoggin 38,404 Map of Lewiston 3 Bangor Penobscot 31,628 Map of Bangor 4 South Portland Cumberland 26,840 Map of South Portland 5 Auburn Androscoggin 24,793 Map of Auburn 6 Biddeford York 22,367 Map of Biddeford 7 Sanford York 22,251 Map of Sanford 8 Saco York 20,960 Map of Saco 9 Westbrook Cumberland 20,564 Map of Westbrook 10 Augusta Kennebec 19,102 Map of Augusta -
Sports Teams in Maine
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are no teams from Maine in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Maine is not represented in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no team from Maine in the NBA basketball league.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no team in Maine that plays MLB.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from Maine plays in the MLS.
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Maine State Symbols
The Maine Legislature and the Governor have promulgated a number of legally recognized state symbols, only a few of which are listed here in this article.
State Flag of Maine
The design of the Maine flag was approved on February 23, 1909, and has existed in a simpler form since 1901. The flag consists of the state emblem on a dark blue field. The main element of the coat of arms is a heraldic shield on which a moose rests under a tall green pine tree. The sailor and farmer on the flag are meant to symbolize Maine’s traditional dependence on the sea and agriculture.
Great Seal of Maine
The Great Seal of the State of Maine was adopted in June 1820, and its design matches that of the flag. The seal design also includes a stylized polar star and the Latin motto “Dirigo”, which translates to “I direct” or “I lead”.
State Animal
In 1979, the moose became the official state symbol of Maine, the only state on the east coast with a large population of these animals.
State Song
The official anthem since 1937 has been the song State of Maine, written by Roger Vinton Snow.
State Tree
The official tree of the State of Maine since 1945 is the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), which grows from 197 ft to 230 ft. The tree’s seeds were brought from Maine to England in 1605 by British naval captain George Weymouth.
State Fish
In 1969, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) became the state fish and are commonly found in the Penobscot, Narraguagas, Sheepscot, Pleasant, and other rivers.
State Cat
In 1985, lawmakers included the Maine Coon Cat, which was bred in the mid-19th century, as one of the official symbols. The word raccoon in the name refers to the cat’s bushy tail.
State Herb
In 1999, the American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) became the state symbol, which grows from 10 cm to 15 cm in height and bears bright red fruit. It grows in forested areas and was used by the indigenous people to relieve strained muscles.
State Insect
Since 1975, the official symbol of Maine has been the honey bee, with around 270 species of this insect living throughout the state.
State Treat
The official sweet of Maine is the whoopie pie, which is a baked dessert composed of two pieces of cake. The whoopie pie is usually chocolate, but sometimes pumpkin or gingerbread versions are available, and the two halves are always joined with buttercream.
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