Introduction - Maine
Maine is located in New England in the Northeast Region of the United States. In fact, it is as far northeast as you can get within the United States. It is a state where rocky coastlines and scenic parks abound with Acadia National Park being one of the most visited. One of the reasons why Maine is so unique is because it is the only state to share a border with just one other U.S. state, which is New Hampshire; the rest of the state borders the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine and Canada. Written in a kid-friendly format, the following interesting facts and information about Maine lists who is believed to have founded Maine, when Maine became a state, what lakes and rivers are located there and many more fun and interesting facts.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about Maine.
Maine Quick Facts
- Maine was the 23rd state in the United States of America.
- Maine was granted statehood on March 15th, 1820.
- The state capital of Maine is Augusta.
- The largest city in Maine is Portland.
- The population of Maine is 1,330,089 (source 2014 United States Census Bureau estimate).
- Maine is the 39th biggest state in the U.S.
- Maine ranks as the 41st most populous state in the United States (source 2013 United States Census Bureau estimate).
- The state flower of Maine is the White Pine Cone.
- Residents of Maine are called Mainers.
- The nickname for the state of Maine is the Pine Tree State.
- Bodies of water in Maine include the Saint John River, Penobscot River, Androscoggin River, and the Kennebec River. Lake Moosehead and Richardson Lakes are just two of over 6,000 lakes and ponds in Maine.
- "State of Maine Song" is the official state song.
Maine Interesting Facts
- Maine, famous for its high quality and plentiful lobsters, is where almost 90 percent of the United States lobsters come from.
- At 5,268 feet (8,478 kilometers) above sea level, Mount Katahdin is the highest point in Maine.
- The Appalachian Trail through the Appalachian Mountains encompasses fourteen states and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine. The length of the entire trail is approximately 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometers), however, the 281 miles (452 kilometers) of trails through Maine are considered to be the most difficult and challenging to hike.
- With 3,478 miles (5,597 kilometers) of coastline snaking around Maine, only two continental U.S. states have more coastline - Florida and Louisiana.
- Leaf Ericson and other Vikings are believed to have visited Maine as far back as 1000 AD.
- Maine has literally thousands of uninhabited off-shore islands. Of approximately 3,000 islands, only 41 are inhabited.
- There are over 60 lighthouses throughout the state of Maine.
Maine Historical Facts
- From 1607 through 1608 about seventy English colonists built and launched their first ship, named Virginia, at what was then the Popham Colony in Maine. It is now the present day town of Phippsburg. The sea-worthy ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean at least twice.
- The second naval battle of the Revolutionary War was fought from June 11 - 12, 1775 around the small port town of Machias in Maine. As a result, a British schooner and additional British ships were captured by Machias townspeople.
- Civil War legend, Joshua L. Chamberlain was born in Maine in 1828. The one time college professor's role in fending off the confederates at the Battle of Gettysburg drew national attention and earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor. He went to become governor of Maine.