Welcome to Maine

A Guide to Maine Real Estate, History, Geography & Demographics

Although it is not known for certain, Maine is probably named after the French province of Maine. Another possibility for the name "Maine" is that the people living on islands along the coast of Maine used to speak of going to the mainland as "going over to the Main."

The state experiences a continental climate, much more so in the southern part of the state, with fahrenheit temperatures dipping into the 20s and 10s in the winter and 70s and 80s in the summer.

From the first colony in 1607 to statehood in 1820, Maine has enjoyed a rich and proud tradition - one that continues to embody its current culture.

Today, almost a quarter of the state's fulltime residents live in the Greater Portland area, which has a population of nearly 250,000. Portland is Maine's cultural, social and economic capital.

The city seal depicts a phoenix rising out of ashes, which goes with its motto, Resurgam, the Latin term "I will rise again", in reference to Portland's recoveries from four devastating fires.

Maine Information Resource Center

		...Maine History
		Some people think that Leif Ericson and the Vikings landed in Maine 500 years before Columbus landed in the West Indies, in the 11th century. It was also long believed that John Cabot had explored it in 1498 but that has recently been disputed. [Learn More]
		...Maine Geography
		Although Alaska is the northernmost state in the United States, Maine is the northernmost state in the contiguous 48 states. Maine is the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi River. Its largest lake is Moosehead Lake, and its highest mountain is Mt. Katahdin. [Learn More]
		...Maine Economy
		Manufacturing is still the largest sector in the state's economy. Maine is a leading producer of paper and wood products. The total gross state product for 2003 was $41 billion and its per capita personal income for 2003 was 29th in the nation.  [Learn More]
		...Maine Demographics
		As of 2005, Maine has an estimated population of 1,321,505, which is an increase of 6,520, or 0.5%, from the prior year and an increase of 46,582, or 3.7%, since the year 2000. [Learn More]
		...Maine Climate
		Maine has three climatic regions: the northern interior zone, the southern interior zone, and the coastal zone. The coastal zone is more moderate in temperature year-round than the other two and encompass the majority of the population. [Learn More]

Maine's Rich History

Down East is a New England geographical term that is applied in at least a couple of different ways. In the narrowest sense, Down East refers to the coast of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian border.

Contrary to what some non-Mainers may believe, "Down East" can be best described as any point on the coast between Ellsworth and the Canadian border. At times, it is jokingly referred to as any point east on the coast from the speaker.

However, the history of the term can be traced to a nautical reference. In early days, when ships sailed from Boston to ports in Maine (which were to the east of Boston), the wind was at their backs, so they were sailing downwind, hence the term - "Down East."

And it follows that when they returned to Boston they were sailing upwind - many Mainers still speak of going "up to Boston," despite the fact that the city lies approximately 50 miles to the south of Maine's southern border."

With a total area of 33,215 square miles the state covers nearly as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.