Maine Info
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Capital
City: Augusta
Economy: Manufacturing, agriculture, fishing and
timber.
Population: 1,274,923
Time Zone: 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-5
GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed April-October.
Maine's Flag:
The state coat of arms is placed on a blue field. In the center of the shield
a moose rests under a tall pine tree. A farmer and seaman represents the
work that people did in early times. The North Star represents the state
motto: "Dirigo". ( "I Direct" )
History of Maine:
John Cabot and his son, Sebastian, are believed to have visited the Maine
coast in 1498. However, the first permanent English settlements were not
established until more than a century later, in 1623. The first naval action
of the Revolutionary War occurred in 1775 when colonials captured the British
sloop Margaretta off Machias on the Maine coast. In that same year, the
British burned Falmouth (now Portland). Long governed by Massachusetts,
Maine became the 23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
Maine produces 98% of the nation's low-bush blueberries. Farm income is
also derived from apples, potatoes, dairy products, and vegetables, with
poultry and eggs the largest items. The state is one of the world's largest
pulp-paper producers. It ranks second in boot-and-shoe manufacturing. With
almost 89% of its area forested, Maine turns out wood products from boats
to toothpicks. Maine leads the world in the production of the familiar flat
tins of sardines, producing more than 75 million of them annually. Lobstermen
normally catch 51% of the nation's total of lobsters. The 1995 catch was
36.5 million pounds, the second-largest lobster catch in history. A scenic
seacoast, beaches, lakes, mountains, and resorts make Maine a popular vacationland.
There are more than 2,500 lakes and 5,000 streams, plus 26 state parks to
attract hunters, fishermen, skiers, and campers. Major points of interest
are Bar Harbor, Allagash National Wilderness Waterway, the Wadsworth-Longfellow
House in Portland, Roosevelt Campobello International Park, and the St.
Croix Island National Monument.
Other Maine Links:
Maine Chamber and Business Alliance
Maine Municipal Association
Maine Department
of Education
Maine Office of Tourism
Maine Tourism Association
Maine State Library |
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