Maine Facts and Trivia

Fun Facts about Maine State’s Geography

  • City Guide: Visit Maine City Guide for a look at geography, local history, architecture, and culture.
  • West Quoddy Head is the most easterly point in the United States.
  • Augusta is the most eastern capital city in the United States.
  • Mount Katahdin is the state’s highest point at 5,268 feet above sea level.
  • Maine’s nickname as the Pine Tree State comes from the pines that once dotted the state’s forests.
  • 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.
  • The coastline boasts so many deep harbors it is thought all the navies in the world could anchor in them.
  • Maine lies farther northeast than any other state.
  • In Wilton there’s a cannery that imports and cans only dandelion greens.
  • Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.

Maine State Symbols Trivia

  • Maine map outline
  • Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.
  • Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state.
  • Eastern White Pine is the official state tree of Maine
  • Bath is known as the City of Ships.
  • The official song of the state of Maine is called ‘State Song of Maine’
  • Joshua L. Chamberlain born in Brewer received the only battlefield promotion to General during the Civil War. He was also the last Civil War soldier to die of wounds incurred in the War.
  • The official state motto of Maine is ‘Dirigo’ which translates to ‘I direct’
  • Mount Katahdin and Cadillac Mountain as part of Appalachian Mountain Range (among others) exist in the state of Maine
  • Maine flag was officially adopted on  June 16, 1909
  • Dr. Benjamin Vaughan is credited for the original design of the Great Seal of Maine while its description is attributed to Col Isaac Reed’s stepdaughter.
  • Maine State Bird is called the Chickadee-Parus atricapillus.
  • Maine’s blueberry crop is the largest in the nation.
  • The honeybee is the official state insect.
  • Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States. The city is considered the first place in the United States to receive the rays of the morning sun.
  • The state flower is the white pine cone and tassel.
  • Maine was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820
  • It’s nickname is the “Pine Tree State” because in part that it has over 17 million acres of forests.

Historical Facts about the State of Maine

  • The White Mountain National Forest covers nearly 800,000 acres, the forest covers a landscape ranging from hardwood forests to the largest alpine area east of the Rocky Mountains
  • ME is the Two-letter or Postal Abbreviation and Maine is the Traditional or Standard Abbreviation for the State of Maine.
  • Aroostook County at 6,453 square miles covers an area greater than the combined size of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
  • Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation’s lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.
  • Find out the interesting facts about the famous people born in Maine
  • Maine’s earliest inhabitants were descendants of Ice Age hunters.
  • Portland was first temporarily selected as the state capital. In 1832 the capital was moved to the centrally located site of Augusta.
  • In 1641 America’s first chartered city was York.
  • Acadia National Park is the second most visited national park in the United States.
  • Maine quarter was issued on June 2, 2003.
  • Togus was the first Veteran’s Hospital in the United States. The facility was founded in 1866.
  • An unsuccessful attempt at establishing a permanent English settlement in the New World was at the location now known as Popham Beach. Sir George Popham led the expedition in 1607.
  • 90% of the country’s toothpick supply is produced in Maine.
  • Portland is the birthplace of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
  • Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood up in the senate and gave the famous Declaration of Conscious speech, speaking out against the McCarthy era. Senator Smith was the first female presidential candidate.
  • Author Steven King is a resident of Bangor.
  • Former President George Bush has a summer home in Kennebunkport.
  • Freeport is the home to the L.L. Bean Company.
  • The skating scene in the movie “The Preacher’s Wife” was filmed in Deering Oaks Park in Portland.
  • Maine lobsters have won international fame for their flavor and contribution to the culinary world.
  • The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport houses numerous historic buildings and marine memorabilia.
  • Fort Knox erected in 1844 is a state historic site originally built to protect the Penobscot River Valley from British naval attack. The fort was constructed from granite from nearby Mount Waldo.
  • Numerous lighthouses dot the Main coast including Fort Point Lighthouse at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs and Grindle Point Lighthouse on Isleboro.
  • The Sailor’s Memorial Museum in Isleboro features displays depicting life at sea.
  • Located in Thorndike Village, the Bryant Stove Works and Museum displays an eclectic collection of antique cast iron stoves, parlor heaters, roadsters and touring cars. In addition, the museum features antique layer pianos, pipe organs and music boxes, calliopes, nickelodeons, and hurdy-gurdys.
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was considered the most influential poet of his day. The writer was born in Portland, on February 2, 1807. His most popular works include “The Courtship of Miles Standish”, “Evangeline” and “Hiawatha”.
  • The nation’s first sawmill was established near York in 1623.
  • York became the nation’s first incorporated city in 1642.
  • The first ship build by English colonists in Americas was launched on the Kennebec River in 1607.
  • The first naval battle of the Revolutionary War was fought off Machias in 1775.
  • Maine contains 542,629 acres of state and national parks.
  • Edmund S. Muskie became the first Democratic United States senator ever elected by popular vote in Maine. He was also elected governor for two terms. He was born in Rumford.
  • Eastport is the only United States owned principality that has been under rule by a foreign government. It was held from 1814 to 1818 by British troops under King George following the conclusion of the War of 1812.
  • Maine’s government entities are comprised of 16 counties with 22 cities, 435 towns, 33 plantations, 424 unorganized townships and 3 Indian reservations.

Thanks to: David C. Weiler, Henry Miller, Cindy Coffin, Larryel, Cheryl Emerson