Maine
From Wikinfo
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Maine is a state of the United States that is named after the French province of Maine. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is ME.
USS Maine was named in honor of this state.
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History
Originally settled in 1607, Maine became part of Massachusetts in 1652. Because it was physically separated from the rest of Massachusetts and was growing in population at a rapid rate, it became the 23rd state along with Missouri on March 15, 1820. This has become known as the Missouri Compromise because admitting both states into the union kept the balance between slave and free states. Maine's original capital was Portland until 1832, when it was moved to the more geographically central city of Augusta.
Law and Government
The capital of Maine is Augusta and its governor is John Baldacci (Democrat). Its two U.S. senators are Susan Collins (Republican) and Olympia J. Snowe (Republican).
In June of 2003, the Maine Legislature passed a comprehensive health insurance plan. See: List of Maine Governors
Geography
To the south and east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the northeast is New Brunswick, a province of Canada. The Canadian province of Quebec is to the northwest. Maine is the northernmost state in the New England region and the easternmost state in the country (the easternmost city in the United States is Eastport, Maine), bordered on the west by New Hampshire. It is the only state that borders exactly one other state. The highest mountain is Mt. Katahdin and the largest lake is Moosehead Lake.
It is the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi River, owing in part to its relative size -- its land mass exceeds that of the other New England states combined. It is appropriately called the "Pine Tree State", as 90 percent of its land is forest. West Quoddy Head is the country's easternmost piece of land. Along the famous rock-bound coast of Maine are lighthouses, sandy beaches, quiet fishing villages and thousands of offshore islands, including the Isles of Shoals, which straddles the state border. Jagged rocks and cliffs, and thousands of bays and inlets add to the rugged beauty of Maine's coast. Inland, there are sparkling lakes, rushing rivers, green forests and towering mountains. Maine's Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England, and the second most visited national park in the United States.
Economy
Maine's total gross state product for 1999 was $34 billion, placing it 43rd in the nation. Its Per Capita Personal Income for 2000 was $25,623, 36th in the nation.
Maine's agricultural outputs are seafood, poultry and eggs, potatoes, dairy products, cattle, blueberries, and apples. Its industrial outputs are paper, lumber, and wood products, electric equipment, food processing, leather products, textiles, and tourism.
Demographics
As of 2000, the state's population was 1,274,923.
Important Cities and Towns
Education
Colleges and Universities
Professional Sports Teams
Miscellaneous Information
Maine has a long tradition of personal self-reliance, and Yankee ingenuity.
see also:
Maine is also the name of a place in New York State and one in Wisconsin: see Maine, New York and Maine, Wisconsin.
Maine is also one of the provinces of France before 1790: see Maine (province of France)
External Links
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Maine" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine November 21, 2003
