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The State Of Maine Facts & Worksheets

Maine is one of the 50 constituent states of the United States of America. It is the largest state in the New England region of the northeastern part of the USA.

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Maine is one of the 50 constituent states of the United States of America. It is the largest state in the New England region of the northeastern part of the USA. It is bordered by the US state of New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine of the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick to the northwest and northeast, respectively. Maine is the only state that shares borders with only one other US state.

See the fact file below for more information about the State of Maine, or you can download our 26-page State of Maine worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • It is unclear where the name Main exactly came from.
  • One speculation is that it was derived from the nautical term “mainland” as a way to tell it apart from the other islands nearby.
  • Another theory is that the name was taken from a province in France called Maine.
  • Maine is the only constituent state of the United States that has one syllable in its name.
  • The postal abbreviation of Maine is ME.
  • Maine is dubbed “The Pine Tree State” because 80% of Maine’s topography is forested, and it holds that record out of all states.
  • Maine’s other nickname is “Vacationland” or “Vacation State” because it welcomes approximately 25 million visitors per year.
  • The state’s gorgeous scenery, tasty cuisine, and variety of fun activities suit its slogan, “The Way Life Should Be.”

GEOGRAPHY

  • Maine is the 12th smallest state in the United States, with a total land area of 35,385 square miles (or 91,646 square kilometers).
  • However, Maine is actually the biggest in size in the New England region; It is almost the same size as the other five New England States combined!
  • The other states of New England are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
  • Maine is the only state with one other state that borders it: New Hampshire.
  • Maine is the easternmost state in the country and the northernmost state in the continental United States.
  • Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline, making it the fourth state with the most coastline after Alaska, Florida, and Louisiana.
  • Because its coastline has an abundance of deep harbors, Maine could provide ports for all the naval fleets in the world.
  • Maine has one of the largest river systems in the United States.
  • The state has more than 6,000 lakes and ponds, more than 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 4,600 offshore islands.
  • Maine also has huge state and national parks, with a total of 542,629 acres in area.

CLIMATE

  • Maine has a humid continental climate.
  • People can expect hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters when they are in Maine.
  • During winter, the average temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Yearly precipitation averages 43 inches.

HISTORY

  • The history of Maine dates back to the ice age thousands of years ago when a receding ice sheet formed about 2,000 islands off its coast. This is what made it one of the earliest human settlements in the world.

PRE-EUROPEAN HISTORY

  • From 3000 BC to 1000 BC, a maritime group known as the Red Paint People was known to be the earliest culture that inhabited Maine. 
  • Prior to the discovery of the Europeans, Maine’s inhabitants spoke Algonquian. 
  • This includes the native American Wabanaki, Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscots.

COLONIAL PERIOD

  • The Vikings are said to be the first Europeans to have discovered Maine.
  • In 1497, one of the earliest documented voyages to the coasts of Maine was of John Cabot, a representative of Henry VII of England. 
  • During this period, fishermen and merchants from Bristol, England, spoke of the Gulf of Maine having an abundance of fish. 
  • In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer who mostly traveled North America, was the next documented European exploration of Maine following the disputed rights over the northeast coasts between Spain and England. 
  • A year later, in 1525, a Portuguese explorer named Estêvão Gomes parted an expedition with Ferdinand Magellan to go on an expedition to explore North America.
  • Both Verrazzano and Gomes played a pivotal role in accurately portraying North America, which began by mapping the coastline of Maine. 
  • In 1607, the first settlement in Maine was established by the Plymouth Company at Popham. 
  • The Popham Colony, however, struggled to survive the winters of Maine.
  • In the 1620s, a number of English settlements were set up along the coast of Maine, but the climate, deprivations, and attacks of the Indians challenged their survival. 
  • In the 1700s, Maine was known to be the center of Patriotism during the American Revolution, specifically in the town of Machias. 
  • In 1779, the British began occupying parts of Maine and made it a new colony named New Ireland. 
  • During the War of 1812, the British gave New Ireland to America with the Treaty of Ghent. 
  • In 1820, under the Missouri Compromise, Congress established Maine as the 23rd state. 
  • The purpose of the Missouri Compromise was so the number of slave and non-slave states would be equal.
  • Maine was allowed to join the Union as a free state on Aug. 10, 1821.
  • Maine’s state motto is “Dirigo“, which is Latin for “I lead” or “I direct”.
  • Prior to Augusta being chosen as the capital of Maine in 1827, Portland was the first capital.
  • Portland was temporarily chosen because it was the largest city in the state.
  • In January 1832, a capital building was constructed.

MAJOR CITIES

  • Augusta is the state capital of Maine, with a population of 18,899 in the 2020 census.
  • Portland has a population of 66,645, making it the largest city in Maine.
  • Also located in Maine is Eastport, the most eastern city in the United States. 
  • Sunshine shows on Eastport before any other place in the United States.
  • Bangor has the third-largest population; some of its main tourist attractions are the statue of Paul Bunyan and the Bangor Waterfront.
  • Bar Harbor is famous for its stunning scenery, such as the Acadia National Park, and delicious Maine lobster.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • Maine has a population of 1.3 million.
  • “Mainers” or “Down Easters” are terms to call people from Maine.
  • Maine has the highest percentage of residents of French Canadian descent in the United States.

ECONOMY

  • Maine is famous for its lobster, making lobster fishing an important driver of Maine’s economy.
  • The state has about 4,500 lobstermen who work so hard in contributing to Maine’s annual lobster yield of 90 million pounds.
  • That’s almost 50 percent of the lobster supply of the United States.
  • Other major industries in Maine are paper production, agriculture, fishing, lumber, and textile manufacturing.
  • The blueberry industry is also booming in Maine.
  • 99% of the nation’s blueberries are produced in Maine.
  • Maine is also a top producer of potatoes and broccoli.
  • 90 percent of the country’s toothpick supply used to come from Maine until 2003, when production switched overseas.

STATE SYMBOLS

  • Maine’s state symbols are as follows:
    • Bird – black-capped chickadee
    • Tree – white pine
    • Flower – white pinecone and tassel
    • Fish – landlocked salmon
    • Berry – wild Maine blueberry
    • Animal – moose
    • Cat – wild coon cat

SITES AND ACTIVITIES

  • Some of the activities to do in Maine are ice fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling.
  • Maine also has beer and wine trails with more than 100 breweries and more than two dozen wineries that could be fun to explore for liquor enthusiasts.
  • For ghostbusters, there are plenty of haunted inns and lighthouses in Maine to explore.
  • The world’s smallest lighthouse, which is the six-foot-tall Pocahontas (Echo Point) Light, can be found in Maine.
  • The oldest wooden fort in the United States is also found in Maine: Fort Western.
  • For natural landmarks, Maine’s highest mountain is Mt. Katahdin, which is elevated at 5,268 feet.
  • Acadia National Park is a popular tourist spot and considered one of the most visited national parks in the US.
  • The largest lake in Maine is Moosehead Lake, which covers more than 75,000 acres.
  • The Desert of Maine in Freeport is not a desert; it is exposed glacial silt that only looks like a desert.

FAMOUS CITIZENS

  • Maine is the birthplace of former US Vice Presidents Nelson Rockefeller and Hannibal Hamlin; actress Anna Kendrick; actor Patrick Dempsey; author Stephen King; poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; poet Edna St. Vincent Millay; board game inventor Milton Bradley; clothing maker and retailer L.L. Bean; and social reformer Dorothea Dix.

The State Of Maine Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the State of Maine across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the State of Maine. Maine is bordered by the US state of New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine of the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick to the northwest and northeast, respectively. Maine is the only state that shares borders with only one other US state.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. State of Maine Facts
  2. Eastern State
  3. New England Six
  4. Honoring History
  5. Maine Characters
  6. Symbol Choice
  7. Meant About Maine
  8. Love Lobster!
  9. See These Cities!
  10. Portland Postcards
  11. Visit List

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Maine?

The capital of Maine is Augusta.

What is the nickname of Maine?

Maine is often referred to as the “Pine Tree State” due to its extensive forested areas.

What is the largest city in Maine?

The largest city in Maine is Portland.

What is Maine known for in terms of its natural attractions?

Maine is known for its stunning natural beauty, including its rugged coastline, picturesque lighthouses, and abundant wildlife. Acadia National Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, and the state is famous for its lobster and seafood.

Who are some famous people from Maine?

Maine has been home to various notable individuals, including authors Stephen King and E.B. White, comedian Bob Marley, and former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Edmund Muskie. Additionally, Margaret Chase Smith, a former U.S. Senator, made history as the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate from Maine.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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