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Welcome to Maine and its seacoast
Though it is the largest of the five New England states,
Maine is the least populous. "Maine: the way life
should be," is a state slogan, and residents here have
been careful to preserve the natural beauty of the
environment. The state's economy has always been tied
to its vast natural resources. Fishing, lumber, paper products,
and farming of crops like potatoes and blueberries
remain economic mainstays. A growing high technology industry
adds diversity to the mix. The city of Portland, closer
to Europe than any other U.S. port of call, is a center
of international commerce. To raise revenue, the state
relies on a general sales and use tax and the individual
income tax.
Maine's rugged landscape has always appealed to travelers.
With nearly 3,500 miles of rocky coastline, the ocean
is central to the traditional way of life here. Visitors
enjoy the spectacular ocean views and the recreation
the waterfront affords. Seaside vacation spots like
Ogunquit in the south and Boothbay Harbor in the north
are popular summertime destinations. Outdoor enthusiasts
also enjoy the incredible opportunities for hiking and
camping at the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Acadia
National Park and Baxter State Park at the northern
tip of the Appalachian Trail.
Portland is undoubtedly the cultural center of the
state. The harbor's waterfront district hosts a lively
collection of specialty retail shops, fine restaurants
and funky cafes. This area is also the center of a thriving
local music scene, while national acts perform at the
State Theater and The Cumberland County Civic Center.
Portland is well-known for its exceptional live theater
and the its remarkable Museum of Art, a beautifuly I.M.
Pei-designed multi-story structure that features a number
of Winslow Homer paintings in its collection.
Shoppers from all over trek north to Freeport for impressive
outlet shopping at more than 100 stores. Perhaps the
number one attraction here is L.L. Bean, the catalog
company that made Maine fashion famous. The L.L. Bean
retail store employs hundreds who keep the shop open
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Mainers call their
state "Vacationland," and they make the most of it.
In an increasingly fast-paced society, more and more
people are seeking out a healthier lifestyle for them
and their families. The seacoast of region southern
Maine offers residents a balance of modern growth and
traditional values that has become all too rare. Conveniently
located between the major metropolitan centers of Boston
and Portland, the seacoast enjoys easy access to these
cities from Interstate 95.
In 1994, Maine was rated among the six "safest" states
in the country by the Morgan Quinto Corporation of Kansas.
Insurance surveys consistently find both states to be
among the country's healthiest as well. Community spirit
abounds in the cities and towns here. Neighbors know
one another, and share a common commitment to continued
economic growth balanced with a preservation of the
seacoast's uncommon quality of life.
Seacoast residents appreciate the many advantages the
region has to offer–a growing economy, a thriving
cultural community, and a healthy, outdoor lifestyle.
Families here truly want it all, and they are lucky
enough to have it.
The Maine quality of life
From its very beginnings, Maine has always been known
for its diversity. Mainers have access to miles of rugged
coastline as well as clean, sandy beaches. The state
has 6,000 lakes and ponds and more than 540,000 acres
of state and national parks. Mountain ranges await hikers,
campers, skiers and photographers.
Maine's economy is as diverse as its natural assets.
Strong in traditional mainstays of the New England economy,
such as lumber and wood products, paper and allied products,
leather and goods, Maine's growing manufacturing industries
are wedded to high technology–microelectronics,
aircraft components and ultra-precision machining. Growth
in non-manufacturing industries is largely due to expanding
tourism, insurance and information services and retail
trade.
Maine: A brief history
The first Europeans to settle in Maine established
the Popham Colony in 1607–the same year that America's
first permanent settlement in Jamestown was founded.
The Popham Colony failed, but by the early 1620s a number
of settlements existed along the coast including York,
America's first chartered town. Originally part of Massachusetts,
residents of the area began to press for statehood following
the War of 1812. In 1820 Maine was allowed to join the
Union as a free state, one rooted in political independence,
religious freedom and popular control of government.
At the time of statehood, Maine's population had reached
nearly 300,000. Today, Maine is home to 1.3 million
people. When the state separated from Massachusetts,
Augusta was chosen as its capital after months of debate.
Governor Enoch Lincoln and his Executive Council commissioned
Charles Bullfinch, the noted Boston architect, to design
the State House.
The center of state government, the capital houses
both the executive and legislative branches. The governor
is popularly elected and is limited to two consecutive
four-year terms. Maine's legislature consists of a 35-member
Senate and 151-member House of Representatives.
The state has produced several prominent national political
figures: Margaret Chase Smith achieved fame as the first
woman to serve in both the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives. Noted for her political courage, integrity
and independence, she was the first Republican senator
to speak out against McCarthyism. In 1964 she was nominated
for president at the Republican convention. Former Governor
Edmund Muskie became a senator, where he fought for
a clean environment and became an expert in urban legislature
and budget control. In 1968 he was the Democratic nominee
for vice president and in 1972 he was a major presidential
contender. U.S. Senator William Cohen served in two
administrations as U.S. Secretary of Defense. Former
President George H.W. Bush has a summer home in Kennebunkport.
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