Maine

History: Maine was originally settled by Algonquian-speaking Native Americans. This includes tribes such as Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Penobscot, Androscoggin, and Kennebec, which later formed the Wabanaki Confederacy. First European contact was about 1200 by small groups of Norwegian settlers, well before the voyages of Columbus. Major European settlements were by the French in 1604 and the English in 1607. Maine later became part of the British colonies, then part of the United States. Maine became the 23^rd state on March 15, 1820, as a result of the Missouri Compromise.

Economy: Major sectors include agriculture, seafood, paper, shipbuilding, and tourism. Maine farms produce poultry, eggs, dairy products, cattle, blueberries, apples, maple syrup and sugar. Maine lobster is well known, but other seafood such as oysters, shrimp, and seaweed are commercially fished. The widespread forests are the source of paper, lumber, and other wood products. Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard are important centers for commercial and military shipbuilding. Tourism focuses on outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, boating, camping and hiking.

Climate: Maine has a humid, continental climate. Summer days can be warm (75-80° F; 24-27° C), slightly humid, but brief. Winters are long, cold (30° F; -1° C) and very snowy. Heavy rain and winds may be brought by a “nor’easter”, but the state gets few tornados or hurricanes.

Geography: Maine is part of the New England region of the U.S. It is the most northeastern state of the U.S., and the only state that borders only one other state. It also has an international border with Canada. Maine has a very jagged, rocky coastline with numerous bays and coves, low rolling mountains, and a heavily forested interior.

Fun Facts:

Maine was not one of the original 13 colonies, it was considered part of Massachusetts.
The USS Maine, a navy cruiser, blew up and sank in Havana thus starting the Spanish-American War.
Maine is the eastern-most state of the U.S.
Nickname is the Pine Tree State, since over 80% of land is forested.
State Animal is the moose!
Maine has the highest percentage people with French ancestry in the U.S.

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