Maine

Maine is a state located in the New England region of the United States.

It sits at the northeasternmost edge of the contiguous United States. To its west, Maine borders the state of New Hampshire. It is unique because it is the only U.S. state that borders only one other state. To the north and northeast, Maine borders the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. It also shares a maritime border with Nova Scotia. To the southeast, the state meets the Gulf of Maine.

As the largest state in New England by total area, it is nearly as big as the other five New England states combined.

The physical landscape of Maine is defined by its varied and rugged geography. The Atlantic Ocean creates a jagged, rocky coastline with many bay-shore areas.

Moving inland, the terrain changes into a heavily forested interior filled with mountains.

The climate varies across the region, which can be seen in different climate types.

Because of this landscape, Maine is the most rural state in the country. It has a low population density compared to other regions.

While it is the 12th-smallest state by area, it remains a vast and open territory.

Indigenous populations have inhabited this land for approximately 12,000 years. They arrived after glaciers retreated during the last ice age.

These early inhabitants included the Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Penobscot, Androscoggin, and Kennebec peoples. Many of these groups eventually formed the Wabanaki Confederacy. These nations often lived in seasonal cycles. Some lived in permanent, Iroquois-inspired settlements. Others moved between summer villages on the coast and winter villages further inland. Some evidence suggests Vikings may have traded with the Penobscot around 1000 CE. An 11th-century Norwegian coin, known as the Maine Penny, supports this possible early contact.

European exploration and settlement began much later in the region's history. The first confirmed European settlement was established by the French in 1604. Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, led this group to Saint Croix Island. The French referred to the entire area as Acadia. In 1607, the English attempted to settle at the Popham Colony. This settlement was organized by the Plymouth Company but lasted only 14 months. Other early English attempts, such as Captain Christopher Levett's settlement at York in 1623, also failed. Throughout the 1600s, many settlements struggled due to the rugged climate and conflicts with the French and Indigenous nations.

Political control of the territory changed many times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Massachusetts Bay Colony eventually seized much of the land by force. During the American Revolution, Loyalist and Patriot forces fought for control of the area. The British also occupied eastern Maine during the War of 1812. They hoped to annex the territory to Canada through the Colony of New Ireland. However, British offensives failed, and a peace treaty restored the previous boundaries. For a long time, Maine was physically separated from the rest of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Maine eventually gained independence through a formal political process. In 1819, Massachusetts agreed to allow the region to secede. On March 15, 1820, Maine was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state. This admission was part of the Missouri Compromise. This historical agreement helped maintain a balance between slave and free states in the United States. Before becoming a state, the capital was located in Portland. In 1832, the capital was moved to the more central city of Augusta.

Today, Portland remains the state's most populous city.

Modern Maine is recognized for its distinct natural resources and economy. The state is famous for its seafood, particularly lobster and clams.

It is also known for wild lowbush blueberries.

The coastal and Down East regions have become centers for a creative economy. This economic activity is especially strong near Portland. The state's population reached a record high of approximately 1,400,000 in 2024. Despite its growth, Maine maintains its identity as a place of mountains, forests, and a rocky Atlantic coast.