Maine: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

Republicans suffered landslide losses in the midterms. Here's one place in Maine where they did win • Nov. 12, 2026, 4:57 PM ET (AP)

Correction: Election 2026-Arizona story • Nov. 9, 2026, 3:41 PM ET (AP)

Scientists discovered an unknown baby right whale off Canada. They say it's a cause for joy • Nov. 6, 2026, 10:40 AM ET (AP)

Sister June Carpenter, one of the few remaining Shakers, dies in Maine. She was 88 • Nov. 3, 2026, 7:16 PM ET (AP)

Trump, seeking to help Maine Sen. Susan Collins, exempts some Canadian imports from his 50% tariffs • Oct. 23, 2026, 5:48 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Pine Tree State
Capital	Augusta
Population¹	(2020) 1,362,359; (2025 est.) 1,414,874
Governor	Janet Mills (Democrat)
Date Of Admission	March 15, 1820
U.S. Senators	Angus King (Independent) • Susan Collins (Republican)
State Nickname	Pine Tree State
State Motto	"Dirigo (I Direct)"
State Bird	black-capped chickadee
State Flower	white pine cone and tassel
State Song	“State Song of Maine”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives	2 (of 435)
Time Zone	Eastern (GMT − 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km)	91,634
Total Area (Sq Mi)	35,380
¹Excluding military abroad.

Photos and Videos

The state seal of Maine features a central shield with a pine tree and moose, flanked by a farmer with a scythe on the left and a sailor with an anchor on the right. Above the shield is a red star and the state motto Dirigo, while a blue banner at the bottom displays the name Maine.

Maine's state bird is the chickadee.

Maine's state flower is the white pine cone and tassel.

Map of the U.S. state of Maine showing major cities, county seats, and state boundaries. The map highlights Maine's borders with New Hampshire, Quebec, and New Brunswick, and marks the Atlantic Ocean coastline. A small locator map in the corner shows Maine's position in the northeastern United States.

Rocky coastline with waves crashing against boulders along Frenchman Bay in Acadia National Park, Maine, with pine trees and forested land in the background.

Map of the United States highlighting the state of Maine in orange in the northeastern corner of the country, with Augusta marked as its capital. Surrounding regions including Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, and nearby U.S. states are also shown for context.

Golden sunlight illuminates trees at the base of Mt. Katahdin, reflected in a calm lake, with dark mountains and clouds in the background at sunset in Baxter State Park, Maine.

Map of Maine highlighting physical features such as major rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges. Notable features include Mount Katahdin, Moosehead Lake, the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers, Acadia National Park, and the Atlantic coastline. The map shows state boundaries with New Hampshire, Quebec, and New Brunswick, and includes a small locator map of Maine's position within the United States.

Map of the New England region in the northeastern United States, showing state boundaries, major cities, state capitals marked with stars, and physical features such as lakes, rivers, islands, and mountain ranges. States included are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, bordered by Canada to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south.

Listen to a Maine Fish-Steak Canning Company Worker Discuss Rates and Wages

The video thumbnail image shows the existing Maine state flag, a blue background with the state seal, potentially being replaced by a new design, a tan background with a star and pine tree.

How does the Electoral College work in the U.S.?

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Topics

U.S. state current U.S. governors list of U.S. states’ dates of admission to the union list of cities and towns in the United States University of New England University of Southern Maine University of Maine flag of Maine Aroostook War Bowdoin College California New York Hawaii Texas Washington Alaska Florida Massachusetts New Jersey Virginia

Angus King

Angus King

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Edmund Muskie

American politician

Hamlin, Hannibal

Hannibal Hamlin

vice president of United States

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Mary Ellen Chase

American writer

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Sir Ferdinando Gorges

British colonist

Davis, Charles Henry

Charles Henry Davis

American naval officer and scientist

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Neal Dow

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Fitz Henry Lane

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Portland, Maine.

Portland

Maine, United States

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New England

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Locator map of Aroostook County, Maine.

Aroostook

county, Maine, United States

Castine

Castine

Maine, United States

Locator map of Cumberland County, Maine.

Cumberland

county, Maine, United States

Eastport, Maine

Eastport

Maine, United States

Augusta, Maine

Augusta

Maine, United States

Rockland

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Maine, United States

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Machias

Maine, United States

Locator map of York County, Maine.

York

county, Maine, United States

Locator map of Washington County, Maine.

Washington

county, Maine, United States

Locator map of Hancock County, Maine.

Hancock

county, Maine, United States

Lewiston, Maine

Lewiston

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