General Facts on the State of Maine |
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| Official Name | Maine | |||
| Capital | Augusta | |||
| Nick Name | Pine Tree State | |||
| Motto | Dirigo (I direct) | |||
| Location & Region | 44.33064 N, 069.72971 W | Northeast | ||
| Constitution Ratified | 1820 | |||
| Statehood | March 15, 1820 | 23rd state | ||
| Population | 1,274,923 | 41.31 sq mi. | 40th | |
| Largest City (by population) |
Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Brunswick, Biddeford, Sanford, Augusta | |||
| Bordering States | New Hampshire - Coastline: 228 mi. | |||
| Number of Counties | 16 Counties in Maine | |||
| Largest County (by population) |
Cumberland County | 265,612 | 836 sq mi. | |
| Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time | |||
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Maine Climate and Weather |
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| Maine's climate is highly changeable -- it can go from sunny to stormy in short order. Generally, summers are cool, with highs in the upper 70s or low 80s F/24-27 C. Some summers have days that get above 90 F/32 C; some don't. Interior areas experience a greater range of temperatures in the summer, with some nights in northern areas at or near freezing. Winters in Maine are cold but not frigid. January temperatures range 11 to 31 F/-12 to -1 C along the coast and 1 to 19 F/-16 to -7 C inland. Snow melts frequently along the coast. | ||||
| Highest Temperature | 105 degrees July 10, 1911 - North Bridgton |
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| Lowest Temperature | -48 degrees January 19, 1925 - Van Buren |
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| Avg Temp: High - Low | 78.9 degrees | 11.9 degrees | ||
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Maine Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet) |
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| Mean Elevation | 600 | |||
| Highest Point | Mt. Katahdin | 5,267 | ||
| Lowest Point | Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | ||
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Maine Land Area (Square Miles) |
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| Geographic Center | ||||
| Total Area | 35,384.65 | 39th | ||
| Land Area1 | 30,861.55 | |||
| Water Area2 | 4,523.10 | 12.78% | ||
| Forested Land Area3 | 89.7% | |||
| Dimensions (Length - Width) |
320 miles | 190 miles | ||
| Source: (U.S. Census, April 1, 2000) 1. Dry land and land temporarily or partially covered by water, such as marshland, swamps, etc.; streams and canals under one-eighth statute mile wide; and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds under 40 acres. 2. Permanent inland water surface, such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds having an area of 40 acres or more; streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals one-eighth statute mile or more in width; deeply indented embayments and sounds, and other coastal waters behind or sheltered by headlands or islands separated by less than 1 nautical mile of water, and islands under 40 acres in area. Excludes areas of oceans, bays, sounds, etc. lying within U.S. jurisdiction but not defined as inland water. 3. 1997 |
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