John Cabot and his son, Sebastian,
are believed to have visited the Maine coast in
1498. However, the first permanent English
settlements were not established until more than a
century later, in 1623.
The first naval action of the Revolutionary War
occurred in 1775 when colonials captured the British
sloop Margaretta off Machias on the Maine coast. In
that same year, the British burned Falmouth (now
Portland).
Long governed by Massachusetts, Maine became the
23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise in
1820.
Maine produces 98% of the nation's low-bush
blueberries. Farm income is also derived from
apples, potatoes, dairy products, and vegetables,
with poultry and eggs the largest selling items.
The state is one of the world's largest pulp-paper
producers. With almost 89% of its area forested,
Maine turns out wood products from boats to
toothpicks. Maine also leads the world in the
production of the familiar flat tins of sardines,
producing more than 75 million of them annually. In
2001, Maine lobstermen landed nearly 48 million
pounds of lobster, compared with an estimated 53
million pounds in 2000.
A scenic seacoast, beaches, lakes, mountains, and
resorts make Maine a popular vacationland. There are
more than 2,500 lakes and 5,000 streams, plus 26
state parks to attract hunters, fishermen, skiers,
and campers.
Major points of interest are Bar Harbor, Acadia
National Park, Allagash National Wilderness
Waterway, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House in
Portland, Roosevelt Campobello International Park,
and the St. Croix Island National Monument. |
