Information and history of the state of Maine

The first European settlement in Maine was by the French in 1604 on Saint Croix Island, by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The first English settlement in Maine, the short-lived Popham Colony, was established by the Plymouth Company in 1607. A number of English settlements were established along the coast of Maine in the 1620s, although the rugged climate, deprivations, and conflict with the local peoples caused many to fail over the years.

Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820 when it voted to secede from Massachusetts.

On March 15, 1820, it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state under the Missouri Compromise.

Some Maine Symbols

1. State Bird	2. State Mammal	3. State Flower	4. State Insect	5. State Fruit
6. State Tree	7. State Gemstone	8. State Cat	9. State Fish	10. State Herb

1. Black-capped chickadee - Maine designated the black-capped chickadee as the official state bird in 1927. A minuscule, cheerfully sociable bird, the energetic black-capped chickadee does not migrate - allowing us to enjoy them all year long.
2. Moose- Maine designated the moose as official state animal in 1979. Moose are the world's largest member of the deer family.
3. White Pine Cone - Maine designated the white pine cone and tassel as the official state floral emblem in 1895 (botanically, the white pine cone and tassel are not considered true flowers).
4. Honeybee -The honeybee was recognized as the official state insect of Maine in 1975. Bee pollination is critical to plant and human survival - beeswax and honey are just surplus gifts from this tiny wonder of nature.
5. Blueberry - Maine designated wild blueberry as the official state fruit in 1991. Found mostly on hilly and rocky terrain, these delicious native berries were, until recently, harvested exclusively by hand using a special rake invented over 100 years ago by a Mainer.
6. Eastern White Pine -Maine designated the white pine as the official state tree in 1945. Maine's nickname is "The Pine Tree State," the white pine appears on the state flag, and Maine even honors the white pine's cone and tassle as the state "floral emblem." Eastern white pine is a large pine tree native to eastern North America
7. Tourmaline - Maine designated tourmaline as the official state gemstone in 1971. Tourmaline ranges in color from black or white to vibrant shades of red, green, and blue. Individual crystals can be opaque to transparent and may be single or multi-colored.
8. Maine Coon Cat - The Maine coon cat was recognized as the official state cat of Maine in 1985. Well established more than a century ago, Maine coon cats are one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. Though tabby coloring is most well-known, Maine coons come in many colors.
9. Landlocked Salmon -Landlocked salmon (Salmo salar Sebago) was designated the official state fish of Maine in 1969. Landlocked salmon are a subspecies of the Atlantic salmon but never migrate to the sea, living their entire lives in the freshwater lakes of the northern United States and Canada.
10. Wintergreen - Maine designated wintergreen as the official state herb in 1999.Wintergreen has medicinal soothing qualities - native American Indians used crshed leaves to relieve strained muscles and inflammations. Teas made from wintergreen can relieve sore throats and upset stomachs.

Did you know?

• Eastport is the most eastern city in the United States. The city is considered the first place in the United States to receive the rays of the morning sun.
• Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.
• 90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.
• Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state.
• Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.
• The coastline boasts so many deep harbors it is thought all the navies in the world could anchor in them.
• Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood up in the senate and gave the famous Declaration of Conscious speech, speaking out against the McCarthy era. Senator Smith was the first female presidential candidate.