Real Estate Directory - Maine

Population: 1,317,253 (2004)
Capital city/population: Augusta 18,618 (2003)
Largest cities/population:

  • Portland - 63,635
  • Lewiston - 35,992
  • Bangor - 31,550

Maine is the 39th largest state, with a total area of 35,387 square miles. The state’s climate is influenced by air masses from the south and west; its northern climate is harsher, averaging over 100” of snow each winter. Maine achieved statehood on March 15, 1820. Over 90% of the nation’s blueberry, lobster, and toothpick supplies come from Maine.

HOUSING

Portland – The amount of homes for sale in the area has increased slightly, with homes selling at 97% of the median list price. Current average list price for this area is $298,250. This old seacoast town is filled with galleries, shops, and restaurants, as well as being the banking capital of northern New England.

Lewiston – Prices for single-family homes increased 9.6% from last fall to this fall, with average prices rising from $179,000 to $195,000. Affordable interest rates were also appealing to home buyers, who are drawn to the community for its great environment, recreational opportunities, and beautiful landscapes.

Bangor – New construction is on the rise, with new neighborhoods being built to accommodate the need. Home prices have also risen due to low interest rates, making an appealing market for buyers. The community has been voted one of the top ten favorite places in the nation to live.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include fishing, agriculture, manufacturing, services, trade, government, finance, insurance, and real estate. Manufactured goods include paper and wood products and transportation equipment. Chief agricultural crops are blueberries, potatoes, apples, and hay. The total gross state product for 2003 was $41 billion, with a per capita income for that year of $29,164.

SCHOOLS

As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, Maine has developed specific grade level expectations (GLEs) to clearly define what must be assessed annually. The GLEs measure important facets of learning in math and reading, reflect depth of learning for these disciplines, and develop a manageable set of GLEs to test for the NCLB Act.

In the public sector, the 1994 student-teacher ratio was 13:8, with an average 1995 teachers’ salary of $32,869.

The largest institution of higher learning is the University of Maine, with seven branches throughout the state. Other Maine colleges are Colby College – Waterville, Bates College – Lewiston, and Bowdoin College – Brunswick.

HISTORY

Human habitation in Maine can be traced back to prehistoric times, shown by remains of the Red Paint people. Native Americans left remains estimated to be between 1,000 – 5,000 years old.

In 1620, the Council for New England granted Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason the territory known as Maine. After Gorges’s death, settlers came under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1652. After the hated Stamp Act passed in 1765, a mob at Portland seized a quantity of stamps. Later, nonimportation societies formed to boycott English goods.

In the many years following the Revolution, statehood was eagerly sought. It was not until after the War of 1812, when land policies and slavery issues were resolved, that Maine was admitted as a free state in 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise. Maine made sizeable contributions of money and soldiers to the Union cause in the Civil War.

Maine’s population grew 13% during the 1970s and 9% in the 1980s. The timber industry grew in importance, along with the fishing industry. Environmental issues have been a focus in recent years, with the banning of river logging in an attempt to revive salmon populations.

RELIGION (2004)

  • Christian – 82%
    • Protestant – 56%
      • Baptist – 16%
      • Methodist – 9%
      • Pentecostal – 6%
      • Church of Christ – 3%
      • Lutheran – 3%
      • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 18%
    • Roman Catholic – 25%
    • Other Christian – 1%
    • Other Religions – 1%
    • Non-Religions – 17%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

The racial makeup of the state is:

  • White non-Hispanic - 96.5%
  • Hispanic -0.7%
  • Asian - 0.7%
  • Black - 0.5%
  • American Indian - 0.6%
  • Mixed race - 1%