Portland, Maine
Encyclopedia
Portland is the largest city in Maine
and is the county seat
of Cumberland County
. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000. With a metro population of over 500,000, the Greater Portland area is home to more than one-third of Maine's total population.
Tourists visit Portland's historic Old Port
district along Portland Harbor, at the mouth of the Fore River
and part of Casco Bay
, and the Arts District, which runs along Congress Street
in the center of the city. Portland Head Light
is located in nearby Cape Elizabeth
and marks the entrance to Portland Harbor.
The city seal depicts a phoenix
rising from ashes, which aligns with the city's motto, Resurgam, Latin
for "I will rise again." The motto refers to Portland's recoveries from four devastating fires. The city of Portland, Oregon
was named for Portland, Maine.
Portland Public Schools is the largest school system in Maine, serving approximately 7,000 students.
Native Americans originally named Portland Machigonne. The first European settler was Capt. Christopher Levett
, an English naval captain granted 6000 acres (24.3 km²) by King Charles I of England
in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay
. A member of the Council for New England
and agent for Ferdinando Gorges
, Levett built a stone house where he left a company of ten men, then returned to England and wrote a book about his voyage to drum up support for the settlement. The settlement failed, and the fate of Levett's colonists is unknown. The explorer sailed from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
to meet John Winthrop
in 1630, but never returned to Maine. Fort Levett
in the harbor is named for him.
The peninsula was first permanently settled in 1633 as a fishing and trading village named Casco. When the Massachusetts Bay Colony
took over Casco Bay in 1658, the town's name changed again to Falmouth. In 1676, the village was destroyed by the Wampanoag during King Philip's War
. It was rebuilt. During King William's War
, a raiding party of French and Native allies attacked and largely destroyed it again in 1690. On October 18, 1775, Falmouth was burned
in the Revolution
by the Royal Navy
under command of Captain Henry Mowat.
Following the war, a section of Falmouth called The Neck developed as a commercial port and began to grow rapidly as a shipping center. In 1786, the citizens of Falmouth formed a separate town in Falmouth Neck and named it Portland, after the isle off the coast of Dorset, England. Portland's economy was greatly stressed by the Embargo Act of 1807
(prohibition of trade with the British), which ended in 1809, and the War of 1812
, which ended in 1815.
In 1820, Maine became a state and Portland was its capital. In 1832, the capital was moved to Augusta
. In 1851, Maine led the nation by passing the first state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes." The law subsequently became known as the Maine law
, as 18 states quickly followed. On June 2, 1855, the Portland Rum Riot
occurred.
On June 26th, 1863, a Confederate raiding party led by Captain Charles Read, entered the harbor at Portland and the Battle of Portland Harbor
ensued, one of the northernmost battles of the Civil War
. The 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
of July 4, 1866, ignited during the Independence Day
celebration, destroyed most of the commercial buildings in the city, half the churches and hundreds of homes. More than 10,000 people were left homeless.
In 1853, upon completion of the Grand Trunk Railway
to Montreal
, Portland became the primary ice-free winter seaport for Canadian
exports. The Portland Company
manufactured more than 600 19th-century steam locomotive
s. Portland became a 20th-century rail hub
as five additional rail lines merged into Portland Terminal Company
in 1911. Following nationalization of the Grand Trunk system in 1923, Canadian export traffic was diverted from Portland to Halifax, Nova Scotia
, causing marked local economic decline. In the 20th century, icebreaker
s later enabled ships to reach Montreal in winter, drastically reducing Portland's role as a winter port for Canada.
The erection of the Maine Mall
, an indoor shopping center
established in the suburb
of South Portland
during the 1970s, economically depressed downtown Portland. The trend reversed when tourists and new businesses started revitalizing the old seaport, locally known as the Old Port. Since the 1990s the historically industrial Bayside neighborhood saw rapid development. The emerging harborside Ocean Gateway neighborhood at the base of Munjoy Hill
. The Maine College of Art
has been a revitalizing force downtown, attracting students from around the country. The historic Porteous building on Congress Street was restored by the College, in collaboration with Portland architect Richard Renner.
, the city has an area of 52.6 square miles (136.2 km²), of which 21.2 square miles (54.9 km²) is land, and 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²)(59.65%) is water. Portland is on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine
and the Atlantic Ocean.
Portland borders South Portland
, Westbrook
and Falmouth
. The city is located at 43.66713 N, 70.20717 W.
Portland has a humid continental climate
(Köppen
Dfb), with somewhat long, cold snowy winters, and warm summers. Monthly averages range from 21.7 °F (-5.7 °C) in January to 68.7 °F (20.4 °C) in July. The high exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) several days per year; lows of 0 °F (-18 °C) or below are reached approximately 10 times per year. The area can be affected by severe nor'easter
s during winter, with high winds and snowfall totals. Precipitation averages 45.8 inches (116.3 cm) and is plentiful year-round, but with a slightly drier summer. Direct strikes by hurricanes or tropical storms are rare, due to the curvature of the southern Maine coast and the typical path of tropical systems north of 40 degrees latitude. Extremes range from −26 F to 103 °F (39 °C).
Portland is organized into neighborhoods generally recognized by residents, but they have no legal or political authority. In many cases, city signage identifies various neighborhoods or intersections (which are often called corners). Most city neighborhoods have a local neighborhood association, which usually maintains on-going relations of varying degrees with the City government on issues affecting the neighborhood.
On March 8, 1899, Portland annexed the neighboring city of Deering. Deering neighborhoods now comprise the northern and eastern sections of the city prior to the merger. Portland's Deering High School
was formerly the public high school for Deering.
Portland's neighborhoods include the Arts District, Bayside, Bradley's Corner, Cushing's Island, Deering Center, Deering Highlands, Downtown, East Deering, East Bayside, East End, Eastern Cemetery, Great Diamond Island
, Highlands, Kennedy Park
, Libbytown, Little Diamond Island, Lunt's Corner, Morrill's Corner, Munjoy Hill
, Nason's Corner, North Deering, Oakdale, the Old Port
, Parkside, Peaks Island
, Riverton Park, Rosemont, Stroudwater, the West End, and Woodford's Corner.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 64,250 people, 29,714 households, and 13,549 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,029.2 people per square mile (1,169.6/km²). There were 31,862 housing units at an average density of 1,502.2 per square mile (580.0/km²).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Portland's immediate metropolitan area ranked 147th in the nation in 2000 with a population of 243,537, while the Portland/South Portland/Biddeford metropolitan area
included 487,568 total inhabitants. This has increased to an estimated 513,102 inhabitants as of 2007. Much of this increase in population has been due to growth in the city's southern and western suburbs.
The largest ancestries include: Irish
(21.2%), English (19.2%), Italian (10.8%), French
(10.5%), and German
(6.9%).
There were 29,714 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.4% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,650, and the median income for a family was $48,763. Males had a median income of $31,828 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,698. About 9.7% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
, manufacturing
and agriculture
towards a more service-based economy
. Most national financial services
organizations such as Bank of America
, Key Bank, Fidelity Investments
, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
, and Aetna
base their Maine operations in Portland. Unum, TD Bank, Magellan Petroleum, Maine Bank & Trust, ImmuCell Corp, and Pioneer Telephone
have headquarters here, and Portland's neighboring cities of South Portland
, Westbrook
and Scarborough, provide homes for other corporations. Since 1867, Burnham & Morrill Co., maker of B&M Baked Beans, has had its main plant in Portland. The plant is considered a local and state landmark.
Portland has a low unemployment level when compared to national and state averages, 6.8% in January 2011. Portland and surrounding communities also have higher median incomes than most other Maine communities.
The Portland-Montreal Pipe Line
, a crude oil pipeline that stretches from South Portland to Montreal
, was a major contributing factor in these rankings.
Portland is home to increased urban farming
, particularly in the East Bayside neighborhood.
The city has adopted a council-manager style government
that is detailed in the city charter. The citizens of Portland are represented by a nine member city council
which makes policy, passes ordinances, approves appropriations, appoints the city manager and oversees the municipal government. The city council of nine members is elected by the citizens of Portland. The city has five voting districts, with each district electing a city councilor
to represent their neighborhood interests for a three year term. There are also four members of the city council who are elected at-large
. From the nine council members a chairman is elected by a simple majority to serve a one year term presiding over all council meetings. The chairman is popularly known as the Mayor, which is primarily a ceremonial position. The current mayor is Nick Mavodones. On November 2, 2010, Portland voters narrowly approved a measure that allowed them to elect the mayor on November 8, 2011. Former state senator Michael F. Brennan
was elected (see Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2011
) and will be sworn into office December 5, 2011. The office of mayor will become a four-year paid position.
A city manager
is appointed by the city council. The city manager oversees the daily operations of the city government, appoints the heads of city departments, and prepares annual budgets. The city manager directs all city agencies and departments, and is responsible for the executing laws and policies passed by the city council.
Aside from the main city council there is also an elected school board for the Portland Public School system. The school board is made up in the same manner of the city council with five district members, four at-large members and one chairman. There are also three students from the local high schools elected to serve on the board. There are many other boards and committees such as the Planning Committee, Board of Appeals, and Harbor Commission, etc. These committees and boards have limited power in their respective areas of expertise. Members of boards and committees are appointed by city council members.
Voter registration
, Portland Stage Company
, Maine Historical Society & Museum
, Maine College of Art
, Children's Museum of Maine, SPACE Gallery, Merrill Auditorium
, the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
, and Portland Symphony Orchestra
, as well as many smaller art galleries and studios.
Baxter Boulevard around Back Cove
, Deering Oaks Park
, the Eastern Promenade
, Western Promenade
, Lincoln Park
and Riverton Park are all historical parks within the city. Other parks and natural spaces include Payson Park, Post Office Park, Baxter Woods
, Evergreen Cemetery
, Western Cemetery
and the Fore River Sanctuary
. The non-profit organization
Portland Trails maintains an extensive network of walking and hiking trails throughout the city and neighboring communities.
Other sites of interest include:
The city is home to two daily newspapers, The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
founded in 1862 and The Portland Daily Sun
. The Press Herald is published Monday through Saturday, and The Maine Sunday Telegram, is published on Sundays. Both are published by MaineToday Media, Inc., which also operates an entertainment website, MaineToday.com and owns papers in Augusta, Waterville and Bath. The Daily Sun began operation in 2009; it is owned and published by the The Conway Daily Sun
in North Conway, New Hampshire.
Portland is also covered by an alternative weekly newspaper, The Portland Phoenix, published by the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which also produces a New England-wide news, arts, and entertainment website, thephoenix.com, and a twice-annual GLBT issues magazine, "Out In Maine".
The Portland Forecaster is a weekly newspaper, and The Bollard, a monthly alternative magazine, as well as The West End News, The Munjoy Hill Observer, The Baysider, The Waterfront, Portland Magazine, and The Companion, an LGBT
publication. Portland is also the home office of The Exception Magazine
, an online newspaper that covers Maine.
The Portland broadcast media market is the largest one in Maine in both radio
and television. A whole host of radio options are available in Portland, including WFNK
(Classic Hits), WJJB (Sports), WTHT
(Country), WBQW (Classical), WHXR
(Rock), WHOM
(Adult Contemporary
), WJBQ
(Top 40), WCLZ
(Adult Album Alternative), WBLM
(Classic Rock), WYNZ
('60s-'70s Hits), and WCYY
(Modern rock
). WMPG
is a local non-commercial radio station, run by community members and the University of Southern Maine
. The Maine Public Broadcasting Network's radio news operations are based in Portland.
The area is served by local television stations representing most of the television networks. These stations include WCSH 6
(NBC
), WMTW 8 (ABC
), WGME 13
(CBS
), WPFO 23
(Fox
), WPME 35
(MyNetworkTV
), and WPXT 51
(The CW
). There is no PBS
affiliate licensed to the city of Portland but the market
is served by WCBB
Channel 10 in Augusta
and WMEA-TV
Channel 26 Biddeford
.
The city is home to three minor-league teams. The AA
Portland Sea Dogs
, a farm team
of the Boston Red Sox
, play at Hadlock Field
. Additionally, there are the American Hockey League
Portland Pirates
. Skating at the Cumberland County Civic Center
, they are an affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes
. In 2009, the Maine Red Claws began playing at the Portland Exposition Building
. The Red Claws are part of the NBA Development League
, and are affiliated with the Boston Celtics
and the Charlotte Bobcats
of the NBA.
The Portland Sports Complex, located off of Park and Brighton Avenues near I-295
and Deering Oaks
park, houses several of the city's stadiums and arenas, including:
The Portland area has eleven professional golf course
s, 124 tennis court
s, and 95 playground
s. There are also over 100 miles (160.9 km) of nature trail
s.
Portland hosts the Maine Marathon
each October.
Memorial Stadium
is the home of the Deering High School sports teams and is located behind the school.
Portland hosts many internationally renowned bars, taverns and restaurants. The downtown area, including the Arts District and the Old Port
have a high concentration of eating and drinking establishments, with many more to be found throughout the rest of the peninsula, outlying neighborhoods, and neighboring communities.
Local lore holds that Portland ranks among the top U.S. cities in restaurants and bars per capita. According to the Maine Restaurant Association, Portland is currently home to about 230 restaurants. Many of these institutions cater to niche markets in the culinary world, perhaps most notably the harvest of local sea cucumbers that are primarily exported to Asian markets.
Portland has developed a national reputation for the quality of its restaurants and eateries. In 2009, Portland was named the "Foodiest Small Town in America" by Bon Appétit
magazine, and was featured in the New York Times as a food destination.http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/10/americas_foodiest_small_town_2009_portland_maine
In the spring of 2007, Portland was nominated as one of three finalists for "Delicious Destination of the Year" at the 2007 Food Network Awards
.
Many local chefs have gained national attention over the past few years.
The city and outlying region played host to Rachael Ray
in an episode of her Food Network
Series $40 a Day
, and was also featured in the Travel Channel
series Man v. Food
and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in 2010.
Portland is home to a number of microbreweries
and brewpub
s, including the D. L. Geary Brewing Company
, Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
, Shipyard Brewing Company
, Casco Bay Brewing Co.
, Sebago Brewing Company, and Allagash Brewing Company
. The breweries are popular tourism locations due to the presence of on-site bars for tasting the final product.
Portland is the birthplace of the "Italian sandwich
". Southern Maine's signature sandwich, it is called simply "an Italian" by locals. Italian sandwiches are available at many stores, but most famously at Amato's
Italian delicatessens, which claims to have originated the sandwich (hence the name). http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/History/HoagieSubmarinePoBoy.htm
Some of the most loved and famous food haunts of locals include the famous Becky's Diner
on historical Commercial Street (Portland, Maine)
, both Hot Suppa! and King of the Roll on Congress Street, Aurora Provisions on Pine Street, and the Great Lost Bear on Forest Avenue.
The Portland Farmers' Market, which has been in continuous operation since 1768, takes place every Monday and Wednesday in Monument Square and every Saturday in Deering Oaks Park during the warm months and every Saturday indoors during the winter. Fresh fish and seafood can be purchased at a number of markets on the wharves along Commercial Street, and numerous artisan bread makers bake fresh loaves every day.
Appreciation for sustainable food and farming gained a significant boost throughout the state in the 1970s when back-to-the-landers moved to Maine in droves. With them came the resurgence of farmers' markets (including the expansion of the Portland market), a significant organic farming movement and an increased interested in plant-based cuisine. The echoes of this movement continue in Portland, where restaurants emphasize local and organic food and where the state's greatest concentration of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants can be found.
Portland hosts a number of food and beverage festivals, including:
a Level One Trauma Center is the largest hospital in Maine and is continuing to expand its campus and services. Mercy Hospital
, a faith-based hospital, is the fourth-largest hospital in the state and began construction on its new campus along the Fore River
in late 2006. The project is expected to be constructed in several phases, with completion of the first phase scheduled for 2008. http://www.mercyhospital.com/mercyfore/overview.html
The formerly independent Brighton Medical Center (once known as the Osteopathic Hospital) is now owned by Maine Medical Center and is operated as a minor care center under the name Brighton First Care and New England Rehab. In 2010, Maine Medical Center's Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation and Simulation opened at the Brighton campus. http://simulation.mmc.org The former Portland General Hospital is now home to the Barron Center nursing facility.
Portland is accessible from 
I-95
(the Maine Turnpike),
I-295
, and
U.S. 1
. Also,
U.S. Route 302
, a major travel route and scenic highway between Maine and Vermont
, has its eastern terminus in Portland.
Concord Coach Lines
bus service connects Portland to 14 other communities in Maine as well as to Boston
's South Station
and Logan Airport
. Amtrak
's Downeaster
train service connects the city with Boston's North Station. Both Concord Coach Lines and the Downeaster can be found at the Portland Transportation Center on Thompsons Point Road, in Portland's Libbytown neighborhood. Greyhound Lines
on Saint John Street connects to 17 Maine communities and to more than 3,600 U.S. destinations.
A carsharing
service provided by U Car Share
is available.
The city operates several transportation hubs. In addition to the transportation center, commercial air service is available at the Portland International Jetport
, located in Stroudwater west of the city's downtown district. Several car rental
agencies are located at the jetport.
The Port of Portland
is the second-largest cruise and passenger destination in the state (next to Bar Harbor
), and is served by the Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal
. Ferry service is available year-round to many destinations in Casco Bay
. From 2006 to 2009, Bay Ferries
operated a high speed ferry called The Cat featuring a five hour trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
for summer passengers and cars. Before that, the Scotia Prince Cruises
trip took 11 hours. As of 2010, no replacement for the two defunct Nova Scotia ferry services has been announced.
There are two public bus systems in Portland. The Portland Explorer is a service that connects various transportation centers within the city and the METRO provides public bus transit throughout Portland and the surrounding area. South Portland
's municipal bus service connects with Portland's METRO service.
Numerous private taxi cab companies operate in and around Portland.
The spire of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
has been a notable feature of the Portland skyline since its completion in 1854. In 1859, Ammi B. Young
designed the Marine Hospital, the first of three local works by Supervising Architects of the U.S. Treasury Department
. Although the city lost to redevelopment its 1867 Greek Revival
post office
, which was designed by Alfred B. Mullett
of white Vermont
marble
and featured a Corinthian
portico
, Portland retains his equally monumental 1872 granite
Second Empire–Renaissance Revival
custom house
.
A more recent building of note is Franklin Towers
, a 17-story residential tower completed in 1969. At 204 feet (62.2 meters), it is Portland's (as well as Maine's) tallest building. It is next to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the city skyline. During the building boom of the 1980s, several new buildings rose on the peninsula, including the 1983 Charles Shipman Payson Building by Henry N. Cobb
of Pei, Cobb, Freed & Partners
at the Portland Museum of Art
complex (a component of which is the 1801 McLellan-Sweat Mansion
), and the Back Bay Tower, a 15-story residential building completed in 1990.
477 Congress Street (known locally as the Time and Temperature Building
) is situated near Monument Square
in the Arts District and is a major landmark: the 14-story building features a large electronic sign on its roof that flashes time and temperature data, as well as parking ban information in the winter. The sign can be seen from nearly all of downtown Portland. The building is home to the studio of ABC
affiliate WMTW-TV 8, as well as several radio stations.
The Eastland Park Hotel
, completed in 1927, is a prominent hotel located on High St. in downtown Portland. Photographer Todd Webb
lived in Portland during his later years and took many pictures of the city. Some of Webb's pictures of Portland can be found at the Evans Gallery in South Portland.
(SCI):
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Maine
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 281,674. Its county seat is Portland, and is the most populous of the sixteen Maine counties, as well as the most affluent. Cumberland County has the deepest and second largest body of water in the...
. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000. With a metro population of over 500,000, the Greater Portland area is home to more than one-third of Maine's total population.
Tourists visit Portland's historic Old Port
Old Port
The Old Port is a district of Portland, Maine, known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars...
district along Portland Harbor, at the mouth of the Fore River
Fore River (Maine)
The Fore River is a short horn-shaped estuary, approximately long, separating Portland and South Portland in Maine in the United States. Many of the port facilities of the Portland harbor are along the estuary, which is formed just southwest of Portland by the confluence of several creeks...
and part of Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
, and the Arts District, which runs along Congress Street
Congress Street (Portland, Maine)
Congress Street is the main street in Portland, Maine. Congress stretches from Portland's southwestern border with South Portland through a number of neighborhoods before ending overlooking the Eastern Promenade on Munjoy Hill...
in the center of the city. Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine that sits at the entrance of the shipping channel into Casco Bay. The headlight was the first built by the United States government, and is now a part of Fort Williams Park.-History:...
is located in nearby Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The town is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
and marks the entrance to Portland Harbor.
The city seal depicts a phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
rising from ashes, which aligns with the city's motto, Resurgam, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "I will rise again." The motto refers to Portland's recoveries from four devastating fires. The city of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
was named for Portland, Maine.
Portland Public Schools is the largest school system in Maine, serving approximately 7,000 students.
History
Christopher Levett
Capt. Christopher Levett was an English writer, explorer and naval captain, born at York, England. He explored the coast of New England and secured a grant from the King to settle present-day Portland, Maine, the first European to do so. Levett left behind a group of settlers at his Maine...
, an English naval captain granted 6000 acres (24.3 km²) by King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
. A member of the Council for New England
Plymouth Council for New England
The Plymouth Council for New England was the name of a 17th century English joint stock company that was granted a royal charter to found colonial settlements along the coast of North America....
and agent for Ferdinando Gorges
Ferdinando Gorges
Sir Ferdinando Gorges , the "Father of English Colonization in North America", was an early English colonial entrepreneur and founder of the Province of Maine in 1622, although Gorges himself never set foot in the New World.-Biography:...
, Levett built a stone house where he left a company of ten men, then returned to England and wrote a book about his voyage to drum up support for the settlement. The settlement failed, and the fate of Levett's colonists is unknown. The explorer sailed from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
to meet John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
in 1630, but never returned to Maine. Fort Levett
Fort Levett
Fort Levett was a former U.S. Army fort built on Cushing Island, Maine, in 1898. Located in Cumberland County, Maine, in the middle of Casco Bay near Portland, Maine, the fort was heavily fortified with cannons for coastal defense...
in the harbor is named for him.
The peninsula was first permanently settled in 1633 as a fishing and trading village named Casco. When the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
took over Casco Bay in 1658, the town's name changed again to Falmouth. In 1676, the village was destroyed by the Wampanoag during King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
. It was rebuilt. During King William's War
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
, a raiding party of French and Native allies attacked and largely destroyed it again in 1690. On October 18, 1775, Falmouth was burned
Burning of Falmouth
The Burning of Falmouth was an attack by a fleet of Royal Navy vessels on the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts . The fleet was commanded by Captain Henry Mowat...
in the Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
under command of Captain Henry Mowat.
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 and the subsequent Nonintercourse Acts were American laws restricting American ships from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812. The Acts were diplomatic responses by presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests...
(prohibition of trade with the British), which ended in 1809, and the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, which ended in 1815.
In 1820, Maine became a state and Portland was its capital. In 1832, the capital was moved to Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
. In 1851, Maine led the nation by passing the first state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes." The law subsequently became known as the Maine law
Maine law
The Maine law, passed in 1851 in Maine, was one of the first statutory implementations of the developing temperance movement in the United States.-History:Temperance activist Neal Dow helped craft this law...
, as 18 states quickly followed. On June 2, 1855, the Portland Rum Riot
Portland Rum Riot
The Portland Rum Riot, also called the Maine Law Riot, was a brief but violent period of civil unrest that occurred in Portland, Maine on June 2, 1855 in response to the Maine law which prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol in the state the year before.-History:The Maine law of 1851...
occurred.
On June 26th, 1863, a Confederate raiding party led by Captain Charles Read, entered the harbor at Portland and the Battle of Portland Harbor
Battle of Portland Harbor
The Battle of Portland Harbor was a naval battle of the American Civil War, fought in June of 1863, in the waters off Portland, Maine. Two United States Navy warships engaged two vessels under Confederate States Navy employment.-Background:...
ensued, one of the northernmost battles of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
The Great Fire of Portland, Maine occurred on July 4, 1866 — the first Independence Day after the end of the American Civil War. Five years before the Great Chicago Fire, this was the greatest fire yet seen in an American city. It started in a boat house on Commercial Street, likely caused by...
of July 4, 1866, ignited during the Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration, destroyed most of the commercial buildings in the city, half the churches and hundreds of homes. More than 10,000 people were left homeless.
In 1853, upon completion of the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Portland became the primary ice-free winter seaport for Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
exports. The Portland Company
Portland Company
The Portland Company was established 10 November 1846 by John A. Poor and Norris Locomotive Works engineer Septimus Norris as a locomotive foundry to build railroad equipment for the adjacent Portland terminus of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad connection between Portland, Maine and...
manufactured more than 600 19th-century steam locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s. Portland became a 20th-century rail hub
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
as five additional rail lines merged into Portland Terminal Company
Portland Terminal Company
The Portland Terminal Company was a terminal railroad notable for its control of switching activity for the Maine Central and Boston & Maine railroads in the Maine cities of Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook.- History :...
in 1911. Following nationalization of the Grand Trunk system in 1923, Canadian export traffic was diverted from Portland to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
, causing marked local economic decline. In the 20th century, icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
s later enabled ships to reach Montreal in winter, drastically reducing Portland's role as a winter port for Canada.
The erection of the Maine Mall
The Maine Mall
The Maine Mall, built in 1971, is an enclosed shopping mall located in South Portland, Maine, a suburb of Portland. At , it is the largest shopping mall in the state of Maine, and the second-largest in northern New England...
, an indoor shopping center
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
established in the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
during the 1970s, economically depressed downtown Portland. The trend reversed when tourists and new businesses started revitalizing the old seaport, locally known as the Old Port. Since the 1990s the historically industrial Bayside neighborhood saw rapid development. The emerging harborside Ocean Gateway neighborhood at the base of Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill is an historically Irish-American neighborhood and prominent geographical feature of Portland, Maine. It is located east of downtown, and south of East Deering, the neighborhood it is connected to by Tukey's Bridge.-Geography:...
. The Maine College of Art
Maine College of Art
The Maine College of Art is a fully accredited, degree-granting art college in the city of Portland, Maine. It should not be confused with the Art Institute of Portland which is located in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1882, the Maine College of Art is the oldest arts educational institution in Maine...
has been a revitalizing force downtown, attracting students from around the country. The historic Porteous building on Congress Street was restored by the College, in collaboration with Portland architect Richard Renner.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has an area of 52.6 square miles (136.2 km²), of which 21.2 square miles (54.9 km²) is land, and 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²)(59.65%) is water. Portland is on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
and the Atlantic Ocean.
Portland borders South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
, Westbrook
Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
and Falmouth
Falmouth, Maine
Falmouth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 11,185 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
. The city is located at 43.66713 N, 70.20717 W.
Portland has a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb), with somewhat long, cold snowy winters, and warm summers. Monthly averages range from 21.7 °F (-5.7 °C) in January to 68.7 °F (20.4 °C) in July. The high exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) several days per year; lows of 0 °F (-18 °C) or below are reached approximately 10 times per year. The area can be affected by severe nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
s during winter, with high winds and snowfall totals. Precipitation averages 45.8 inches (116.3 cm) and is plentiful year-round, but with a slightly drier summer. Direct strikes by hurricanes or tropical storms are rare, due to the curvature of the southern Maine coast and the typical path of tropical systems north of 40 degrees latitude. Extremes range from −26 F to 103 °F (39 °C).
Neighborhoods
Portland is organized into neighborhoods generally recognized by residents, but they have no legal or political authority. In many cases, city signage identifies various neighborhoods or intersections (which are often called corners). Most city neighborhoods have a local neighborhood association, which usually maintains on-going relations of varying degrees with the City government on issues affecting the neighborhood.
On March 8, 1899, Portland annexed the neighboring city of Deering. Deering neighborhoods now comprise the northern and eastern sections of the city prior to the merger. Portland's Deering High School
Deering High School
Deering High School is a public high school in Portland, Maine which educates grades 9–12. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district. It is named after the Deering Center neighborhood it serves...
was formerly the public high school for Deering.
Portland's neighborhoods include the Arts District, Bayside, Bradley's Corner, Cushing's Island, Deering Center, Deering Highlands, Downtown, East Deering, East Bayside, East End, Eastern Cemetery, Great Diamond Island
Great Diamond Island, Maine
Great Diamond Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine. It is part of the city of Portland, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the island had a year-round population of 77. The island is not accessible from the mainland by motor vehicle and has a limited network of roads. The primary modes of...
, Highlands, Kennedy Park
Kennedy Park (Portland, Maine)
Kennedy Park is a neighborhood in downtown Portland, Maine. The neighborhood is part of Census Tract 5, the most diverse neighborhood in the state of Maine...
, Libbytown, Little Diamond Island, Lunt's Corner, Morrill's Corner, Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill is an historically Irish-American neighborhood and prominent geographical feature of Portland, Maine. It is located east of downtown, and south of East Deering, the neighborhood it is connected to by Tukey's Bridge.-Geography:...
, Nason's Corner, North Deering, Oakdale, the Old Port
Old Port
The Old Port is a district of Portland, Maine, known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars...
, Parkside, Peaks Island
Peaks Island, Maine
Peaks Island is the most populous island in Casco Bay, Maine. It is part of the city of Portland and is approximately from downtown. The island became a popular summer destination in the late 19th century, when it was known as the Coney Island of Maine, home to hotels, cottages, theaters, and...
, Riverton Park, Rosemont, Stroudwater, the West End, and Woodford's Corner.
Demographics
According to the 2010 American Census Bureau Estimates, the city's population was 85.0% White (83.6% non-Hispanic White alone), 7.1% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.5% Asian, 1.6% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 3.0% of the total population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.7% of the population had a Bachelor's degree or higher. Men's Health ranked Portland the ninth most educated city in America.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 64,250 people, 29,714 households, and 13,549 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,029.2 people per square mile (1,169.6/km²). There were 31,862 housing units at an average density of 1,502.2 per square mile (580.0/km²).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Portland's immediate metropolitan area ranked 147th in the nation in 2000 with a population of 243,537, while the Portland/South Portland/Biddeford metropolitan area
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area
The Portland–South Portland–Biddeford Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Greater Portland, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Maine, anchored by the city of Portland and the smaller cities of South Portland and Biddeford...
included 487,568 total inhabitants. This has increased to an estimated 513,102 inhabitants as of 2007. Much of this increase in population has been due to growth in the city's southern and western suburbs.
The largest ancestries include: Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
(21.2%), English (19.2%), Italian (10.8%), French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
(10.5%), and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
(6.9%).
There were 29,714 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.4% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,650, and the median income for a family was $48,763. Males had a median income of $31,828 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,698. About 9.7% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Portland has become Maine's economic capital because the city has Maine's largest port, largest population, and is close to Boston (115 miles to the south). Over the years, the local economy has shifted from fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
towards a more service-based economy
Service economy
Service economy can refer to one or both of two recent economic developments. One is the increased importance of the service sector in industrialized economies. Services account for a higher percentage of US GDP than 20 years ago...
. Most national financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
organizations such as Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, Key Bank, Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments
FMR LLC or Fidelity Investments is an American multinational financial services corporation one of the largest mutual fund and financial services groups in the world. It was founded in 1946 and serves North American investors. Fidelity Ventures is its venture capital arm...
, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
WellPoint
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health plan company in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. It was formed when WellPoint Health Networks, Inc. merged into Anthem, Inc., with the surviving Anthem adopting the name, WellPoint, Inc...
, and Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
base their Maine operations in Portland. Unum, TD Bank, Magellan Petroleum, Maine Bank & Trust, ImmuCell Corp, and Pioneer Telephone
Pioneer Telephone
Pioneer Telephone is a privately held company with headquarters in Portland, Maine. It is a facility based telecommunication carrier of long-distance telephone service in the United States...
have headquarters here, and Portland's neighboring cities of South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
, Westbrook
Westbrook, Maine
Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
and Scarborough, provide homes for other corporations. Since 1867, Burnham & Morrill Co., maker of B&M Baked Beans, has had its main plant in Portland. The plant is considered a local and state landmark.
Portland has a low unemployment level when compared to national and state averages, 6.8% in January 2011. Portland and surrounding communities also have higher median incomes than most other Maine communities.
Portland-Montreal Pipe Line
The Portland Montreal Pipe Line is a series of underground crude oil pipelines from South Portland, Maine to Montreal, Quebec.-History:The Portland Montreal Pipe Line's history began during World War II, as oil shipments to Canada were largely disrupted by enemy naval forces...
, a crude oil pipeline that stretches from South Portland to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, was a major contributing factor in these rankings.
Portland is home to increased urban farming
Urban agriculture
Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture...
, particularly in the East Bayside neighborhood.
Government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
that is detailed in the city charter. The citizens of Portland are represented by a nine member city council
Portland, Maine City Council
The Portland, Maine City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Portland, Maine. It is 9 seat council, composed of representatives from the city's five districts as well as 4 councilors elected citywide. Beginning with the Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2011, one of the...
which makes policy, passes ordinances, approves appropriations, appoints the city manager and oversees the municipal government. The city council of nine members is elected by the citizens of Portland. The city has five voting districts, with each district electing a city councilor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
to represent their neighborhood interests for a three year term. There are also four members of the city council who are elected at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
. From the nine council members a chairman is elected by a simple majority to serve a one year term presiding over all council meetings. The chairman is popularly known as the Mayor, which is primarily a ceremonial position. The current mayor is Nick Mavodones. On November 2, 2010, Portland voters narrowly approved a measure that allowed them to elect the mayor on November 8, 2011. Former state senator Michael F. Brennan
Michael F. Brennan
Michael F. Brennan is a Maine politician. Brennan, a Democrat, served as State Senator from 2002-2006 and Senate Majority Leader and a 2008 Democratic candidate for Maine's 1st congressional district. On May 15, 2011 Brennan announced his candidacy in the Portland, Maine mayoral election...
was elected (see Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2011
Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2011
The 2011 Portland, Maine mayoral election took place on November 8, 2011. In November 2010, Portland voters approved a citywide referendum changing the city charter to recreate an elected mayor position that had previously been removed in 1923. From 1923 until 2011, city councilors chose one of...
) and will be sworn into office December 5, 2011. The office of mayor will become a four-year paid position.
A city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is appointed by the city council. The city manager oversees the daily operations of the city government, appoints the heads of city departments, and prepares annual budgets. The city manager directs all city agencies and departments, and is responsible for the executing laws and policies passed by the city council.
Aside from the main city council there is also an elected school board for the Portland Public School system. The school board is made up in the same manner of the city council with five district members, four at-large members and one chairman. There are also three students from the local high schools elected to serve on the board. There are many other boards and committees such as the Planning Committee, Board of Appeals, and Harbor Commission, etc. These committees and boards have limited power in their respective areas of expertise. Members of boards and committees are appointed by city council members.
Voter registration
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of August 2011 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Total Voters | Percentage |
Democratic Maine Democratic Party The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S... |
23,438 | 48.38% |
Unenrolled | 15,320 | 31.62% |
Republican Maine Republican Party The Maine Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Maine. It was founded in Strong, Maine on August 7, 1854. The state Chairman is Charles M. Webster.... |
7,220 | 14.90% |
Green Independent Maine Green Independent Party The Maine Green Independent Party is the oldest state Green party in the United States. It was founded following an informal meeting of 18 environmental advocates, including Bowdoin College professor John Rensenbrink and others in Augusta, Maine... |
2,459 | 5.07% | |
| Total | 48,437 | 100% | |||||||||||||
Education
See also- Portland Public Schools
- List of Portland, Maine schools
High schools
- Casco Bay High SchoolCasco Bay High SchoolCasco Bay High School is a public Expeditionary Learning school in Portland, Maine, USA. Since the 2005–06 school year, the school has been housed on the site of the Portland Arts and Technology High School on Allen Avenue, in the city's North Deering neighborhood...
(public-expeditionary) - Catherine McAuley High SchoolCatherine McAuley High SchoolCatherine McAuley High School of Portland, Maine is an all-girls' college preparatory school that is run by the Sisters of Mercy. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. McAuley is the only single-sex high school in the state of Maine. The school was established by the Sisters of...
(private) - Cheverus High SchoolCheverus High SchoolCheverus High School is a private, Jesuit, college-preparatory school in Portland, Maine. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. Cheverus High School was founded in 1917 as a Diocesan school and was named after French Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus...
(private) - Deering High SchoolDeering High SchoolDeering High School is a public high school in Portland, Maine which educates grades 9–12. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district. It is named after the Deering Center neighborhood it serves...
(public) - Portland Arts & Technology High School (public-vocational)
- Portland High SchoolPortland High School, Portland, MainePortland High School is a public high school in Portland, Maine which educates grades 9–12. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district....
(public) - Waynflete SchoolWaynflete SchoolWaynflete School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school for early childhood education to twelfth grade, in Portland, Maine. Established in 1898, it is one of three independent private schools in the greater Portland area....
(private)
Colleges and universities
- Maine College of ArtMaine College of ArtThe Maine College of Art is a fully accredited, degree-granting art college in the city of Portland, Maine. It should not be confused with the Art Institute of Portland which is located in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1882, the Maine College of Art is the oldest arts educational institution in Maine...
- University of Maine School of LawUniversity of Maine School of LawThe University of Maine School of Law is located in Portland, Maine and is Maine's only law school. It is a freestanding institution within the University of Maine System. In practice, it is administered as a unit of the University of Southern Maine, which provides the law school's support staff...
- University of New England (formerly Westbrook CollegeWestbrook CollegeWestbrook College was a liberal arts college in Portland, Maine founded 1831 as Westbrook Seminary in Westbrook, Maine. It closed in 1996 and merged with the University of New England, which uses its old campus.-History:...
) - University of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern MaineThe University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
Culture
Sites of interest
The Arts District, centered on Congress Street, is home to the Portland Museum of ArtPortland Museum of Art
The Portland Museum of Art is an art museum in Portland, Maine. Founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882, it is located in the downtown area known as The Arts District, and is the largest and oldest public art institution in the U.S...
, Portland Stage Company
Portland Stage Company
Portland Stage is the only professional LORT theater company in the state of Maine.As such, Portland Stage employs actors and stage managers who are members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States....
, Maine Historical Society & Museum
Maine Historical Society
The Maine Historical Society is the official state historical society of Maine and is located in Portland.-History:The Maine Historical Society was founded in 1822 and is the third oldest state historical society after the Massachusetts Historical Society and New York Historical Society...
, Maine College of Art
Maine College of Art
The Maine College of Art is a fully accredited, degree-granting art college in the city of Portland, Maine. It should not be confused with the Art Institute of Portland which is located in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1882, the Maine College of Art is the oldest arts educational institution in Maine...
, Children's Museum of Maine, SPACE Gallery, Merrill Auditorium
Merrill Auditorium
Merrill Auditorium is a 1,900-seat auditorium located in Portland, Maine, United States. Originally known as Portland City Hall Auditorium, it is located in the eastern section of Portland City Hall. Organizations such as Portland Ovations and the Portland Symphony Orchestra use the auditorium as a...
, the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
Kotzschmar Memorial Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, usually referred to as the Kotzschmar Organ, is a pipe organ located inside the city-owned Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, United States. Built in 1911 by the Austin Organ Co...
, and Portland Symphony Orchestra
Portland Symphony Orchestra
The Portland Symphony Orchestra, established in 1923 in Portland, Maine, is a fully professional symphony that is recognized as being one of the top orchestras of its size in the country. The orchestra performs a wide variety of concerts, frequently featuring guest artists, at the Merrill...
, as well as many smaller art galleries and studios.
Baxter Boulevard around Back Cove
Back Cove
- Canada :* Back Cove, Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador* Back Cove, Fogo, Newfoundland and Labrador* Back Cove, hamlet, Newfoundland and Labrador* Back Cove, St. Barbe, Newfoundland and Labrador...
, Deering Oaks Park
Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks is a public park in Portland, Maine, which has a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a playground, and a pond. It is located west of downtown Portland and is bordered by Deering Avenue on the west, Forest Avenue on the east, Park Avenue to the south and Interstate 295 to the north. State...
, the Eastern Promenade
Eastern Promenade
The Eastern Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine. Construction of the Promenade began in 1836 and continued periodically until 1934. The park was designed by the Olmstead Brothers design firm and experienced its greatest expansion from the 1880s...
, Western Promenade
Western Promenade
The Western Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine's West End neighborhood. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a number of historic properties, including the Adam P. Leighton House. Maine Medical Center is also...
, Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park (Portland, Maine)
Lincoln Park is a urban park in downtown Portland, Maine. Created in 1866 following the 1866 Great Fire which burned down most of the buildings of Portland, it was named in honor of former President Abraham Lincoln. It is bounded by Congress, Pearl, Federal and Market streets...
and Riverton Park are all historical parks within the city. Other parks and natural spaces include Payson Park, Post Office Park, Baxter Woods
Baxter Woods
right|thumb|The entrance to Baxter Woods from Forest AvenueBaxter Woods is a nature reserve in Portland, Maine. Donated to the city by Percival Proctor Baxter, it is situated on , which is the largest undisturbed forest in Portland...
, Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Evergreen Cemetery is a garden style cemetery in Portland, Maine, United States. With of land, it is the second largest cemetery in the state. It was established in 1855 and became the city's main cemetery after the Western Cemetery. As of March 2011, only of the were used for cemetery-related...
, Western Cemetery
Western Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
The Western Cemetery is an urban cemetery in Portland, Maine. At one time Portland's home for the "poor and indigent", the cemetery is named after for its location in Portland's West End neighborhood and proximity to the Western Promenade. Founded in the 18th century, the land was acquired by the...
and the Fore River Sanctuary
Fore River Sanctuary
The Fore River Sanctuary is an protected area in Portland, Maine. Located in the Stroudwater neighborhood, the sanctuary is home of Jewell Falls, Portland's only natural waterfall and the former home of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal. It also includes a salt water marsh which attracts a number of...
. The non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Portland Trails maintains an extensive network of walking and hiking trails throughout the city and neighboring communities.
Other sites of interest include:
- Casco BayCasco BayCasco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
Islands, including the Casco Bay Lines - Cumberland County Civic CenterCumberland County Civic CenterThe Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena, in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of $8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates ice hockey team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association high school basketball tournament...
, home of the Portland PiratesPortland PiratesThe Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. - East End BeachEast End BeachThe East End Beach is a small beach on the North Atlantic Ocean in Portland, Maine. It is located in the East End/Eastern Promenade neighborhood on Portland's peninsula.-External links:* Geographic Names Information System...
- Exchange StreetExchange StreetExchange Street is a main commercial thoroughfare in the Old Port district of Portland, Maine, U.S.A. It features a number of designer clothing stores, as well as several small, locally-owned businesses. There are also a couple of coffee shops, one of which doubles as an Internet café.Exchange...
(the "Old Port" area) - Hadlock FieldHadlock FieldHadlock Field is a Minor League baseball stadium in Portland, Maine. It is primarily home to the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. It is also the home of the Portland Bulldogs and Deering Rams baseball teams. The stadium is named for Edson J...
, home to the Portland Sea DogsPortland Sea DogsThe Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
. - Longfellow ArboretumLongfellow ArboretumEdward Payson Park is a public park on Ocean Avenue in Portland, Maine.-Longfellow Arboretum:The Longfellow Arboretum is a arboretum on the southwestern corner the park beside a small tidal marsh which connects the park to Back Cove....
- Neal S. Dow HouseNeal S. Dow HouseNeal S. Dow House, also known as Gen. Neal Dow House, is an historic house in Portland, Maine, built for noted politician and prohibitionist Neal S. Dow. He was the Prohibition Party candidate for U.S. president in 1880.-Dow House:...
- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad MuseumMaine Narrow Gauge Railroad MuseumThe Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum is located in Portland, Maine, United States. The organization was founded in 1993 and contains a collection of rolling stock and artifacts from the gauge narrow gauge railroads that ran in the state of Maine in the late 19th century and early...
- Martin's Point
- McLellan-Sweat MansionMcLellan-Sweat MansionThe McLellan-Sweat Mansion is a historic house museum at 111 High Street in Portland, Maine. It forms the rear component of the Portland Museum of Art complex....
- Old Port Exchange
- The Portland Club
- Portland Conservatory of Music
- Portland Financial DistrictPortland Financial DistrictThe Portland Financial District in Portland, Maine, is home to headquarters and regional offices of the largest banks in Maine. These include Key Bank, and Bank of America. TD Commerce Bank's national headquarters are located in the District as well...
- Portland Head Light LighthousePortland Head LightPortland Head Light is a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine that sits at the entrance of the shipping channel into Casco Bay. The headlight was the first built by the United States government, and is now a part of Fort Williams Park.-History:...
- Portland ObservatoryPortland ObservatoryThe Portland Observatory, built in 1807 at Portland, Maine, is the last surviving maritime signal tower in the United States. Using both a telescope and signal flags, two-way communication between ship and shore was possible several hours before an incoming vessel reached the...
- Portland Stage CompanyPortland Stage CompanyPortland Stage is the only professional LORT theater company in the state of Maine.As such, Portland Stage employs actors and stage managers who are members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States....
- Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue
- University of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern MaineThe University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
(USM) - Victoria MansionVictoria MansionVictoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House or Morse-Libby Mansion, is a landmark example of American residential architecture located in downtown Portland, Maine, United States. The brownstone exterior, elaborate interior design, opulent furnishings and early technological conveniences...
- Wadsworth-Longfellow HouseWadsworth-Longfellow HouseThe Wadsworth-Longfellow House is an historic house and museum in Portland, Maine, United States. It is located at 489 Congress Street and is operated by the Maine Historical Society. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962, and administratively added to the National Register of...
Media
Portland is home to a concentration of publishing and broadcast companies, advertising agencies, web designers, commercial photography studios and film makers.The city is home to two daily newspapers, The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald publish daily newspapers in Portland, Maine, USA...
founded in 1862 and The Portland Daily Sun
Portland Daily Sun
The Portland Daily Sun publish daily newspapers Tuesday through Saturday in Portland, Maine. The Portland Daily Sun is a free daily newspaper distributed to retail and business locations throughout the city. The first edition was printed on February 3, 2009. Circulation, which started at 3,000...
. The Press Herald is published Monday through Saturday, and The Maine Sunday Telegram, is published on Sundays. Both are published by MaineToday Media, Inc., which also operates an entertainment website, MaineToday.com and owns papers in Augusta, Waterville and Bath. The Daily Sun began operation in 2009; it is owned and published by the The Conway Daily Sun
Conway Daily Sun
The Conway Daily Sun is a five-day free daily newspaper published in the town of Conway, New Hampshire, U.S., covering the Mount Washington Valley area. It has been published since 1989 by Country News Club, which also prints two other free Daily Sun tabloids in eastern New Hampshire.Mark...
in North Conway, New Hampshire.
Portland is also covered by an alternative weekly newspaper, The Portland Phoenix, published by the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which also produces a New England-wide news, arts, and entertainment website, thephoenix.com, and a twice-annual GLBT issues magazine, "Out In Maine".
The Portland Forecaster is a weekly newspaper, and The Bollard, a monthly alternative magazine, as well as The West End News, The Munjoy Hill Observer, The Baysider, The Waterfront, Portland Magazine, and The Companion, an LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
publication. Portland is also the home office of The Exception Magazine
The Exception Magazine
The Exception Magazine is an online newsmagazine that covers Maine. It is headquartered in Portland, Maine. The Exception Magazine , which is updated daily during the week, covers Maine news, business, politics and culture...
, an online newspaper that covers Maine.
The Portland broadcast media market is the largest one in Maine in both radio
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
and television. A whole host of radio options are available in Portland, including WFNK
WFNK
WFNK is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format, known on air as Frank FM. Licensed to Lewiston, Maine, USA, the station serves the Portland, Maine area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Partners....
(Classic Hits), WJJB (Sports), WTHT
WTHT
-External links:*...
(Country), WBQW (Classical), WHXR
WHXR
WXTP is an FM radio station licensed to North Windham, Maine, serving the Portland area from studios in Freeport.-History:The station signed on in 1996 as WVYH, and featured an adult standards format known as "The Jewel". The station was simulcast on sister stations WLAM in Gorham and WZOU in...
(Rock), WHOM
WHOM
WHOM is an American radio station which airs an adult contemporary format. It transmits from atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire and has a broadcast area of five states and Quebec. While the signal can be heard all over northern New England, the station broadcasts from and considers itself part...
(Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
), WJBQ
WJBQ
WJBQ is a radio station in Portland, Maine, United States, which airs a contemporary hit radio format.-Programming:...
(Top 40), WCLZ
WCLZ
WCLZ is a radio station licensed to North Yarmouth, Maine with studios located in Portland. Since 2001 WCLZ has been broadcasting an Adult Alternative format. It operates on FM frequency 98.9 and is under ownership of Saga Communications.- History :...
(Adult Album Alternative), WBLM
WBLM
WBLM 102.9 FM is a classic rock radio station servicing the southern Maine and southeastern New Hampshire listening areas from Portland, Maine. The station has a studio in One City Center, along with WJBQ and WHOM...
(Classic Rock), WYNZ
WYNZ
WYNZ Big Hits Y100.9, is an FM radio station licensed to South Portland, Maine, and broadcasting at 100.9 MHz. Until 2007, the station was an oldies formatted radio station known as Oldies 100.9....
('60s-'70s Hits), and WCYY
WCYY
WCYY is a commercial radio station located in Portland, Maine. It broadcasts to the Portland, Maine area on 94.3 FM and formerly on 93.9 FM from Lewiston, Maine. Its target audience are people from ages 18–44. The station airs a modern rock music format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media....
(Modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
). WMPG
WMPG
WMPG is a community radio station broadcasting from Portland, Maine. It is located on Bedford Street at the University of Southern Maine Portland Campus. It is affiliated with the college, and is a mix of USM Students and volunteers from the greater Portland community that produce all the music and...
is a local non-commercial radio station, run by community members and the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
. The Maine Public Broadcasting Network's radio news operations are based in Portland.
The area is served by local television stations representing most of the television networks. These stations include WCSH 6
WCSH
WCSH is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire. Licensed to Portland, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 44 from a transmitter on Winn Mountain in Sebago. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Time Warner Cable channel 6...
(NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
), WMTW 8 (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
), WGME 13
WGME-TV
WGME-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Portland. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter on Brown Hill west of Raymond...
(CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), WPFO 23
WPFO
WPFO is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Waterville, Maine. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 23 from a transmitter on Oak Hill in Litchfield near the Androscoggin and Kennebec County line...
(Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
), WPME 35
WPME
WPME is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire licensed to Lewiston, Maine. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 35 from a transmitter in South Gray along I-95/Maine Turnpike/Gold Star Memorial Highway. The station can...
(MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
), and WPXT 51
WPXT
WPXT is the CW-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire licensed to Portland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter in South Gray along I-95/Maine Turnpike/Gold Star Memorial Highway...
(The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
). There is no PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
affiliate licensed to the city of Portland but the market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
is served by WCBB
Maine Public Broadcasting Network
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is a state network of public television and radio stations located in the state of Maine in the United States. It is operated by the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation, which holds the licenses for all the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public...
Channel 10 in Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
and WMEA-TV
Maine Public Broadcasting Network
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is a state network of public television and radio stations located in the state of Maine in the United States. It is operated by the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation, which holds the licenses for all the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public...
Channel 26 Biddeford
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...
.
| Channel | Call Sign | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | WCSH WCSH WCSH is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire. Licensed to Portland, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 44 from a transmitter on Winn Mountain in Sebago. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Time Warner Cable channel 6... |
NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... |
| 8 | WMTW | ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... |
| 10 | WCBB Maine Public Broadcasting Network The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is a state network of public television and radio stations located in the state of Maine in the United States. It is operated by the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation, which holds the licenses for all the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public... |
PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... |
| 13 | WGME WGME-TV WGME-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Portland. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter on Brown Hill west of Raymond... |
CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... |
| 23 | WPFO WPFO WPFO is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Waterville, Maine. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 23 from a transmitter on Oak Hill in Litchfield near the Androscoggin and Kennebec County line... |
Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... |
| 26 | WMEA-TV Maine Public Broadcasting Network The Maine Public Broadcasting Network is a state network of public television and radio stations located in the state of Maine in the United States. It is operated by the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation, which holds the licenses for all the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public... |
PBS Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... |
| 35 | WPME WPME WPME is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire licensed to Lewiston, Maine. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 35 from a transmitter in South Gray along I-95/Maine Turnpike/Gold Star Memorial Highway. The station can... |
MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation... |
| 51 | WPXT WPXT WPXT is the CW-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire licensed to Portland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter in South Gray along I-95/Maine Turnpike/Gold Star Memorial Highway... |
The CW The CW Television Network The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB... |
Movies filmed in Portland
- The Preacher's WifeThe Preacher's WifeThe Preacher's Wife is a 1996 romantic-family-dramedy-christmas film directed by Penny Marshall, and starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Loretta Devine. It is a remake of the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife....
- The Man Without a FaceThe Man Without a FaceThe Man Without a Face is a 1993 drama film starring and directed by Mel Gibson. The film is based on Isabelle Holland's 1972 novel of the same name. Gibson's directorial debut received respectful reviews from most critics.-Plot:...
- Message in a BottleMessage in a Bottle (film)Message in a Bottle is a 1999 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. Based on a novel with the same name by Nicholas Sparks, the film stars Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, and Paul Newman...
- ThinnerThinner (film)Thinner is a 1996 horror film directed by Tom Holland and written by Michael McDowell with the screenplay by Tom Holland. The film is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.-Plot:...
Sports
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Sea Dogs Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League.... |
EL, Baseball | Hadlock Field Hadlock Field Hadlock Field is a Minor League baseball stadium in Portland, Maine. It is primarily home to the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. It is also the home of the Portland Bulldogs and Deering Rams baseball teams. The stadium is named for Edson J... |
1994 | 1 |
| Portland Pirates Portland Pirates The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... , Ice hockey |
Cumberland County Civic Center Cumberland County Civic Center The Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena, in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of $8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates ice hockey team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association high school basketball tournament... |
1993 | 1 |
| Portland Phoenix FC Portland Phoenix FC Portland Phoenix is an American soccer team based in Portland, Maine, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games on the... |
USL PDL USL Premier Development League The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid... , Soccer |
Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium (Maine) Memorial Stadium is a 3,200 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium in Portland, Maine, USA. Located behind Deering High School in the Deering Center neighborhood, it uses FieldTurf.... |
2009 | 0 |
| Maine Red Claws | NBA D-League NBA Development League The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001... , Basketball |
Portland Exposition Building Portland Exposition Building The Portland Exposition Building was designed by Fredrick A. Thompson and is located in Portland, Maine. It is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States... |
2009 | 0 |
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
, a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, play at Hadlock Field
Hadlock Field
Hadlock Field is a Minor League baseball stadium in Portland, Maine. It is primarily home to the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. It is also the home of the Portland Bulldogs and Deering Rams baseball teams. The stadium is named for Edson J...
. Additionally, there are the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. Skating at the Cumberland County Civic Center
Cumberland County Civic Center
The Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena, in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of $8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates ice hockey team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association high school basketball tournament...
, they are an affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. In 2009, the Maine Red Claws began playing at the Portland Exposition Building
Portland Exposition Building
The Portland Exposition Building was designed by Fredrick A. Thompson and is located in Portland, Maine. It is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States...
. The Red Claws are part of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, and are affiliated with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
of the NBA.
The Portland Sports Complex, located off of Park and Brighton Avenues near I-295
Interstate 295 (Maine)
Interstate 295 is a -long connector in the U.S. state of Maine from I-95 in Scarborough to I-95 in West Gardiner.-Route description:...
and Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks is a public park in Portland, Maine, which has a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a playground, and a pond. It is located west of downtown Portland and is bordered by Deering Avenue on the west, Forest Avenue on the east, Park Avenue to the south and Interstate 295 to the north. State...
park, houses several of the city's stadiums and arenas, including:
- Hadlock FieldHadlock FieldHadlock Field is a Minor League baseball stadium in Portland, Maine. It is primarily home to the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. It is also the home of the Portland Bulldogs and Deering Rams baseball teams. The stadium is named for Edson J...
- baseball (Capacity 7,368) - Fitzpatrick StadiumFitzpatrick StadiumFitzpatrick Stadium is a 6,300 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium in Portland, Maine, USA. It is located between Interstate 295, Hadlock Field baseball stadium, and the Portland Exposition Building, the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States. It is located across the...
- football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and outdoor track (Capacity 6,000+ seated) - Portland Exposition BuildingPortland Exposition BuildingThe Portland Exposition Building was designed by Fredrick A. Thompson and is located in Portland, Maine. It is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States...
- basketball, indoor track, concerts and trade shows (Capacity 2,000) - Portland Ice Arena - hockey and figure skating (Capacity 400)
The Portland area has eleven professional golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s, 124 tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s, and 95 playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s. There are also over 100 miles (160.9 km) of nature trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s.
Portland hosts the Maine Marathon
Maine Marathon
The Gorham Savings Bank Maine Marathon is a series of USATF certified road running events held each October in Portland, Maine that include a full marathon and a half marathon, as well as a marathon relay. The course is an out-and-back that starts and finishes along the Back Cove of Portland, going...
each October.
Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Maine)
Memorial Stadium is a 3,200 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium in Portland, Maine, USA. Located behind Deering High School in the Deering Center neighborhood, it uses FieldTurf....
is the home of the Deering High School sports teams and is located behind the school.
Food and beverage
Old Port
The Old Port is a district of Portland, Maine, known for its cobblestone streets, 19th century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars...
have a high concentration of eating and drinking establishments, with many more to be found throughout the rest of the peninsula, outlying neighborhoods, and neighboring communities.
Local lore holds that Portland ranks among the top U.S. cities in restaurants and bars per capita. According to the Maine Restaurant Association, Portland is currently home to about 230 restaurants. Many of these institutions cater to niche markets in the culinary world, perhaps most notably the harvest of local sea cucumbers that are primarily exported to Asian markets.
Portland has developed a national reputation for the quality of its restaurants and eateries. In 2009, Portland was named the "Foodiest Small Town in America" by Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit
Bon Appétit describes itself as "a food and entertaining magazine" and is published monthly. Named after the French phrase for "Enjoy your meal", it was started by M. Frank Jones in Kansas City in 1956...
magazine, and was featured in the New York Times as a food destination.http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/10/americas_foodiest_small_town_2009_portland_maine
In the spring of 2007, Portland was nominated as one of three finalists for "Delicious Destination of the Year" at the 2007 Food Network Awards
The Food Network Awards
The Food Network Awards are a United States television production awards ceremony, focused on giving awards to chefs, cities, restaurants, and other notable food related institutions....
.
Many local chefs have gained national attention over the past few years.
The city and outlying region played host to Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
in an episode of her Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
Series $40 a Day
$40 a Day
$40 a Day is a Food Network show hosted by Rachael Ray. In each episode, Rachael takes a one-day trip to an American or European city with only US$40 to spend on food...
, and was also featured in the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
series Man v. Food
Man v. Food
Man v. Food is an American food reality television series. It premiered on December 3, 2008, on the Travel Channel. The program is hosted by actor and food enthusiast Adam Richman. In each episode, Richman explores the "big food" offerings of a different American city before facing off against a...
and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in 2010.
Portland is home to a number of microbreweries
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
and brewpub
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
s, including the D. L. Geary Brewing Company
D. L. Geary Brewing Company
D. L. Geary Brewing Company is a brewery in Portland, Maine, USA, incorporated in October 1983 by David and Karen Geary.Geary's, as it is more commonly known, was one of the first new microbreweries during America’s late 20th century brewing renaissance. In 2006 Geary’s London Porter won a New York...
, Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company, commonly contracted to Gritty's, is an American microbrewery, with locations in Portland, Freeport, and Auburn, Maine....
, Shipyard Brewing Company
Shipyard Brewing Company
Shipyard Brewing Company is an American microbrewery and soft drink manufacturer based in Portland, Maine and founded in 1994. Maine ranks among the top five states in the U.S. for microbreweries, with Shipyard the largest brewer...
, Casco Bay Brewing Co.
Casco Bay Brewing Co.
Casco Bay Brewing Co. was an American microbrewery, located in Portland, Maine. In 2008, Casco Bay was acquired by Shipyard Brewing Company and became a Shipyard brand.- History :...
, Sebago Brewing Company, and Allagash Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company is an American brewery located in Portland, Maine.Founded in 1994 by Rob Tod, Allagash sold its first batch of beer in the summer of 1995. Tod had been working in breweries around the U.S. and recognized a void in the craft brewing movement...
. The breweries are popular tourism locations due to the presence of on-site bars for tasting the final product.
Portland is the birthplace of the "Italian sandwich
Submarine sandwich
A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The...
". Southern Maine's signature sandwich, it is called simply "an Italian" by locals. Italian sandwiches are available at many stores, but most famously at Amato's
Amato's
Amato's Sandwich Shops, Inc., is a chain of sandwich and pizza shops in northern New England, United States. Founded in 1902 by Giovanni Amato, Amato's owns and operates 12 stores. Recent expansion has been in the form of franchising, most notably in Irving Oil/Circle K locations in Maine and New...
Italian delicatessens, which claims to have originated the sandwich (hence the name). http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/History/HoagieSubmarinePoBoy.htm
Some of the most loved and famous food haunts of locals include the famous Becky's Diner
Becky's Diner
Becky's Diner is an historic, popular diner on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine. It is located on Portland's historic waterfront.- History :...
on historical Commercial Street (Portland, Maine)
Commercial Street (Portland, Maine)
Commercial Street is a street downtown Portland, Maine. In 2008, it was named one of the 10 best streets in the United States by the American Planning Association. It was built upon old piers in the 1850s. Fill was pushed into Casco Bay to accommodate the growing railroad and warehousing needs of...
, both Hot Suppa! and King of the Roll on Congress Street, Aurora Provisions on Pine Street, and the Great Lost Bear on Forest Avenue.
The Portland Farmers' Market, which has been in continuous operation since 1768, takes place every Monday and Wednesday in Monument Square and every Saturday in Deering Oaks Park during the warm months and every Saturday indoors during the winter. Fresh fish and seafood can be purchased at a number of markets on the wharves along Commercial Street, and numerous artisan bread makers bake fresh loaves every day.
Appreciation for sustainable food and farming gained a significant boost throughout the state in the 1970s when back-to-the-landers moved to Maine in droves. With them came the resurgence of farmers' markets (including the expansion of the Portland market), a significant organic farming movement and an increased interested in plant-based cuisine. The echoes of this movement continue in Portland, where restaurants emphasize local and organic food and where the state's greatest concentration of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants can be found.
Portland hosts a number of food and beverage festivals, including:
- Festival of Nations
- Greek Festival
- Harvest on the Harbor
- Italian Heritage Festival
- Maine Brewers Festival
- Maine Vegetarian & Vegan Food Festival
- Taste of the Nation
Hospitals
Maine Medical CenterMaine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center is a 637 licensed-bed teaching hospital located in Portland, Maine, United States with a staff of over 6,000 people. Founded in 1874, it is the largest hospital in northern New England with 27,000 inpatients, more than 500,000 outpatient visits and over 16,000 surgeries...
a Level One Trauma Center is the largest hospital in Maine and is continuing to expand its campus and services. Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital (Portland, Maine)
Mercy Hospital is a Roman Catholic not-for-profit community hospital in Portland, Maine. It was founded in 1918 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Sisters of Mercy to provide excellent healthcare, especially to the poor and disadvantaged...
, a faith-based hospital, is the fourth-largest hospital in the state and began construction on its new campus along the Fore River
Fore River (Maine)
The Fore River is a short horn-shaped estuary, approximately long, separating Portland and South Portland in Maine in the United States. Many of the port facilities of the Portland harbor are along the estuary, which is formed just southwest of Portland by the confluence of several creeks...
in late 2006. The project is expected to be constructed in several phases, with completion of the first phase scheduled for 2008. http://www.mercyhospital.com/mercyfore/overview.html
The formerly independent Brighton Medical Center (once known as the Osteopathic Hospital) is now owned by Maine Medical Center and is operated as a minor care center under the name Brighton First Care and New England Rehab. In 2010, Maine Medical Center's Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation and Simulation opened at the Brighton campus. http://simulation.mmc.org The former Portland General Hospital is now home to the Barron Center nursing facility.
Transportation
I-95Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
(the Maine Turnpike),
I-295Interstate 295 (Maine)
Interstate 295 is a -long connector in the U.S. state of Maine from I-95 in Scarborough to I-95 in West Gardiner.-Route description:...
, and
U.S. 1U.S. Route 1 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway serving the eastern part of the state. It parallels the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire north through Portland, Brunswick, and Belfast to Calais, and then the St. Croix River and the rest of the Canadian border...
. Also,
U.S. Route 302U.S. Route 302
U.S. Route 302 is a spur of U.S. Route 2. It currently runs 171 miles north from Portland, Maine, at U.S. Route 1, to Montpelier, Vermont, at US 2...
, a major travel route and scenic highway between Maine and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, has its eastern terminus in Portland.
Concord Coach Lines
Concord Coach Lines
Concord Coach Lines, Inc., formerly known as Concord Trailways, is an inter-city bus company based in Concord, New Hampshire.The company was founded in 1967, and expanded in 1988 with the purchase of the Trailways franchise. Service to Maine commenced in 1992...
bus service connects Portland to 14 other communities in Maine as well as to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's South Station
South Station
South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern...
and Logan Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Downeaster
Downeaster
The Downeaster is a 116-mile regional passenger train service managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and operated by Amtrak, connecting North Station in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine...
train service connects the city with Boston's North Station. Both Concord Coach Lines and the Downeaster can be found at the Portland Transportation Center on Thompsons Point Road, in Portland's Libbytown neighborhood. Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
on Saint John Street connects to 17 Maine communities and to more than 3,600 U.S. destinations.
A carsharing
Carsharing
Car sharing or Carsharing is a model of car rental where people rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use...
service provided by U Car Share
U Car Share
UhaulCarShare is a for-profit carsharing service offered by U-Haul in selected cities across the United States, billable hourly or by the day.-Schools Served:* University of Utah* Lynn University* Kenyon College* Northwood University...
is available.
The city operates several transportation hubs. In addition to the transportation center, commercial air service is available at the Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport is a public airport located two miles west of the central business district of Portland, in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is owned by the city of Portland...
, located in Stroudwater west of the city's downtown district. Several car rental
Car rental
A car rental or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time for a fee...
agencies are located at the jetport.
The Port of Portland
Port of Portland (Maine)
The Port of Portland is the largest tonnage seaport in New England as well as a major seaport along the east coast of the United States. It is also the second largest oil port on the East Coast, processing of oil in 2007, mostly through the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line, and the largest foreign...
is the second-largest cruise and passenger destination in the state (next to Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 5,235. Bar Harbor is a famous summer colony in the Down East region of Maine. It is home to the College of the Atlantic, Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island...
), and is served by the Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal
Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal
The Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal is a cruise ship terminal in Portland, Maine. It was built in two phases, first the terminal building and second a floating pier for large cruise ships to dock at....
. Ferry service is available year-round to many destinations in Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
. From 2006 to 2009, Bay Ferries
Bay Ferries
Bay Ferries Limited, referred to simply as Bay Ferries, is a ferry company operating in eastern Canada and the United States and is headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island...
operated a high speed ferry called The Cat featuring a five hour trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
for summer passengers and cars. Before that, the Scotia Prince Cruises
Scotia Prince Cruises
Scotia Prince Cruises was a cruise ferry operator based in Maine which owned and operated the M/S Scotia Prince. This ferry operated across the Gulf of Maine between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, until the end of the 2004 sailing season....
trip took 11 hours. As of 2010, no replacement for the two defunct Nova Scotia ferry services has been announced.
There are two public bus systems in Portland. The Portland Explorer is a service that connects various transportation centers within the city and the METRO provides public bus transit throughout Portland and the surrounding area. South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
's municipal bus service connects with Portland's METRO service.
Numerous private taxi cab companies operate in and around Portland.
Notable buildings
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Portland, Maine)
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is an historic cathedral on Cumberland Avenue and Congress Streets in Portland, Maine. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. The Cathedral’s Pastor is Bishop Richard Malone, and its Rector is Father Louis Phillips.Construction began in...
has been a notable feature of the Portland skyline since its completion in 1854. In 1859, Ammi B. Young
Ammi B. Young
Ammi Burnham Young was an important 19th century American architect whose commissions transitioned from the Greek Revival to the Neo-Renaissance styles. His Second Vermont State House brought him fame and success, which eventually led him to become the first Supervising Architect of the U.S....
designed the Marine Hospital, the first of three local works by Supervising Architects of the U.S. Treasury Department
Office of the Supervising Architect
The Office of the Supervising Architect was an agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings from 1852 to 1939....
. Although the city lost to redevelopment its 1867 Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, which was designed by Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred B. Mullett
Alfred Bult Mullett was an American architect who served from 1866 to 1874 as Supervising Architect, head of the agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings...
of white Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
and featured a Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, Portland retains his equally monumental 1872 granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
Second Empire–Renaissance Revival
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
custom house
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
.
A more recent building of note is Franklin Towers
Franklin Towers
Franklin Towers is a 16-story high-rise building located in Portland, Maine, at the corner of Franklin Street and Cumberland Avenue. At , it is the tallest building in the state of Maine, making Maine 48th out of the 50 states in terms of tallest building per state...
, a 17-story residential tower completed in 1969. At 204 feet (62.2 meters), it is Portland's (as well as Maine's) tallest building. It is next to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the city skyline. During the building boom of the 1980s, several new buildings rose on the peninsula, including the 1983 Charles Shipman Payson Building by Henry N. Cobb
Henry N. Cobb
Henry N. Cobb is an American architect and founding partner with I.M. Pei of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, an international architectural firm based in New York City....
of Pei, Cobb, Freed & Partners
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners is an architectural firm that was founded in 1955 by I. M. Pei as I. M. Pei & Associates, in 1966 called I. M. Pei & Partners, and received its current name and organization in 1989. The founders were I. M. Pei, Henry N. Cobb, and Eason H. Leonard. Pei and Leonard retired...
at the Portland Museum of Art
Portland Museum of Art
The Portland Museum of Art is an art museum in Portland, Maine. Founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882, it is located in the downtown area known as The Arts District, and is the largest and oldest public art institution in the U.S...
complex (a component of which is the 1801 McLellan-Sweat Mansion
McLellan-Sweat Mansion
The McLellan-Sweat Mansion is a historic house museum at 111 High Street in Portland, Maine. It forms the rear component of the Portland Museum of Art complex....
), and the Back Bay Tower, a 15-story residential building completed in 1990.
477 Congress Street (known locally as the Time and Temperature Building
Time and Temperature Building
The Time & Temperature Building is a fourteen story office building located on Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. The building is named after the large display screen on the roof that flashes the local time and temperature.Originally known as the Chapman Building, it was erected in 1924...
) is situated near Monument Square
Monument Square (Portland, Maine)
Monument Square is a town square in Portland, Maine. The Time and Temperature Building and the Portland Public Library are on Congress Street across from the square, while One Monument Square and One City Center are located on the square....
in the Arts District and is a major landmark: the 14-story building features a large electronic sign on its roof that flashes time and temperature data, as well as parking ban information in the winter. The sign can be seen from nearly all of downtown Portland. The building is home to the studio of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WMTW-TV 8, as well as several radio stations.
The Eastland Park Hotel
Eastland Park Hotel
Eastland Park Hotel is a hotel in Portland, Maine, United States. It was designed by architect Herbert Rhodes. In 1927, the hotel gained fame when aviator Charles Lindbergh stayed in it after returning from the solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1946, it gained notoriety again when...
, completed in 1927, is a prominent hotel located on High St. in downtown Portland. Photographer Todd Webb
Todd Webb
Todd Webb was an American photographer notable for documenting everyday life and architecture in cities such as New York, Paris as well as from the American west. His photography has been compared with Harry Callahan, Berenice Abbott, Walker Evans, and the French photographer Eugène Atget...
lived in Portland during his later years and took many pictures of the city. Some of Webb's pictures of Portland can be found at the Evans Gallery in South Portland.
Honors
- Ranked as Bon AppétitBon AppétitBon Appétit describes itself as "a food and entertaining magazine" and is published monthly. Named after the French phrase for "Enjoy your meal", it was started by M. Frank Jones in Kansas City in 1956...
magazine's "America's Foodiest Small Town" (2009). - Ranked #1 on Forbes.comForbesForbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
"America's Most Livable Cities" (2009). - Ranked #12 on Frommer'sFrommer'sFrommer's is a travel guidebook series and one of the bestselling travel guides in America. The series began in 1957 with the publication of Arthur Frommer's book, Europe on $5 a Day. Frommer's has expanded to include over 350 guidebooks across 14 series, as well as other media including the award...
2007 "Top Travel Destinations". - Ranked #20 in Inc. Magazine 2006 "Boom Town List of Hottest Cities for Entrepreneurs".
- Named #15 in medium-sized "Top U.S. Cities for Doing Business" by Inc. Magazine, May 2005
- Named #14 in "Best Performing Cities" index by the Milken InstituteMilken InstituteThe Milken Institute is an independent economic think tank based in Santa Monica, California that publishes research and hosts conferences that apply market-based principles and financial innovations to a variety of societal issues in the US and internationally.The mission of the Institute, founded...
, November 2004. - Ranked #13 on Men's Health MagazineMen's Health (magazine)Men's Health , published by Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States, is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand, with 44 editions around the world. It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. It covers fitness, nutrition, sexuality, lifestyle and other aspects of...
s list of America's 100 most "car crazed" cities. - Ranked #20 on the list of Top 20 Best Small Cities for College Students by the American Institute for Economic ResearchAmerican Institute for Economic ResearchAmerican Institute for Economic Research , located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest economic research organizations in the United States. Founded in 1933, AIER is an independent 501 organization that, according to its website, represents no fund, concentration of wealth, or...
. - Named one of the "Coolest Small Cities in America" by GQ Magazine.
- Ranked as the third gayest city in the nation by UCLA's Williams Institute.
- Named Best Adventure Town in the East by Outside Magazine.
- Ranked fourth on Sperlings Best Places list for America's Foodie Cities!
Sister cities
Portland has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
(SCI):
-
ArkhangelskArkhangelskArkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
, Russia -
Cap-HaïtienCap-HaïtienCap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
, HaitiHaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island... -
MytileneMytileneMytilene is a town and a former municipality on the island of Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lesbos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the capital of the island of Lesbos. Mytilene, whose name is pre-Greek, is built on the...
, Greece -
Shinagawa, TokyoShinagawa, Tokyois one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Shinagawa City. The ward is home to nine embassies.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 344,461 and a density of 15,740 persons per km². The total area is 22.72 km²....
, Japan
Further reading
- Michael C. Connolly. Seated by the Sea: The Maritime History of Portland, Maine, and Its Irish Longshoremen (University Press of Florida; 2010) 280 pages; Focuses on the years 1880 to 1923 in a study of how an influx of Irish immigrant workers transformed the city's waterfront.
External links
- City of Portland
- Port of Portland
- Portland Public Schools
- Portland Public Library
- Portland's Downtown District
- Greater Portland Casco Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Portland travel guide at Wikitravel
- Old USGS maps of Portland Area.
- 1876 Panoramic Birdseye View of Portland by Warner at LOC.
- Guide to the Western Promenade, Portland, Maine, Portlandlandmarks.org