History of Maine in Timeline
Maine, located in New England, is the northeasternmost state in the contiguous United States. Bordering New Hampshire, the Gulf of Maine, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, it's the largest state in New England, exceeding the combined area of the other five New England states. While it ranks 12th smallest in area among all U.S. states, it's also the 9th least populous and 13th least densely populated, holding the distinction of being the most rural state. Maine's capital is Augusta, while its largest city is Portland, with a population of 68,408 as of 2020.
1902: Maine Italian Sandwich Invented
The Maine Italian sandwich, a culinary staple, was created in Portland, Maine in 1902.
July 1911: Record High Temperature
Maine's record high temperature of 105 °F (41 °C) was set in July 1911 in North Bridgton.
1913: B&M Baked Beans Factory Begins Production
The B&M Baked Beans factory commenced canning operations on the Portland waterfront in 1913.
1930: French-Canadian Immigration
Between 1840 and 1930, many French-Canadians immigrated to Maine from Quebec.
1954: Discovery of the Maine Penny
In 1954, the Maine Penny, an 11th-century Norwegian coin, was found at a Native American dig site. This discovery provides evidence of Viking presence in the region.
1974: Maine's Political Trends Since 1974
Since 1974, Maine's governorship has been held by Democrats and independents three times each, and Republicans four times. Maine is considered a blue-leaning swing state with strong support for independent candidates. Republicans have won the state in 11 of the past 20 presidential elections.
1985: Maine Community College System Founded
The Maine Community College System was founded in 1985 to offer associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs that address the educational, career, and technical requirements of Maine's residents and employers.
1990: Slow Population Growth Since 1990
Since the 1990 census, Maine has experienced a very slow rate of population growth.
2007: Kneading Conference Founded
In 2007, the Kneading Conference was established, contributing to the resurgence of interest in local grains.
January 2009: Record Low Temperature
In January 2009, a new record low temperature for Maine of -50 °F (-46 °C) was set at Big Black River, tying the New England record.
2009: Maine Port Authority Leases International Marine Terminal (2009)
The Maine Port Authority leased the International Marine Terminal in Portland from the city of Portland in 2009.
2010: High Percentage of Non-Hispanic White
According to the 2010 census, Maine had the highest percentage of non-Hispanic White residents of any state at 94.4%.
2010: 2010 Census Data
As of 2010, Maine was the most rural state with only 38.7% of the population living in urban areas, and had a population density of 41.3 people per square mile, the lowest east of the Mississippi River.
2010: Maine's Political Landscape in 2010
Kenneth Palmer, in his 2010 article "Maine's Paradoxical Politics", described Maine's political landscape as dynamic, with loosely affiliated parties, governors often winning by pluralities, and high turnover in legislative districts. He suggested that Maine's political leaders are often centrists seeking practical solutions.
2010: Population Growth Since 2010
Maine's population growth rate since the 2010 census (0.57%) ranked 45th out of the 50 states.
2010: Languages Spoken in Maine
The 2010 census reported that 92.91% of Maine residents aged five and older spoke only English at home, while 3.93% spoke French, the highest percentage of any state.
2011: Births to Non-Hispanic White Parents
In 2011, 89.0% of all births in Maine were to non-Hispanic White parents.
2012: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Maine (2012)
In 2012, Maine became one of the first states in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage.
2012: Per-Student Public School Expenditure in Maine (2012)
In 2012, Maine's per-student public expenditure for elementary and secondary schools was $12,344, ranking 21st in the nation.
2012: Maine's Blueberry Production in 2012
In 2012, preliminary USDA data indicated that Maine was the leading blueberry producer among major blueberry-producing states, with a total production of 91,100,000 lbs, encompassing both low-bush (wild) and high-bush (cultivated) varieties. Maine is the top U.S. producer of low-bush blueberries.
2012: Skowhegan Grist Mill Opens
The Skowhegan grist mill, Maine Grains, opened in 2012, further bolstering the revival of grain farming and milling in Maine.
July 2013: Changes to Maine's Tax Structure in July 2013
Before July 2013, Maine had a four-bracket income tax system (2%, 4.5%, 7%, and 8.5%). After July 2013, the structure changed to two brackets: 6.5% and 7.95% of personal income. The general sales tax is 5.5%, with 9% on lodging and prepared food, and 10% on short-term car rentals. Blueberry sellers must pay the state 1.5 cents per pound. All real and tangible personal property in Maine is taxable unless exempted by statute, with administration handled locally or by the State Tax Assessor for unorganized territories.
2013: Eimskip Establishes U.S. Headquarters in Portland (2013)
In 2013, Eimskip, an Icelandic shipping company, opened its U.S. headquarters in Portland, Maine. Their ships make weekly stops at the port as part of a route that includes Atlantic Canada, Iceland, with connections to Northern Europe and Asia.
2013: Portland's Role as a Transportation Hub in 2013
In 2013, Portland's seaport handled 12,039,600 short tons of cargo, ranking it 45th among U.S. water ports. Historically, Maine's ports played a vital role in national transportation. Portland's ice-free port and rail link made it Canada's main winter port until the mid-20th century when Halifax, Nova Scotia, developed. The expansion of Portland International Jetport further enhanced the state's air traffic with carriers like JetBlue and Southwest Airlines.
2014: 2014 Religious Demographics in Maine (from a separate study)
A separate 2014 study provided different religious demographic data for Maine. This data is included in a separate entry in this JSON response.
2014: Religious Affiliations
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2014, Maine's religious affiliations were: Protestant 37%, Atheism or Agnosticism 6%, Nothing in Particular 26%, Roman Catholic 21%, other Christians 5%, non-Christian religions 7%, and Pagans and Unitarians 5%.
2014: Start of Shrimp Fishing Ban (2014)
In 2014, a government-mandated hold was placed on Maine's shrimp industry due to declining Northern shrimp populations. Fishermen were prohibited from catching and selling shrimp, a ban expected to last until 2021. Maine also produces bottled water from its western aquifers and springs, supplying companies like Poland Spring.
2014: Religious Demographics of Maine in 2014
In 2014, the Roman Catholic Church was the largest religious denomination in Maine. Baptists were the largest Protestant group (divided into 7% Evangelical and 5% Mainline), followed by Methodists (6%) and Congregationalists (5%). While atheists and agnostics represented 6% of the population, a significant portion (26%) identified as believing in God but unaffiliated with any particular religion. Overall, 81% of Mainers believed in God, 3% were unsure, and 16% did not believe in God. Regarding the importance of religion, 34% considered it "very important," 29% "important," and 21% "not important."
2015: Maine's Agricultural and Fishing Industries (2015)
In 2015, Maine contributed 14% of the Northeast's total oyster supply. Maine's agricultural outputs include poultry, eggs, dairy, cattle, wild blueberries, apples, maple syrup, and maple sugar. Aroostook County is known for its potato crops, generating $166,672,000 annually.
2015: Container Traffic in 2015
The International Marine Terminal in Portland moved 10,500 shipping containers in 2015.
2016: Hispanic and Latino Population
According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 1.5% of Maine's population were of Hispanic or Latino origin.
2016: Population Decline in Rural Areas
From 2010 to 2016, the northern, more rural areas of Maine experienced a slight decline in population.
2016: Ranked Choice Voting Adopted in Maine (2016)
In 2016, Maine voters approved a referendum to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for state and federal primary elections, and for federal general elections.
2016: Expansion of Portland's International Marine Terminal (2016)
In 2016, the Maine Port Authority initiated a $15.5 million expansion and improvement project for Portland's International Marine Terminal. The Maine Port Authority leased the terminal from the city in 2009.
2016: Population of Portland
In 2016, the population of Portland, Maine was 66,937.
2016: Racial Composition Data
The provided text mentions racial composition data for Maine from 2016.
2017: Growth of Maine's Seaweed Industry (2017)
By 2017, Maine's seaweed industry was estimated to produce $20 million annually. Commercial fishing remains important, particularly lobstering and groundfishing, with growing oyster and seaweed harvests. Lobster is the primary seafood focus. However, due to decreasing populations, shrimp fishing was under a government-mandated hold since 2014, expected to continue until 2021.
2017: Container Traffic in 2017
In 2017, the International Marine Terminal in Portland handled 17,515 shipping containers.
2018: Portland: Restaurant City of the Year
Portland, Maine was recognized for its thriving food scene in 2018, being named Bon Appetit magazine's Restaurant City of the Year. In the same year, HealthIQ.com ranked Maine as the 3rd most vegan-friendly state.
July 1, 2019: Population Estimate
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Maine's population to be 1,344,212 on July 1, 2019, a 1.19% increase since 2010.
2019: Maine's Organic Farms
In 2019, Maine, home to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), had 535 certified organic farms.
2020: Voter Access in Maine (2020)
A 2020 study ranked Maine as the 14th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Religious Landscape of Maine in 2020
A 2020 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute indicated that approximately 62% of Maine's population identified as Christian, while the religiously unaffiliated grew to 33%, compared to the 2014 Pew Research Center study. The Association of Religion Data Archives also reported in 2020 that Catholicism (219,233 members), non-denominational Protestantism (45,364), and United Methodists (19,686) were the largest Christian denominations, along with an estimated 16,894 Muslims.
2020: Religious Denominations in Maine, 2020
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, in 2020, Christianity was the dominant faith in Maine. The largest denominations were Catholicism with 219,233 members, followed by non-denominational Protestantism with 45,364 members, and United Methodists with 19,686 members. The study also estimated 16,894 Muslims in the state.
2020: Oldest Population
As of 2020, Maine had the highest population aged 65 or older in the United States.
2020: 2020 Census
As of the 2020 census, the population of Portland, Maine's most populous city, was 68,408.
2020: Native American Population
In 2020, 7,885 people in Maine identified as Native American alone, and 25,617 identified as Native American in combination with one or more other races.
2021: B&M Baked Beans Factory Closes
After operating for over a century, the B&M Baked Beans factory in Portland ceased its canning operations in 2021.
2021: High Proportion of Arriving Residents
In 2021 and 2022, Maine had the highest proportion of arriving residents compared to departing residents of any state.
2021: Container Traffic at Portland's International Marine Terminal (2021)
In 2021, an estimated 36,700 shipping containers moved through Portland's International Marine Terminal. The terminal provides container transport. In 2017, 17,515 containers were transported. Eimskip, an Icelandic shipping company, established its U.S. headquarters in Portland in 2013, with weekly stops on a route connecting Atlantic Canada, Iceland, Northern Europe, and Asia.
2021: Projected End of Shrimp Fishing Ban (2021)
The government-mandated ban on shrimp fishing in Maine, initiated in 2014 due to dwindling shrimp populations, was projected to continue until 2021.
2021: Total Employer Establishments in Maine (2021)
The total number of employer establishments in Maine during 2021 was recorded, but the specific number isn't provided in this text excerpt.
September 2022: Maine's Economic Data (September 2022)
As of September 2022, Maine's unemployment rate was 3.3%.
2022: Homeless Population
According to the HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 4,411 homeless people in Maine.
2022: Organized Municipalities in Maine (2022)
As of 2022, Maine had 483 organized municipalities: 23 cities, 430 towns, and 30 plantations, covering less than half the state's area. Organized municipalities have elected local governments that manage services, keep records, collect fees, and pass ordinances. Most towns and plantations use a town meeting format, while cities typically have a council-manager system. Maine also has three Reservations: Indian Island, Indian Township Reservation, and Pleasant Point Indian Reservation.
2022: Biddeford: America's Next Great Food City
Biddeford, Maine was highlighted by Food & Wine in 2022 as one of America's next great food cities.
2022: Religious Self-Identification
Data on religious self-identification in Maine is available from the Public Religion Research Institute's 2022 American Values Survey.
2022: High Proportion of Arriving Residents
In 2021 and 2022, Maine had the highest proportion of arriving residents compared to departing residents of any state.
2022: Religious Composition of Maine in 2022
In 2022, a Public Religion Research Institute study found that 63% of Maine's population identified as Christian, while 30% were religiously unaffiliated. Among the non-Christian population, 1% were Unitarian Universalist, 5% Jewish, and 1% identified as New Age.
September 2023: Maine's Economic Data (September 2023)
In 2023, Maine's gross state product was $91.1 billion, and the per capita personal income was $63,117 (30th in the nation). The median gross income was $69,543. As of September 2023, the minimum wage in Maine was $13.80.
May 2024: Total Employment in Maine (May 2024)
Data on total employment in Maine as of May 2024, was recorded, but the specific number is not available in this text.
