Maine Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.me.us/

Income

The population of Maine in 2002 was 1,294,894. Its rank was 40th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Maine had a per capita personal income of $28,038. This per capita personal income ranked 33rd in the United States and was 91 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 3.2 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Maine was $18,253 and ranked 36th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Maine had a total personal income of $36,306,672. This total personal income ranked 41st in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Maine was $22,605,994 and ranked 41st in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 4.1 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Maine. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 64.4 percent of total personal income (compared with 65.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.5 percent (compared with 18.1 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 18.1 percent (compared with 16.9 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 3.5 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.3 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.9 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.6 percent.

EARNINGS BY PLACE OF WORK

Earnings of persons employed in Maine increased from $24,641,989 in 2001 to $25,533,457 in 2002, an increase of 3.6 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $16,391,559 to the 2002 estimate was 4.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Maine ranks 39th in size among the states, with an area of 87,389 sq km (33,741 sq mi). The area includes 5861 sq km (2263 sq mi) of inland water and 1588 sq km (613 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. It is by far the largest state in New England and has an area nearly equal to that of all the other New England states combined. The state's greatest east-west distance is 325 km (202 mi); the greatest north-south distance is 500 km (311 mi). The mean elevation is about 180 m (about 600 ft).

Climate - Maine has a humid continental climate with a moderate summer and a long winter. The climate is generally milder along the coast, particularly in the winter. Average January temperatures in Maine range from about -12° C (about 10° F) in the northern part of the state to about -4° C (about 24° F) along the coast. Average July temperatures range from 17° to 21° C (62° to 70° F) with the southern interior being the warmest and the east coast and north the coolest. However, daytime summer temperatures may reach the lower 30°s C (lower 90°s F), and temperatures in winter have fallen as low as -44° C (-48° F) in the interior. Precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) in Maine is evenly distributed throughout the year. Most areas receive from 860 to 1020 mm (34 to 40 in) yearly, although parts of the coast are somewhat wetter. Heavy winter snowfalls are common in central and northern Maine.

State Flag

State Flower - Pine Cone

State Capitol - Augusta
Maine has one of the oldest state constitutions still in effect in the United States. It became effective in 1819, when Maine was admitted to the Union. It has frequently been amended, but this has not changed the basic structure of the state government.

Famous People

Cyrus Curtis publisher, Portland
Dorothea Dix civil rights reformer, Hampden
Dustin Farnum actor, Hampton Beach
Edna St. Vincent Millay poet, Rockland
Edwin Arlington Robinson poet, Head Tide
Francis & Freelan Stanley inventors, Kingfield
Frank Munsey publisher, Mercer
George Palmer Putnam publisher, Brunswick
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poet, Portland
Hiram Stevens Maxim inventor, Sangerville
John Ford film director, Cape Elizabeth
John Hay Whitney publisher, Ellsworth
Kenneth Roberts historical author, Kennebunk
Linda Lavin actress, Portland
Margaret Chase Smith politician, Skowhegan
Marsden Hartley painter, Lewiston
Marston Morse mathematician, Waterville
Percy Lebaron Spencer inventor, Howland
Sarah Orne Jewett author, South Berwick
Stephen King writer, Portland
Walter Piston composer, Rockland
Walter Van Tilburg Clark writer, East Oreland