Overview

Introduction to Portland, Maine

Portland is situated on a peninsula located along Casco Bay on the southern portion of the Maine coast. The historic Old Port area is a very popular tourist destination in Portland. The city is recognized as the economic and social center for the state of Maine. Over the years the economy of the city had been primarily based in fishing, agriculture and manufacturing. However, the city now has a more service based economy.

History

Christopher Levett is recognized as the first European settler in the area. Levett was an English naval captain and in 1623 created a settlement in the Casco Bay region. Another settlement was established by the English in 1632 and was primarily used for fishing and trading. The town was given the name Casco. The named had been changed to Falmouth in 1658. In 1675 during the King's Philip's War the Wampanoag natives destroyed the village. A new village was constructed and was again ruined by the Wampanoag. The village was then rebuilt and subsequently torn apart by the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. After the war was over a portion of Falmouth known as "The Neck" became a thriving commercial port.

Falmouth Neck became a separate town and was given the name Portland in 1786. Portland was recognized as a major railroad location in the 20th century. The Great Fire which occurred in 1866 during an Independence Day celebration destroyed a vast majority of the commercial buildings and ruined hundreds of houses. The city was rebuilt and the new structures were made from brick and provided the city with a Victorian appearance.

Transportation

Amtrack's Downeaster provides train service to Boston. Portland International Jetport provides service for the area. Numerous locations in Casco Bay are provided service by ferry. The Metro offers bus transportation throughout the city.

Attractions

Portland offers visitors numerous attractive historic buildings and a variety of other noteworthy attractions including:

  • Portland Museum of Art
  • Portland Observatory
  • Willard Beach
  • Portland Head Light and Museum
  • Western Promenade
  • Bug Light
  • Casco Bay
  • Stroudwater Village
  • Eastern Promenade
  • Victoria Mansion
  • Old Port
  • Wadsworth-Longfellow House
  • Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad

Higher Education

Portland is home to one of the campuses of the University of Maine. The primary academic subjects taught at the Portland campus include business, modern and classical languages, computer science, English and math. Other colleges with campuses in the area include:

  • Maine College of Art
  • University of Maine School of Law
  • University of New England

Demographics

People

Total Population66,735
Male Share of the Population49.1%
Female Share of the Population50.9%
Senior Citizens13.8%
Employed Population 16+39,081
Age of the Population36

Families

% of people married37.2%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher54.7%
Median Earnings25+$39,051
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$18,703
Median Earnings With High School Degree$26,212

Wealth

Median Family Income$83,145
% Above Poverty Level84.1%
% Below Poverty Level15.9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time19 minutes
% Working from Home6.8%
% Walking and Biking to Work15.1%
% Using Public Transportation3%

Housing

People Living Alone39.2%
Median Gross Rent$1,079
Median House Value$273,400

Ancestry

Irish22%
English18%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)14.4%
German9.7%
Italian9.5%
French Except Basque8.2%
African6.4%
Canadian5.2%
Scottish5%
Polish2.3%
Somali2%
Norwegian1.5%
Swedish1.4%
Welsh1.3%
Russian1.3%
Greek1.2%
Arab1%
Dutch1%
Sudanese0.9%
Portuguese0.8%
Lithuanian0.5%
Hungarian0.5%
Danishn0.5%
Finnish0.5%
Ethiopian0.4%
Czech0.4%
Iraqi0.4%
Ukrainian0.3%
Swiss0.3%
West Indian0.3%
Lebanese0.2%
Afghan)0.2%
Syrian0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Albanian0.2%
US/American0.2%
Serbian0.2%
Jamaican0.1%
Haitian0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Iranian0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Bulgarian0.1%
Latvian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Kenyan0.1%
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Portland Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyCumberland County
Standard Zip Codes04101, 04102, 04103, 04109, 04106, 04105, 04108, 04110, 04107
P.O. Box Zip Codes4112, 4104, 4116
Company Zip Codes4123, 4124, 4122
Phone Area Codes207
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude43.66
Approximate Longitude-70.25

Portland Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationPORTLAND INTL AP
Distance2.3 miles
Jan Temp13 to 31 F
Apr Temp35 to 53 F
Jul Temp59 to 79 F
Oct Temp37 to 58 F
Annual Precip45.8 inches
StationBRUNSWICK
Distance23.1 miles
Jan Temp10 to 31 F
Apr Temp33 to 54 F
Jul Temp58 to 80 F
Oct Temp37 to 59 F
Annual Precip48 inches
StationKENNEBUNKPORT
Distance24 miles
Jan Temp11 to 32 F
Apr Temp32 to 52 F
Jul Temp57 to 76 F
Oct Temp36 to 58 F
Annual Precip47 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Falmouth2,049$145,859
Scarborough4,796$99,590
South Portland25,515$83,003
Westbrook18,417$80,489

Portland Public Libraries

Portland Public Library
5 MONUMENT SQUARE
Portland, Maine
(207) 871-1700

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More Information for Librarians

Portland Hospitals

New England Rehabilitation Hospital Of Portland
(Proprietary)
335 Brighton Avenue
(207) 775-4000
Maine Medical Center
(Non-profit)
22 Bramhall Street
(207) 871-0111
Mercy Hospital
(Non-profit)
144 State Street
(207) 879-3000

Portland Public Schools

Baxter Academy For Tech & Sciences
54 York Street
ZIP: 4101
(207) 699-5500
Other
Total Enrollment 220
East End Community School
195 North Street
ZIP: 4101
(207) 874-8228
Primary
Total Enrollment 425
Fred P Hall School
23 Orono Road
ZIP: 4101
(207) 874-8205
Primary
Total Enrollment 421
Portland High School
284 Cumberland Avenue
ZIP: 4101
(207) 874-8250
High
Total Enrollment 862
Riverton School
1600 Forest Avenue
ZIP: 4101
(207) 874-8210
Primary
Total Enrollment 470
Howard C Reiche Community Sch
166 Brackett Street
ZIP: 4102
(207) 874-8175
Primary
Total Enrollment 404
King Middle School
92 Deering Avenue
ZIP: 4102
(207) 874-8140
Middle
Total Enrollment 502
Casco Bay High School
196 Allen Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8160
High
Total Enrollment 368
Deering High School
370 Stevens Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8260
High
Total Enrollment 937
Harrison Lyseth Elem School
175 Auburn Street
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8215
Primary
Total Enrollment 499
Lincoln Middle School
522 Stevens Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8145
Middle
Total Enrollment 488
Longfellow School-portland
432 Stevens Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8195
Primary
Total Enrollment 340
Lyman Moore Middle School
171 Auburn Street
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8150
Middle
Total Enrollment 495
Ocean Avenue
150 Ocean Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8180
Primary
Total Enrollment 421
Portland Arts & Technology H S
196 Allen Avenue
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8165
Presumpscot School
69 Presumpscot Street
ZIP: 4103
(207) 874-8220
Primary
Total Enrollment 299

Portland Private Schools

Breakwater School
856 Brighton Ave
ZIP: 4102
Elementary
Total Enrollment 112
Waynflete School
360 Spring St
ZIP: 4102
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 529
Catherine Mcauley High School
631 Stevens Ave
ZIP: 4103
Secondary
Total Enrollment 175
Cheverus High School
267 Ocean Ave
ZIP: 4103
Secondary
Total Enrollment 507
Grace Baptist Church School
476 Summit St
ZIP: 4103
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 21
Levey Day School
400 Deering Ave
ZIP: 4103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 38
Spurwink School-cummings
587 Ocean Ave
ZIP: 4103
Secondary
Total Enrollment 34
St Brigid School
695 Stevens Ave
ZIP: 4103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 368
The Children's Center
721 Stevens Ave
ZIP: 4103
Elementary
Total Enrollment 14
Sources :
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Historic Portland

photo

Portland (from House Island) between 1900 and 1906

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Portland (from House Island) between 1900 and 1906

Union Station c1904.

Union Station between 1900 and 1910

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