Portland, Maine

About Portland

Portland is the largest city in the State of Maine, a major port in the heart of Casco Bay, the jewel of Northern New England. Portland was founded by King Charles I of England in 1623 and started as fishing and trading village named Casco, then Falmouth. Its motto, Resurgam, is Latin for "I will rise again", in reference to it´s resurgence after four horrific fires and bombardments during two separate wars. After the second rebuilding, Falmouth called the "Neck" portion of the town, Portland. Portland is Maine´s cultural, social and economic center. The city´s 2007 estimated population is 62,875 and is the county seat for the County of Cumberland, the largest county in Maine.

Portland has a large bay on the backside of the peninsula called the "Back Bay", where the city lots transition into the Suburban neighborhoods as you travel out. The Peninsula comprises of the West End where the ship´s Captains first built their homes, the middle or now what is know as the "Old Port" of the Neck, and finally the East End. On July 4, 1866, the city of Portland suffered a devastating fire destroying most of the middle and burning out on Munjoy Hill, taking with it 1,800 hundred buildings and two lives. The architecture never to be the same again. Portland website is here:www.portlandmaine.gov.

The Fire of 1866 from the Bottom of State Street looking towards the East End

Portland has gone from a small fishing, trading town, to the state´s largest port, while shifting its economy towards a more service-based economy, focusing on the financial services with such companies as TD Bank North, UNUM, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and others. The Old Port has revitalized its shops into quaint boutiques and a number of restaurants ranked among the best in the world.

Portland Peninsula at nighttime.

Some notable buildings include the Victorian Mansion, the finest example of residential design from the pre-Civil War era; The Granite Second Empire-Renaissance Revival Custom House on Commercial Street; the Portland Observatory onto of the East End, the only known remaining historic maritime signal tower in the United States; The Merrill Auditorium which was completely renovated with improved acoustics, wood detail and interior cosmetics along with new stage facilities.

Portland Maine Schools & Education