Maine by the numbers:
Population: 1,274,923
Largest city, by population: Portland, 64,249
Population of the state capital, Augusta: 18,560
Smallest municipality, by population: Hibberts Gore, 1
Size, in square miles: 33,215
Miles of public highways: 21,000
Number of coastal islands: 2,000
Length of coastline, in miles: 3,500
Acres of forest: 17 million
Height of Katahdin, Maine's tallest mountain, in feet above sea level: 5,268
Number of people who visited Maine state parks, in 2000: 2.3 million

Need to know:
Capital: Augusta
Governor: John Baldacci
Sales tax: 5 percent
Lodging tax: 7 percent

Counties
Number of Counties: 16
Smallest county: Knox (366 sq miles)
Largest county: Aroostook: (6672 sq miles)
Maine Counties

And the state fossil is...

Every state boasts its most popular flora, fauna, gemstones and, yes, even fossils. Here's Maine's:

Gemstone: Tourmaline
Cat: Maine Coon Cat
Animal: Moose
Motto: Dirigo (I lead)
Tree: White Pine, adopted by the Legislature of 1945.
Emblem: White pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus)
Bird: Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) Adopted by the Legislature of 1927.
Fish: Landlocked Salmon
Insect: Honeybee
Fossil: Pertica quadrifaria
Pertica quadrifaria is the scientific name of a primitive plant that lived about 390 million years ago during the Devonian Period. Its fossilized remains were discovered in 1968 in the rocks of the Trout Valley Formation in Baxter State Park near Mount Katahdin. (From the Maine Geological Survey, Maine Department of Conservation)

Did you know?

At 33,215 square miles, Maine is nearly as big as the other five New England states combined. (For those of you not from New England, those states are Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

Maine at one time was a part of Massachusetts. It entered the union as its own state in 1820, becoming the 23rd state admitted to the United States of America, although its northern borders were not finalized until 1842.

Area Code (207)
The fact that Maine has only one area code proves it is not very crowded. In contrast, Florida has 15 and Massachusetts has 9.. That's a lot of numbers to remember.

Maine's two major airports:
Portland International Jetport
Bangor International Airport

Driving distances to Portland from:
Boston: 111 miles
Hartford, Conn.: 201 miles
New York City: 328 miles
Washington, D.C.: 568 miles
Chicago: 1,053 miles

Driving distances from Portland to:
Augusta: 57 miles
Bangor: 129 miles
Bar Harbor: 162 miles
Bethel: 66 miles
Millinocket: 199 miles
Rangeley: 118 miles
Caribou: 299
Fort Kent: 313

Tools to make your move easier whether you're coming to Maine "from away" or moving within the state.
• Facts and figures
• Weather and climate
• Schools
• Healthcare facilities
• Autos, driving info
• Maine counties

Who are the people in Maine? What is life like? This series introduces you to a few "Mainers" and gives you a view into a moment of their lives.

MAINE TRAVEL
More about getting here and getting around can be found in the Travel section.

CENSUS 2000
A special report on the 2000 census includes news, analysis, charts, maps and more.

TO DO
Find things to do in Maine — from local attractions to museums to shopping spots — in the Travel section's Things to do.

GET OUT
More the outdoorsy type? Check the Outdoors section for things to do.

myMAINETODAY.COM
Don't just read the news. Make it with myMaineToday. Post notices, events, news, photos and anything you want to share with others in your town. myMaineToday.com My turn to make news

SEEN IN MAINE
If you've been at an event that the Seen Team was at, your photo could be online. Find out! Seen