Portland, Maine (pop. 68,408), has one of the finest harbors on the Atlantic Coast and is closer to Europe than any other transatlantic port in the United States. It is the largest city in Maine and a leading industrial and commercial center. During World War II (1939-1945), Portland was the base for the North Atlantic Fleet of the U.S. Navy. Portland and South Portland form a metropolitan area, which has a population of 551,740.
Portland lies on the southwest coast of Maine. The city covers about 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) of land. It is built on a narrow peninsula with a maximum height of 187 feet (57 meters) above sea level. It overlooks Casco Bay to the east. The bay has many islands, some of which are part of Portland. Mount Washington and the other mountains of the Presidential Range, to the northwest, tower in the distance. Between these peaks and the coast is a network of lakes and valleys to which Portland is the eastern gateway. To the south is Old Orchard Beach, a long stretch of smooth sand. For Portland’s monthly weather, see Maine (Climate) .
Portland is the home of the University of Southern Maine, which is part of the University of Maine System, and the Roux Institute, part of Northeastern University. Museums in the city include the Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Historical Society Museum. Next to the historical museum is the old home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who was born in Portland.
City Hall, the Custom House, the Public Safety Building, and federal, district, and state courts are clustered together in the heart of Portland’s downtown area. An auditorium in City Hall contains the Kotzschmar Organ, one of the largest organs in the world. The organ was a gift from the publisher Cyrus H. K. Curtis, who was born in Portland. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the city’s downtown area was revived as a center for shopping and services. The Old Port is a shopping area near Portland’s waterfront.
Portland has many small factories. Oil, fish, and dry goods such as scrap metal are among the leading products shipped from the port. Tankers bring oil to the port for the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line to Canada.
Millions of tons of products are shipped in and out of the harbor of Portland yearly, making it one of the chief ports on the Atlantic Coast. Passenger cruise ships also make regular stops at Portland’s harbor.
Portland was founded in 1632. It was first called Machigonne, and later Falmouth. The settlement was destroyed twice by American Indians. During the American Revolution (1775-1783), the British bombarded the port. In 1791, a lighthouse was erected at what is now the adjacent town of Cape Elizabeth. The lighthouse, called Portland Head Light, is standing today. A fire in 1866 ruined much of Portland, but it was soon rebuilt. Many Victorian-style buildings erected when the city was rebuilt have been preserved. In 1899, the city of Deering was annexed. In 1993, the Casco Bay island of Long Island seceded from Portland. Portland is the seat of Cumberland County and has a council-manager form of government.
