8th Social Studies
Maine Dirigo
Chapter 1 Notes
12 November 1998
A DIFFERENT VIEW: AN INTRODUCTION TO MAINE
A PLACE CALLED MAINE
Europeans were attracted to Maine because of the many fish they found along Maine's coast.
Europeans set up temporary living quarters while they caught and dried the fish.
Maine's Name:
People who lived on the islands off Maine, referred to the Mainland as "The Main" and later it was called "Maine".
French referred to it as Mayne.
Geographical Features
3,500 miles of ragged coastline
100's of bays and inlets
400 islands
Eastern most state in USA
"Green thumb"
90% forests
332 Miles from North to South
207 Miles from West to East
Largest of New England states
1/10 of the state is water
2,500 lakes & ponds
Five major rivers
St. John
Penobscot
Kennebec
Androscoggin
The Saco
Cool, clear waters
Mt. Katadin - 1st place in USA to catch the morning rays of the sun
Boundries
North - Quebec, Canada
East - New Brunswick, Canada
West - New Hampshire
South - Atlantic Ocean
Weather
Kills many
Always changing
Precipitation 35" - 50" a year
Rain
Snow
8th Social Studies
Maine Dirigo
Book Notes
16 November 1998
YOUR NEIGHBORS (Page 7)
1.2 Million diverse population
Many nationalities
1/3 French
Least Populated state E. Of Mississippi River
12 Million tourists
Ancestors settled near coast and rivers.
Mainers are Self-sufficient (Hard working)
Maine Education (Page 9)
Large school districts
School unions
Private school
University system
Colleges
Vocational schools.
Communications (Page 9)
Radios
TV's
Newspapers
Transportation (Page 10)
21,000 miles of roads
1800 Rail road tracks
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY (P. 10)
Jobs
Harvest wood
Make Shoes (Smaller industry in 1999)
Education
Food Processing
Service jobs
Fast food
Health Care
Social work
Ship building
Textile manufacturing
Land of Opportunity Cont.
Agriculture- Growing food (Page 12)
Potatoes
Blueberries
Apples
Raising
Chickens
Dairy herds
Packing sardines
Catching Lobsters
YOUR GOVERNMENT (P. 13)
State Government
Capital - Augusta
State Agencies
Dept. Of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Dept. Of Marine Resouces
Legislature
151 House of Representatives
33 members of Senate
Governor
Signs laws
Judicial System
District Court
Probate Courts
Superior Courts
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
16 Counties (Page 14)
424 Towns and Cities
700,000 registered voters
Democrats
Republicans
Independents