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:

    1. "THE MAIN"
    2. People who lived on the islands off Maine, referred to the Mainland as "The Main" and later it was called "Maine".

    3. "Mayne" or "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