Happy Birthday, Maine!

Today is the anniversary of Maine being admitted to our United States of America.

Date of Admittance: March 15, 1820

Parentage: There is some question as to where the name came from. Some say that the name is from a French province. Others say that it is a mis-spelling of the word "main," as in "main-land." Either way, Maine started out as part of Massachusetts until they disagreed with Boston's policies one too many times and petitioned for separation.     

Place in the Family 

Number 23

Maine was admitted three months after Alabama (Dec 1819) 
and one year before Missouri (Aug 1821).  

Motto 

"I Direct"

Which is why Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford both retired to Maine after they left Hollywood.

Nick-Name 

The Pine Tree State

Little known fact: 75% of all pine trees were from Maine until Washington 
and Portland joined the Union and displaced Maine's pine tree ranking. 

On the License Plate 

Pine trees, what else?

State Flag

A blue flag with the state symbol in the center. 
Yes, another one. 
However, this is the LAST one. 

First City You Probably Think of 

When You Think "Maine":

Portland

Actual State Capital:Augusta

State Size (Area) is 39th of 50
Population is closer to 40th of 50

(per 2000 Census figures)

Maine Sports: 
There are NO professional sports teams in Maine. 

Anybody From Maine
Ever Grow Up To Be President?
No!
41st Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller 
was as close as Maine has ever gotten. 

Maine Celebrities

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

poet, "Paul Revere's Ride"

L. L. Bean

outdoors-man & entrepreneur

Reta Shaw

character actress, 

"Mary Poppins," "The Ghose & Mrs. Muir" etc.

Stephen King

author, "The Shining," etc. 

Linda Lavin

actress, "Alice"

Andrea Martin

actress, comedienne

Judd Nelson

actor, "Breakfast Club"

Christopher Daniel Barnes

actor, "Little Mermaid"

David E. Kelley

writer/producer, 
"Ally McBeal," "Boston Legal," etc. 

Patrick Dempsey

actor, "Enchanted" 

Fictional Mainers

Dark Shadows

Collinsport, ME

Hawkeye Pierce

Crabapple Cove, ME

Carrie

unnamed town in Maine  

Pete's Dragon

Passamaquoddy, ME
(an actual town, believe it or not!) 

Casper

Friendship, ME

The Iron Giant

Rockwell, ME

A Song For You....
"There's A New Girl In Town"
I couldn't find any famous singer or band from Maine, 

so here's the theme from ALICE as sung by its star, 
Linda Lavin!