Augusta, Maine: Difference between revisions

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'''Augusta, Maine''' is the [[Capital city|capital]] of the [[United States of America|U.S.]] state of [[Maine (U.S. state)|Maine]] and the seat of Kennebec County.  In 2020, the city's population was 18,899.
'''Augusta, Maine''' is the [[Capital city|capital]] of the [[United States of America|U.S.]] state of [[Maine (U.S. state)|Maine]] and the seat of Kennebec County.  In 2020, the city's population was 18,899.


The area was explored in 1607 by [[British America|English]] settlers from the [[Popham Colony]] at the mouth of the [[Kennebec River]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Augusta , ME |url=https://www.augustamaine.gov/visitors/our_history/index.php |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.augustamaine.gov}}</ref> Before European settlement, [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian-speaking]] Indians lived in the area.<ref name=":0" /> In 1625, representatives of [[Plymouth Colony]] chose the east shore of the Kennebec for a trading post, which was likely built in 1628 and became known as "'''Cushnoc'''".<ref name=":0" /> The Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the [[Plymouth Company]], built [[Fort Western]] near the site of the abandoned trading post in 1754 and began settlement efforts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal |author=Charles Snell |year=1972 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Western |url={{NHLS url|id=69000009}} |format=PDF |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2009-06-22}} and {{NHLS url|id=69000009|title=''Accompanying  two photos, exterior, from 1971''|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(484&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> The new village was incorporated as '''[[Hallowell, Maine|Hallowell]]''' in 1771, and the upriver part of town separated in 1797 to form the town of '''Harrington.''' On June 9, 1797, Harrington changed its name to Augusta and, in 1827, it was designated capital of Maine.<ref name=":0" />
The area was explored in 1607 by English settlers from the Popham Colony at the mouth of the [[Kennebec River]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Augusta , ME |url=https://www.augustamaine.gov/visitors/our_history/index.php |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.augustamaine.gov}}</ref> Before European settlement, [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian-speaking]] Indians lived in the area.<ref name=":0" /> In 1625, representatives of [[Plymouth Colony]] chose the east shore of the Kennebec for a trading post, which was likely built in 1628 and became known as "'''Cushnoc'''".<ref name=":0" /> The Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the [[Plymouth Company]], built [[Fort Western]] near the site of the abandoned trading post in 1754 and began settlement efforts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal |author=Charles Snell |year=1972 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Western |url={{NHLS url|id=69000009}} |format=PDF |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2009-06-22}} and {{NHLS url|id=69000009|title=''Accompanying  two photos, exterior, from 1971''|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(484&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> The new village was incorporated as '''[[Hallowell, Maine|Hallowell]]''' in 1771, and the upriver part of town separated in 1797 to form the town of '''Harrington.''' On June 9, 1797, Harrington changed its name to Augusta and, in 1827, it was designated capital of Maine.<ref name=":0" />


Augusta is the easternmost state capital in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-10 |title=Augusta |url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/place/maine/capitals-cities-towns/augusta |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=State Symbols USA |language=en}}</ref> Located on the Kennebec River at the [[head of tide]], it is the principal city in the Augusta-[[Waterville, Maine|Waterville]] [[micropolitan statistical area]] and home to the [[University of Maine at Augusta]]. Because of the city's position on the Kennebec, downtown Augusta is vulnerable to floods in spring.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-03-14 |title=Augusta {{!}} Maine: An Encyclopedia |url=https://maineanencyclopedia.com/augusta/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Maine flood of 1987]], known as the "Great Flood", affected the city.<ref name=":2" /> Bond Brook runs from northwest to southeast through the city center, and has been called the "Home of wild Atlantic Salmon".<ref name=":2" />
Augusta is the easternmost state capital in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-10 |title=Augusta |url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/place/maine/capitals-cities-towns/augusta |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=State Symbols USA |language=en}}</ref> Located on the Kennebec River at the [[head of tide]], it is the principal city in the Augusta-[[Waterville, Maine|Waterville]] [[micropolitan statistical area]] and home to the [[University of Maine at Augusta]]. Because of the city's position on the Kennebec, downtown Augusta is vulnerable to floods in spring.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-03-14 |title=Augusta {{!}} Maine: An Encyclopedia |url=https://maineanencyclopedia.com/augusta/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Maine flood of 1987]], known as the "Great Flood", affected the city.<ref name=":2" /> Bond Brook runs from northwest to southeast through the city center, and has been called the "Home of wild Atlantic Salmon".<ref name=":2" />

Revision as of 10:48, 13 September 2023

Augusta, Maine is the capital of the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Kennebec County. In 2020, the city's population was 18,899.

The area was explored in 1607 by English settlers from the Popham Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River.[1] Before European settlement, Algonquian-speaking Indians lived in the area.[1] In 1625, representatives of Plymouth Colony chose the east shore of the Kennebec for a trading post, which was likely built in 1628 and became known as "Cushnoc".[1] The Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the Plymouth Company, built Fort Western near the site of the abandoned trading post in 1754 and began settlement efforts.[1][2] The new village was incorporated as Hallowell in 1771, and the upriver part of town separated in 1797 to form the town of Harrington. On June 9, 1797, Harrington changed its name to Augusta and, in 1827, it was designated capital of Maine.[1]

Augusta is the easternmost state capital in the United States.[3] Located on the Kennebec River at the head of tide, it is the principal city in the Augusta-Waterville micropolitan statistical area and home to the University of Maine at Augusta. Because of the city's position on the Kennebec, downtown Augusta is vulnerable to floods in spring.[4] The Maine flood of 1987, known as the "Great Flood", affected the city.[4] Bond Brook runs from northwest to southeast through the city center, and has been called the "Home of wild Atlantic Salmon".[4]

The city has five different residential areas, including the "west side", a historic neighborhood north of the state capitol complex, and the "east side", which is situated on the opposite side of the Kennebec.[5] The city's northwest quadrant includes both a retail center and neighborhoods.[5]

Augusta State Airport serves the city, offering both commercial service and general aviation.[4] Although the airport is owned by the State of Maine, it is managed and operated by the city.[4] Interstate 95 passes by the western outskirts of Augusta, and both U.S. 202 and U.S. 201 run through the city.

Provenance

Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Welcome to Augusta , ME.
  2. Charles Snell (1972). [[[:Template:NHLS url]] "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Western"] (PDF). and Template:NHLS url Template:Small
  3. Augusta (en) (2015-02-10).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Augusta | Maine: An Encyclopedia (en-US) (2011-03-14).
  5. 5.0 5.1 Welcome to Augusta , ME.