City of Portland

Portland is Maine's business, financial and retail capital and the largest city in the state. Seascapes and cityscapes blend harmoniously in Portland, perched on a peninsula, jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay. The metropolitan hub of Maine’s south coast region, Portland is a lively city incorporating the character of yesteryear into a modern urban environment. Historic architecture blends gracefully with the new as you stroll along her working waterfront or the cobblestone streets of the restored Old Port section of the city.

With a metro population of 230,000, the Greater Portland area is home to almost one quarter of Maine’s total population. The population of the city is 64,000.

The economy is strong. Bumper-to-bumper traffic and gridlock are unheard of. Portland is an easygoing city with friendly, hardworking people. According to recent crime statistics, Maine is one of the safest states in America. Housing is affordable. Schools and healthcare are outstanding. Our urban center is minutes from golf, hiking and boating.

Recreation, entertainment, scenery, culture -we’ve got the market cornered. Just ask the 3.6 million tourists who visit each year. And, the same things that attract vacationers make Portland a wonderful place to live, to work and to do business. (Source: City of Portland, Maine website)

From Maine: An Encyclopedia (www.themaineencyclopedia.com)