The 10 Biggest Cities In Maine

Bangor, Maine.

Portland is the largest city in the US state of Maine.

The US state of Maine is located in the northeastern part of the country. With an area of 79,882 square km and an approximate population of 1,328,361 inhabitants, Maine ranks as the country's 12th smallest state in terms of land area and the 9th least populous. The state is subdivided into 16 counties and contains 488 incorporated municipalities, which include cities, towns, and plantations. There are 23 cities in Maine, while the largest towns are Scarborough and Brunswick, which have populations of 19,524 and 20,441 people, respectively.

The Five Biggest Cities in Maine

1. Portland

With a population of 66,194 people, Portland is the largest city in Maine. In fact, more than one-third of the state’s population inhabit the Greater Portland metropolitan area. Portland is located in Cumberland County and is Maine’s most important economic center. Tourism and services form the backbone of the city’s economy, and its marine industry, which includes commercial shipping and fishing, is also important to the state's economy.  The Port of Portland is New England’s biggest tonnage seaport.

2. Lewiston

The city of Lewiston is Maine’s second most populated city, with a population of about 36,592 individuals. The city is located in Androscoggin County, south of the state capital (Augusta). Lewiston is considered to be one of the safest cities in the region and its cost of living is relatively low. Lewiston is also home to the country’s largest French-speaking population.

3. Bangor

Bangor is the third biggest city in Maine, with a population of around 33,039 individuals. It is the county seat of Penobscot County and is located on the Penobscot River. Services and retail, healthcare, education, and finance are the major sectors of employment in the city. Modern Bangor was founded in the mid-19th century during the development of shipbuilding and lumber industries in the region.

4. Auburn

Auburn is the fourth biggest city in Maine, with a population of 25,055 people. The city is located directly across the Androscoggin River from Lewiston. Therefore, both cities are locally referred to as either the Twin Cities or Lewiston-Auburn.

5. South Portland

With a population of 24,002, South Portland is the fifth most populous city in Maine. The city is located in Cumberland County, is situated in Portland Harbor, and overlooks the skyline of Portland. South Portland is a regional center of retail and industry, and is home to the Maine Mall, which is the state’s largest and busiest shopping mall.

Capital of Maine

The capital of Maine is not one of the state's most populous cities. The state capital, Augusta, which is also the county seat of Kennebec County, has a population of 19,136 and ranks as the 9th biggest city in Maine. Additionally, Augusta is the country’s third least populated state capital.

The 10 Biggest Cities in Maine by Population

Rank City Population (2010 Census)

1 Portland 66,194
2 Lewiston 36,592
3 Bangor 33,039
4 Auburn 25,055
5 South Portland 24,002
6 Biddeford 21,277
7 Sanford 20,798
8 Brunswick 20,278
9 Augusta 19,136
10 Scarborough 18,919

By Oishimaya Sen Nag

•culled from www.worldatlas.com