Portland

Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, the 104th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Portland's economy relies mostly on the service sector and tourism. Marine industry plays an important role in the city's economy, with an active waterfront that supports fishing and commercial shipping. The Port of Portland is the second-largest tonnage seaport in New England. The word Portland is derived from the Old English word Portlanda, which means "land surrounding a harbor". The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, a reference to recovery from four devastating fires. Portland was named for the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named for Portland, Maine. The first European settler was Capt. Christopher Levett, an English naval captain granted 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay. The peninsula was settled in 1632 as a fishing and trading village named Casco. On October 18, 1775, Falmouth was burned in the Revolution by the Royal Navy under command of Captain Henry Mowat. Following the war, a section of Falmouth called The Neck developed as a commercial port and began to grow rapidly as a shipping center. In 1853, upon completion of the Grand Trunk Railway to Montreal, Portland became the primary ice-free winter seaports for Canadian exports. The Great Fire of Maine, on July 4, 1866, ignited during the celebration of Independence Day, destroyed 10 commercial buildings and hundreds of homes.

History

Portland is the primary city name, but also Cushing Is, Cushing Island, Diamond Cove, Diamond Is, Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Grt Dia Is, Little Diamond Island, Ltle Dia Is are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Portland. Portland was named for the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland was in turn named for Portland, Maine. The first European settler was Capt. Christopher Levett, an English naval captain granted 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay. Portland's economy was greatly stressed by the Embargo Act of 1807 (prohibition of trade with the British) and the War of 1812, which ended in 1815. In 1851, Maine led the nation by passing the first state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes" In 1853, upon completion of the Grand Trunk Railway to Montreal, Portland became the primary ice-free winter seaport for Canadian exports. In the 20th century, icebreakers later enabled ships to reach Montreal in winter, drastically reducing Portland's role as a winter port for Canada. On June 26, 1863, a Confederate raiding party led by Captain Charles Read entered the harbor at Portland leading to the Battle of Portland Harbor, one of the northernmost battles of the Civil War. The 1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine, on July 4, 1866, ignited during the Independence Day celebration, destroyed most of the commercial buildings in the city, half the churches and hundreds of homes. More than 10,000 people were left homeless. The Portland Company, located on Fore Street, manufactured more than 600 19th-century steam locomotives, as well as engines for trains and boats.

Geography

Portland is situated on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine and the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb, closely bordering on Dfa), with cold, snowy, and often prolonged winters, and warm, relatively short summers. The coast is one of the fastest-warming saltwater bodies and is predicted to see an increase to about 10-17 inches by 2030, in comparison to the levels in 2000. In 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a report that showed sea level in Portland could rise by six inches by 2050, two feet by 2060 and two to six feet by 2100. Portland is organized into neighborhoods generally recognized by residents, but they have no legal or political authority. In many cases, city signs identify neighborhoods or intersections (which are often called corners). Most city neighborhoods have a local association which usually maintains ongoing relations of varying degrees with the city government on issues affecting the neighborhood. Portland's neighborhoods include the Arts District; Bayside; Bradley's Corner; Cliff Island; Cushing's Island; Deering Highlands; Downtown; East Deering; East End; Eastern Cemetery; Great Diamond Island; Highlands; Kennedy Park; Libbytown; Little Diamond Island, and Woodford's Corner. In 2015, the Portland Press Herald published a series of articles documenting the "super-tight apartment market" caused by evictions and steep jumps in monthly rent. In that year, city landlords raised by an average of 17.4%, which was the second-largest jump in the country.

Demographics

The largest ancestries include: British (including Scottish, Welsh, and English), Irish (19.2%), French (10.5%), and German (6.9%). The racial makeup of the city was 91.27% White, 2.59% African American, 0.47% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. The city's immediate metropolitan area ranked 147th in the nation in 2000 with a population of 243,537, while the Portland/South Portland/Biddeford metropolitan area included 487,568 total inhabitants. This has increased to an estimated 513,102 inhabitants (and the largest metro area in Northern New England) as of 2007. The median income for a household in the city in the 2010 census was $22.7, and the average family size was 2.89. The population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 10.7 from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males, and for every 100 males over 100 there were 91.0 females. The U.S. Census Bureau ranked the city as one of the most livable cities in the United States in 2000, with the population of 64,250.

Economy

Portland has Maine's largest port, largest population, and is close to Boston (105 miles to the southwest) Over the years, the local economy has shifted from fishing, manufacturing, and agriculture towards a more service-based economy. Most national bank institutions and other related financial organizations such as Bank of America and Key Bank base their Maine operations in Portland. In January 2020 Portland was announced to be the location of a new research institute that will focus on the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The first-ever container train departed from the new International Marine Terminal with fifteen containers of locally produced bottled tap water in early 2016.Americold, a US-based international provider of temperature-controlled storage and distribution, won a bid to develop a state-of-the-art storage facility adjacent to the port. The facility will support perishable produce, meats, and seafood imports with direct exports but construction has not yet begun.Portland also has a large subsidized housing industry with more than five large real estate companies entirely in the business. Between 1867 and 2021, Burnham & Morrill Co., maker of B&M Baked Beans, had its main plant in Portland, Maine. The city's port is also undergoing a revival, and the first- ever container train left from the port with 15 containers of local produced bottled water in late 2016. Portland has more than 5,000 jobs in the real estate industry, including more than 1,000 in the housing industry. In 2013, the city's unemployment rate was 3.7 per cent.

Arts and culture

Portland has a long history of prominence in the arts, peaking the first time in the early nineteenth century. Since 2000, Portland has hosted a monthly art walk event that attracts more than 3,000 visitors. The Arts District, centered on Congress Street, is home to the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Stage Company, Maine Historical Society & Museum, Portland Public Library, Maine College of Art and the Children's Museum of Maine. The city is also home to a concentration of publishing companies, advertising agencies, web designers, and broadcast and broadcast broadcast companies. The Portland Press Herald, published Monday through Saturday, founded in 1862, is published by The Maine Press/Maine Telegram, published Sunday through Saturday. Portland has a population of 2.1 million. The population of Maine is 2.2 million. Portland is home of the University of Southern Maine. Portland's tallest building is Franklin Towers, a 16-story residential tower completed in 1969. The spire of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception has been a notable feature of the Portland skyline since its completion in 1854. The Maine Red Claws are a professional baseball team based in Portland. The team is coached by former Portland Police Chief Bill McKeever. The Sea Dogs play their home games at Hadlock Field in the city's downtown area, which was once called the "Old Port" The team's mascot is the Portland Sea Dogs, which is named after the Sea Dogs' founder, William "Bill" Hadlock.

Food and beverage

Portland has developed a national reputation for the quality of its restaurants, eateries, and food culture. Bon Appetit named Portland the Restaurant City of the Year in 2018. The city is home to numerous juice bars, coffee shops, coffee roasteries, tea houses, distilleries, microbreweries and brewpubs. The Portland Farmers Market takes place Wednesdays in Monument Square, Saturdays in Deering Oaks Park, and Saturdays at The Maine Girls Academy. Portland hosts a number of food and beverage festivals, including the Festival of Nations, Harvest on the Harbor, and Italian Street Festival & Bazaar. In the early 20th century, a Little Italy delicacy developed around the Amato Street neighborhood. The Pleasure Boat was the earliest vegetarian restaurant in Maine. The Maine Sunday Telegram reports that there will be more than 200 vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the state in 2020. In 2011, the Portland Public Schools added a daily vegetarian cold lunch to its school menu choices.Portland is where national Prohibition started. The law led to the Portland Rum Riot in 1855. By 1852, the Winslow Patent Hermetically Sevenning industry was a world leader in the canned corn industry. An historic B&M Baked Beans can plant built in 1913 operated on the waterfront until it closed and moved to the mid-west in 2022, when it moved and moved out of Portland. In 1845, the city's first Indian restaurant, Amato's, was opened on Fore Street.

Sports

The Portland area has eleven professional golf courses, 124 tennis courts, and 95 playgrounds. There are also over 100 mi (160 km) of nature trails. The city is home to three minor league teams. The Maine Mammoths of the National Arena League played in 2018 and were the first indoor football team to call Portland home. The GPS Portland Phoenix soccer teams plays in USL League Two. The Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A farm team of the Boston Red Sox, play at Hadlock Field and the Maine Celtics, the NBA G League affiliate of the Celtics, play in the Portland Exposition Building. In 2018, another Maine Mariners, an ECHL team, returned a minor league hockey team to Portland. In 2017, Bayside Bowl was expanded in 2017 to 20 lanes, including a rooftop deck. It hosted the 2017 PBA League and Elias Cup. It is the home of the Deering High School sports teams and is located behind the school.Portland hosts the Maine Marathon each October. It has over 100 miles of trails, including over 100mi (160km) ofnature trails. It also has 11 golf courses and 124 tenniscourts. It was home to the Maine Nordiques (NAHL) from 1973 to 1977, the Maine Mariners (AHL), from 1977 to 1992, and the Portland Pirates (A HL) from 1993 to 2016. It played host to the 2013 World Series of Ice Hockey, which was won by the Montreal Alouettes. In 2014, the Portland Ice Arena hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Parks and recreation

The city of Portland includes more than 700 acres of open space and public parks. The city and surrounding communities are linked by 70 miles of trails, both urban and wooded. In 2018, the Portland City Council banned the use of synthetic pesticides on public and private property.

Government

The city has adopted a council-manager style government that is detailed in the city charter. The citizens of Portland are represented by a nine-member city council which makes policy, passes ordinances, approves appropriations, appoints the city manager and oversees the municipal government. The city has five voting districts, with each district electing a city councilor to represent their neighborhood interests for a three-year term. There are also four members of the city council who are elected at-large. From 1923 until 2011, city councilors chose one of themselves each year to serve as Mayor of Portland, a primarily ceremonial position. On November 2, 2010, Portland voters narrowly approved a measure that allowed them to elect the mayor. The current mayor is Kate Snyder, who defeated incumbent mayor Ethan Strimling in the 2019 Portland, Maine mayoral election. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Portland is included in Maine's 1st congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat Chellie M. Pingree.On November 5, 2013, Portland approved an ordinance to legalize the possession and private use of cannabis for adults, making the city the first municipality in the Eastern United States to do so. James E. Craig was chief of the Portland Police Department from 2009 to 2011. He would later go on to become the chief. of the Cincinnati Police Department and Detroit Police Department. The Portland Public School system has a school board with five district members, four at- Large members and one chairman. The school board is made up in the same manner as the main city council, with fiveDistrict members,four at- large members and a chairman. There is also three students from the local high schools elected to serve on the board.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine = 93. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 70. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 50. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Portland = 2.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 68,408 individuals with a median age of 40.3 age the population dropped by -2.69% in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 3,175.86 residents per square mile of area (1,226.21/km²). There are average 2.03 people per household in the 29,537 households with an average household income of $44,995 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.30% of the available work force and has dropped -3.41% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 26.88%. The number of physicians in Portland per 100,000 population = 441.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Portland = 43.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 71.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 131. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 203. 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 13 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 56, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine which are owned by the occupant = 39.63%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 64 years with median home cost = $256,610 and home appreciation of -3.56%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $15.24 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $3,982 per student. There are 11.6 students for each teacher in the school, 278 students for each Librarian and 397 students for each Counselor. 6.69% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 23.21% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 12.82% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).