Portland, Maine

Portland
Clockwise: Portland waterfront, the Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill, the corner of Middle Street and Exchange Street in the Old Port, Congress Street, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Monument Square, and winter light sculptures in Congress Square Park
Clockwise: Portland waterfront, the Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill, the corner of Middle Street and Exchange Street in the Old Port, Congress Street, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Monument Square, and winter light sculptures in Congress Square Park
Flag of Portland
Official seal of Portland
Official logo of Portland
Nickname: 
The Forest City
Motto(s): 
Resurgam (Latin)
"I Will Rise Again"
Map
Portland is located in Maine
Portland
Portland
Location in Maine
Portland is located in the United States
Portland
Portland
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 43°39′36″N 70°15′18″W / 43.66000°N 70.25500°W / 43.66000; -70.25500
CountryUnited States
RegionNew England
StateMaine
CountyCumberland
Settled1632
IncorporatedJuly 4, 1786
Named forIsle of Portland[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • City managerDanielle West
 • MayorMark Dion
 • BodyPortland City Council
Area
 • City69.44 sq mi (179.85 km2)
 • Land21.54 sq mi (55.79 km2)
 • Water47.90 sq mi (124.06 km2)
 • Urban
135.91 sq mi (352.0 km2)
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City68,408
 • RankUS: 519th
 • Density3,175.86/sq mi (1,226.21/km2)
 • Urban
205,356 (US: 188th)[3]
 • Urban density1,657.7/sq mi (640.0/km2)
 • Metro
556,893 (US: 103rd)
DemonymPortlander
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
04101–04104, 04108–04109, 04112, 04116, 04122–04124
Area code207
FIPS code23-60545
GNIS feature ID573692
Websitewww.portlandmaine.gov

Portland (/ˈpɔːrtlənd/ PORT-lənd) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 in April 2020.[4] The Greater Portland metropolitan area has a population of approximately 550,000 people. Historically tied to commercial shipping, the marine economy, and light industry, Portland's economy in the 21st century relies mostly on the service sector. The Port of Portland is the second-largest tonnage seaport in the New England area as of 2019.[5]

The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, a reference to Portland's recovery from four devastating fires.[6] Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland. In turn, the city of Portland, Oregon, was named after Portland, Maine.[7] The word Portland is derived from the Old English word Portlanda, which means "land surrounding a harbor".[8] The Greater Portland area has emerged as an important center for the creative economy,[9] which is also bringing gentrification.[10]

  1. ^ Coolidge, A. J. and J. B. Mansfeld (1859). A History and Description of New England, General and Local. Boston: Austin J. Coolidge, p. 301.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Census QuickFacts, Portland city, Maine". Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Explore Downtown". Portland Downtown. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  6. ^ "Facts and Links | City of Portland". asp.portlandmaine.gov. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  7. ^ "Portland History". www.naosmm.org. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "portland". Online Etymology Dictionary. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  9. ^ [1] Archived February 19, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Accessed October 5, 2021.
  10. ^ [2] Archived October 6, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Accessed October 6, 2021.