Moving to Maine?
Situated in the northeastern United States, Maine -- with its picturesque views, sylvan locations, photogenic lighthouses, island-dotted bays, and spectacular sunsets -- has been the favorite destination of one and all. Maine is famous for its seafood cuisine featuring freshly caught lobsters and clams. It is also the leading producer of blueberries in the United States. Up until 2003, Maine was the leading producer of toothpicks in the world, producing about 20 million toothpicks a day.
Regarding the state's etymology, it is said that English explorers used the word Maine for the first time to refer to the mainland, and it is also said to have been derived from the region of Maine in northwestern France. The state has been nicknamed as The Pine Tree State due to its dense forest cover comprising of pines, birches, and firs. Maine has become the mecca of outdoor recreation, so it’s also been called “vacation land.”
Maine has been the seat of many a fictional work of such authors as E. B. White's Charlotte's Web, Terry Goodkind's The Law of Nines, and Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The state was also the location for many Hollywood movies – prominent among them are The Cider House Rules, Lake Placid, Dark Harbor, and the Iron Giant.
If you’re moving to Maine, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Maine
Maine Climate
A humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters with extremely low temperatures in northern parts characterize Maine's climate. Maine is the only state on the eastern side of the Rockies with the very rare occurrence of thunderstorms and tornadoes. Maine is the northernmost state in New England and easternmost state in the United States. It comprises of one of the largest lakes in the New England region, Moosehead Lake. One of the unique geographic features of Maine is the presence of the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, Old Sow. Maine's land is mostly forested which belongs to a temperate broad leaf and mixed forests biome. Trees such as oaks, pines maples, birches, firs and spruces are commonly found. Maine's landscape is described as a drowned coast where the rising sea level has submerged former land features, resulting in the formation of bays and islands.
Registering your Car
Registration of your vehicle in the state of Maine is done at any town government office. You need to produce the title of your car, if it is 1985 or newer. You don't have to bring the title if your car is older than 1985. You also need to get the current dated insurance card. Excise duty in the range of $4 to $24 per $1,000 of the value and age of your vehicle is collected by the municipality.
Obtaining a Maine Driver’s License
A driver's license can be obtained at the Maine Motor Vehicle office by completing vision screening, and a road and written test. You need to turn in your out-of-state license and pay the required license fees. Detailed information can be had from the Motorist Handbook and Study Guide which is for Class C licenses and motorcycles, and Commercial Driver's Manual for CDL licenses.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Maine was ranked 1st out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 2 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
Maine's chief industries are paper, lumber, electronic equipment, naval shipbuilding and construction, food products, textiles, and biotechnology. The state's agricultural products include dairy products, poultry, blueberries, apples, maple syrup, potatoes, and commercial fishing particular lobsters. It leads in the production of blueberries. Tourism and outdoor recreation also bring in millions of dollars into the state.
Employment Statistics
The unemployment rate as of March 2012 in Maine was 7.1 percent after seasonally adjusting it, which is substantially lower than the national average of 8.2 percent.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Maine is $46,933, while the average per capita income for the state is $37,973.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Maine is $295,736, while the median sales price is just over $155,300. The Maine Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Maine.
Major landmarks and attractions
Old Orchard Beach; Moosehead Lake Region; Portland Head Light, Ogunquit; Bar Harbor; Harpswell Art and Crafts Guild; Harrison Historical Society Museum; and, Moxie Bottle House.
Largest Cities: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn, Orono, Augusta
Schools
The Maine Department of Education is headed by a commissioner and administers the public education system in the state. It is comprised of public and private schools, the Maine Community College System, private colleges, and the University of Maine System. Education from kindergarten to 12th grade is compulsory, although it is not divided strictly into three tiers. The state intends to replace the NECAP test by a 30-state Common Core State Standards Initiative by 2015. As part of higher education, Maine boasts of over 35 outstanding colleges and several universities. Some of them are the University of Maine, the University of New England, Maine College of Art, Saint Joseph's College, and Maine Media College.
National Parks
Acadia National Park
White Mountain National Forest
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
State park System
There are 32 state parks in Maine which are as varied as the state's landscape, with mountain trails, lakeside picnic tables and ocean beaches. Allagash Wilderness Waterway and 12 state parks provide for camping opportunities. Acadia National Park with its scenic beauty and wide ocean vistas and spots like thunder hole, sand beach, otter cliffs, and Cadillac Mountain is the pride of this state. Maine is famous for being the hub of outdoor activities such as canoeing, paddling, snowmobiling, skiing, golfing, skydiving, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, hunting, and geocaching.
Major Airports
Bangor International Airport
Portland International Airport
Knox County Regional Airport
Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport