Portland, Maine : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

City of Portland

Official name

City of Portland

Settlement type

City

Motto

Resurgam (Latin)
"I Will Rise Again"

Country

United States

State

Maine

County

Cumberland

Settled

1633

Incorporated

July 4, 1786

Government

Type

City Council and City Manager

City Manager

Mark Rees

Geography

Total Area

52.6 sq mi (136.2 km2)

Land Area

21.2 sq mi (54.9 km2)

Water Area

31.4 sq mi (81.3 km2)

Elevation

62 ft (18.9 m)

Demography

Total Population

66194 (2010)

Density (pop.)

1169.3/km² (3029.2/sq mi)

Urban (pop.)

188080

Metro (pop.)

516826

Other information

Time zone

EST (UTC-5)

- Summer (DST)

EDT (UTC-4)

ZIP codes

04101, 04102, 04103, 04104, 04108, 04109, 04112, 04116, 04122, 04123, 04124

Area code

207

FIPS code

23-60545

GNIS feature ID

0573692

Airport

Portland International Jetport PWM (State/Regional)

Home | Settlement P | Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000. With a metro population of over 500,000, the Greater Portland area is home to more than one-third of Maine's total population.

Tourists visit Portland's historic Old Port district along Portland Harbor, at the mouth of the Fore River and part of Casco Bay, and the Arts District, which runs along Congress Street in the center of the city. Portland Head Light is located in nearby Cape Elizabeth and marks the entrance to Portland Harbor.

The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which aligns with the city's motto, Resurgam, Latin for "I will rise again." The motto refers to Portland's recoveries from four devastating fires. The city of Portland, Oregon was named for Portland, Maine.

Portland Public Schools is the largest school system in Maine, serving approximately 7,000 students.