|
Real Estate & Homes in Portland - Maine - Portland, Maine
Portland
History
Portland is the largest city in Maine, the seat of Cumberland County, and the business, financial, and retail capital of the state. Native son and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called it a “jewel by the sea.” Perched on a peninsula in southern Maine, jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay, its seascapes and cityscapes blend in perfect harmony. The city is surrounded by wide, sandy beaches and classic New England villages.
A prosperous urban hub, yet friendly and easy-going, Portland reflects the character of yesteryear and the sophistication of a 21st Century city. Its modern buildings are a testament to a rapidly growing economy, while the captivating architecture and cobblestone streets of the Old Port Exchange seem frozen in Portland's rich history. Thanks to its historic working waterfront—one of the few left in the U.S.— along with lively, ethnic neighborhoods, and spectacular vistas, Portland has earned the nicknames of “mini-Boston” and “San Francisco of the East.”
Portland was founded in1632. First known as Machigonne (Great Neck), the settlement was renamed Falmouth before assuming its permanent name after Portland, England. Thanks to its ideal position on the Casco Bay peninsula, the city prospered rapidly as a ship-building center. Over the years, it has endured three fires—two deliberate (the Indians in 1675 and the British in 1775), and one accidental (in 1866, during a 4th of July Celebration). In fact, it has been destroyed—and rebuilt—four times. It’s no surprise the city’s motto is “Resurgam,” and its seal, a phoenix rising out of the ashes.
Today, Portland serves as New England’s largest tonnage seaport and second busiest fishing port—with a fish exchange moving 20 million pounds of seafood a year. It’s also the second largest oil port on the East Coast and the largest foreign inbound transit tonnage port in the U.S.
The city’s Victorian-style architecture, popular during Portland’s rebuilding, has been well-preserved by the city’s emphasis on historic preservation. In 1982, the area was entered on the National Register for Historic Places. In 1989, environmentalists spurred a large-scale clean-up of Casco Bay, at the time one of the most polluted bodies of water in the U.S. The clean-up sparked an urban revival, transforming the gritty old seaport town into a thriving business, arts, and entertainment center.
In 2003, the Trust named Portland to its list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations—calling the city a “truly distinctive slice of America” and “an exciting alternative to the homogenization of many other vacation spots.”
Portland’s popularity is evidenced not only by the satisfaction of its residents, but by the number of tourists it draws. The port alone handles 206,000 international passengers every year.
By air, the area is served by the Portland International Jetport, and by rail, Amtrack’s Downeaster.
Fast Facts
Location: Portland is located on a peninsula in Maine’s South Coast Region. It is situated at the mouth of the Fore River, where it flows into Casco Bay. The city is closer to Europe than any other transatlantic port in the U.S. By land, it’s adjacent to Interstate 95, just 2 hours north of Boston.
*Population: 64,249 in Portland; 230,000 in Greater Portland—almost one quarter of Maine’s total population.
*Total Area: 136.2 sq. km (52.6 sq mi). Land: 54.9 sq km (21.2 sq mi); water: 81.2 sq km (31.4 sq mi)
*No. Households: 29,714
*No. Families: 13,549
*Population Density: 1,169.6/sq km (3,029.2/sq mi)
*No. Housing Units: 31,862
*Housing Density: 580.0/sq km (1,502.2/sq mi)
*Median Household Income: $35,650
*Average Temperature: 22°F in winter, 68°F in summer
*Information provided by 2000 Census
Community
Portland is consistently ranked by national magazines, Web sites, and television as one of the most desirable cities to live in America. It’s easy to see why. Life is calm. The salt air is fresh. The economy is strong. Housing is affordable. Schools and health care are outstanding. Recreational opportunities are plentiful. Neighborhoods are safe. Gridlock traffic is unheard of. It’s the perfect place to live for those who want an urban lifestyle but not the hassle that often comes with it.
Maine itself has been ranked among the top ten healthiest states in the nation, and as Maine’s biggest city, Portland is the region’s primary center for medical care. Major facilities include Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland. Along with traditional medicine, the city also has a thriving community of healers and alternative-therapy specialists, from massage therapists to acupuncturists.
From dense urban blocks to island communities, Portland’s many neighborhoods are diverse in character and design, offering a broad spectrum of housing choices for residents. As the city continues to evolve, close attention is paid to careful land use regulation, design, and public participation that preserves the integrity of the city’s neighborhoods.
Along with Portland, the Greater Portland and Casco Bay Area includes South Portland (population 22,985), Brunswick (20,827), Westbrook (16,459), Scarborough (14,075), and Windham (13,975). Other towns of interest are Cape Elizabeth, Chebeague Island, Cliff Island, Cumberland Center, Falmouth, Foreside, Freeport, Frye Island, Gorham, Gray, Harpswell, Raymond, Standish, and Yarmouth.
Attractions
From forts and lighthouses to chic shops and galleries, Portland offers a wealth of historic and contemporary attractions.
Stroll the cobblestone streets of the Old Port Exchange, one of the most successful revitalized warehouse districts in the country. Here you’ll find the heart of Maine life—a working waterfront, teeming with activity, along with one-of-a-kind shopping, dining, and entertainment. The smell of the sea air, the sound of a foghorn, and the chatter of seagulls are “the stuff Maine is made of.”
Take a ferry and cruise through scenic Casco Bay. Or Join Downeast Duck Adventures for a land and sea tour of the historic waterfront neighborhoods and harbor of Portland.
Tour the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House, the 19th century childhood home of the famous poet and the oldest house on the Portland peninsula. Longfellow’s grandfather built the house in 1795 out of bricks shipped from Philadelphia. Behind the house is the elegant Longfellow Garden—an oasis of beauty in the midst of the modern bustle of Congress Street, just a few steps away.
Marvel at the opulence of Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House. It’s been called the finest example of residential design from the pre-Civil War era in America.
Bask in the elegance of the U.S. Custom House. After the Civil War, this building was constructed for the government to keep track of cargo. It’s designed to look like a European palace—built from Maine granite and decorated on the inside with marble, gold, and chandeliers.
See the First Parish Church, featuring an unusual chandelier: an original cannon ball from the Revolutionary War!
Get an insightful glimpse of 18th century life in colonial Maine at the Tate House. Built in 1755 for Captain George Tate, Senior Master Agent for the British Royal Navy, and his family, the house is the only pre-Revolutionary home in Greater Portland open to the public. Just across the street from the Tate House is the Means House, built in 1797 by Captain James Means who reportedly served with George Washington during the revolution.
Take in the towering grandeur of Portland City Hall, built by Carerre and Hastings—best known for their design of the New York Public Library.
Climb 102 steps to one of New England’s finest views at the Portland Observatory, situated on the highest point in Portland. Built as a commercial venture in 1807 by Captain Lemuel Moody, the Observatory is the last remaining maritime signal tower in North America. On a cloudless day, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of Casco Bay and its islands to the east, and the distant White Mountains to the west.
In nearby Cape Elizabeth, you’ll find the world-famous Portland Head Light. Originally Commissioned by George Washington, it is undoubtedly the most photographed landmark in Maine.
See photos and artifacts of Portland’s fire-fighting history at the Portland Fire Museum, housed in a granite Greek Revival firehouse.
Check out the Portland Harbor Museum, home to a permanent exhibit on 19th Century wooden shipbuilding. Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is just a few steps from the gallery entrance, overlooking the sparkling bay.
Take the kids to the Children’s Museum of Maine, featuring hands-on educational exhibits in the arts, science, and natural history. Climb a mountain. Explore a bear’s den. Role-play as crew members of space shuttle or a 40-foot schooner.
Check out the Center for Maine History, Maine Historical Society, where you’ll find a massive research library and a growing museum. Founded in 1822, the Maine Historical Society is the third oldest historical society in the U.S.
Don’t miss the Museum of African Culture, the only museum in New England devoted exclusively to Sub-Saharan African Tribal Art--representing over 1,000 years of history.
Celebrate Maine’s industrial history at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Here you’ll find exhibits of trains from the 1800s, along with train rides along Portland’s historic waterfront.
Explore an “aquarium without walls” at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, dedicated to educating the public about the oceans and aquatic environments.
At Southworth Planetarium, you can enjoy several laser and astronomy shows, set to the music of popular artists, from the Beatles to Garth Brooks. Special shows are also tailored for the younger set—from “The Little Start That Could” to “Through the Eyes of Children.”
Don’t miss the L.L. Bean Flagship store in Freeport. A Maine institution since 1912, the store is open 24x7, every day of the year.
Along with permanent attractions, every month in Portland brings its own delights—from Rockhound Roundup in May, Maine’s largest gem and mineral show, to the Maine Antiquarian Booksellers’ Fair in October.
Recreation and Leisure
Portland and the rest of southern Maine are a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of spectacular scenery. In fact, Outdoor Magazine named Portland one of its “Top 10 Dream Towns”—thanks to the area’s wide range of outdoor activities. From beaches to public parks, windjammer sailing to deep-sea fishing, it’s a four-season adventure land. Mount Katahdin offers spectacular hiking in summer, while Sugarloaf and Sunday River serve up picturesque skiing in winter.
Preservation of the area’s natural splendor is due in part to the commitment of its citizens. Environmental activists such as Portland Trails work to preserve open lands and build new trails throughout the region, while the Audobon Society keeps a close watch on the region’s birds. Another group, Rippleffect, takes children on outdoor adventures and teaches them about the natural world.
Stroll on the city’s over 100 miles of nature and walking trails, including a network of 10 miles of trails that line the bay and lead into the surrounding woods just outside the city. Kids can choose from 95 playgrounds scattered throughout the area.
Visit the Sebago Lake Region, just 20 minutes to the west of Portland. Here, over 50 lakes dot the landscape, with ample opportunities for canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Covering 45 square miles, Sebago Lake is the second-largest lake in Maine.
Sunbathe on one of the four beautiful beaches within a half-hour’s drive of downtown.
Take in a whale-watching expedition or sail to Nova Scotia on the Scotia Prince, a popular cruise ship offering nightly departures to Yarmouth.
Sail, fish, and explore the area’s briny charms from the cockpit of a kayak. The southern Maine coastline is so intricate, and the offshore islands so plentiful, paddlers of all abilities will find adventure at every turn. Guided tours are provided by such companies as Into the Wild Expeditions and Maine Island Kayak Company.
Explore Casco Bay’s 220 islands, many of which are inhabited year round. Ferries and mail boats depart daily for the larger ones, offering ample opportunities for hiking, biking, and spending the night in a bed and breakfast.
Take a windjammer cruise on Penobscot Bay, 100 miles north of town, or Frenchman’s Bay, 160 miles north.
Check out Desert of Maine in Freeport, a 40-acre natural desert that’s actually an ancient glacial land deposit.
Hike through Wolfe’s Neck State Park, where five miles of easy trails take you through the woods, along the Harraseeket River, and over the rocky shores of Casco Bay. Or take a leisurely stroll over the lovely sandy beaches and rocky coastline of nearby Scarborough, made famous by local artist Winslow Homer. At Scarborough’s Marsh Nature Center, you can take a canoe tour and view flocks of migrating birds, from sandpipers to cormorants.
Visit the Gisland Farm Sanctuary and Environmental Center, a 65-acre wildlife sanctuary in Falmouth.
Join the corps of coastline stewards at the Maine Island Trail Association, and you'll be part of an invaluable resource that provides exclusive island access.
Take in some harness racing at Scarborough Downs April through November.
Runners can lace up their shoes for the 10K “Beach to Beacon” event every August.
Golfers can choose from 11 professional golf courses in the Portland area, while tennis players have their pick of 124 courts.
LL Bean Outdoor Discovery School offers a range of camps and programs for kids and their parents. Learn to kayak, fly cast, or clay shoot during the summer—or cross-country ski and snowshoe in the winter.
Portland is also home to two minor league sports teams. In summer, baseballs’ Portland Sea Dogs take up residence at Hadlock Field, and in winter, hockey’s Portland Pirates play at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Arts
As New England's cultural hub, Portland is a vibrant showcase for artists, musicians, crafts people, and actors
A few blocks from the waterfront, uptown, is Portland’s cultural center, the Arts District. This once-traditional shopping street is now a mecca of over 50 art galleries, as well as antique shops, artist studios, and cultural attractions. It’s home of the world-class Portland Museum of Art, the Children’s Museum of Maine, the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art, the Center for Cultural Exchange, the State Theater, the Portland Stage Company, the Center for Maine History, and the beautifully renovated, 2,000-seat Merrill Auditorium.
Every summer, the Arts District hosts the Summer Performance Series, with over 50 outdoor noon concerts in the area parks and squares.
The Portland Museum of Art, dating back to 1882, has been called one of the finest small art museums in the country. Today, it’s housed in a building designed by the renowned I.M. Pei. The museum’s extensive collection features pieces dating from the 18th century to the present, including works from such well-known American artists as Winslow Homer and Andrew Wyeth, along with European artists from Auguste Renoir and Henri Toulouse-Lautrect to Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. The museum’s Decorative Arts Collection records the traditions of Maine crafts, and over 2,000 pieces of American and European glassware are on display.
Portland also boasts its own symphony, the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Established in 1923, the Orchestra has been hailed as one of the top orchestras of its size in the country. It performs a wide variety of concerts, often featuring world-class guest artists, at Merrill Auditorium. Music lovers will delight also in “Maine Treasures,” the Portland String Quartet. The group has been performing, teaching, and recording with its founding members since 1969 and serve as Artists in Residence at Colby College.
Contemporary music buffs can enjoy such big-name acts as Elton John, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton at the 8,798-seat Cumberland County Civic Center.
The city is home to a half-dozen resident theater companies, headlined by the Portland Stage Company, the leading professional theater company in northern New England, and Portland Players, the oldest community theatre in Maine and the second oldest known in New England. The Mad Horse Theatre brings magic to the stage with such performances as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Angels in America, while the Children’s Theater of Maine offers a variety of performances throughout the year to children of all ages.
Opera fans can enjoy the work of the Portland Opera Repertory Theater, which regularly presents operatic masterpieces throughout the state, while ballet enthusiasts will delight in the quality ballet productions of the Maine State Ballet.
Dining
Portland offers over 200 restaurants, serving everything from traditional New England clam chowder to nouveau cuisine. In fact, the word around town is that Portland has more restaurants per capita than any U.S. city except San Francisco.
Lobster, of course, is the specialty of the city. Lobstering is still the livelihood for many residents, and visitors enjoy walking along the wharfs to see the lobster traps stacked high. Shipped all over the country, Maine hard-shell lobster isn’t a delicacy in Portland. It’s so reasonably priced, in fact—about $5.99 a pound—that residents eat it several times a week, in several different ways. With bib and butter. Deep-fried, Cajun-style. In creamy stew. On a salad. Or even on a hotdog bun.
The city also boasts half-a-dozen brew pubs and several microbrew companies, making Portland one of the top cities in the country for locally brewed beers and ales.
Favorite Portland eateries include:
Amato’s Catering and Deli—Founded by Italian immigrant Giovanni Amato, this popular chain has branches throughout Maine—but still follows its original recipes. Sample a “Real Italian,” a tangy pile of cold cuts, cheese, Greek olives, pickles, and spices stacked high on a freshly baked Italian roll. For dessert grab Maine’s favorite sweet treat, a “whoopee pie”—rich cream filling tucked between two devil’s food cookies.
Anthony’s Italian Kitchen—This real Italian restaurant serves handmade Italian foods plus subs, wraps, soups, salads, pastas, pizza, and more.
Becky’s Diner—Famous for its great home-cooked breakfast, this old-fashioned American diner features hearty, home-style food at inexpensive prices. Open at 4 a.m., it caters to fishermen and locals.
Benkay Sushi & Japanese Restaurant—Benkay is known for its wide selection of Sushi—including an original Maine Roll, with fresh Maine Lobster and flying fish roe!
Brian Boru’s—If you like a traditional Irish pub atmosphere and an eclectic menu, you won’t want to miss this restaurant in the Old Port.
DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant—Originally a car ferry, DiMillo’s is now one of the largest floating restaurants in the U.S., featuring an extensive menu of Italian and seafood entrees. The restaurant rises and falls with the tide twice a day, and because it’s surrounded by water, offers spectacular views from every table.
Fore Street—Hailed by the New York Times and Gourmet Magazine as one of the best restaurants in the country, Fore Street is Portland's best-known and most popular choice for dining. Food is cooked in an apple wood-fired oven and on spits turning over an open hearth in full view of diners.
Great Lost Bear— Some say Great Lost Bear serves up the best burger in town. The restaurant/pub offers a huge menu, including many appetizers, soups and salads, steaks, chicken, lasagna, ribs, and a large vegetarian selection. The restaurant also serves 50 drought beers, many of which are brewed in Maine.
Hugo’s Restaurant—In business for over 12 years, Hugo’s has long been a Portland Landmark. It’s known for its classic yet casual elegance, delicious food, and excellent service.
Jameson Tavern—Located in Freeport, the tavern is seeped in history, dating to 1799. It was once a favorite hangout for such luminaries as poets Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and John Greenleaf Whittier. It has also been declared the “Birthplace of Maine,” because it’s where local lawmakers formally met to separate from Massachusetts in 1820.
Norm’s Bar & Grill—Norm’s is a favorite hangout for ribs, delivered in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
O’Naturals—The nation’s first all-natural, organic fast foot chain was born and bred here. This downtown eatery serves up everything from spicy Asian noodles to warm flatbread sandwiches.
Port Hole—Right on the water, this favorite offers fresh, home-made gourmet food.
Roma Café—Voted Portland’s most romantic restaurant, Roma Café serves classic food in the former Rines mansion, featuring northern Italian and New American cuisine.
Three Dollar Dewey’s—Known as “Portland’s original ale house,” Dewey’s also features a delicious array of “pub grub.”
Two Lights Lobster Shack—One of the Portland area’s most popular eating spots, Two Lights has been a local landmark since the 1920s. It offers a spectacular view of two lighthouses—along with succulent Maine lobster you can enjoy inside or out.
Valley Chinese Cuisine—Valley is arguably Portland's best Chinese restaurant.
Village Café—A long-time Portland favorite, the Café offers home-style Italian cooking with an emphasis on Italian specialties, seafood, and steaks.
Woody’s—Woody’s specializes in organic food, including hormone-free and grass-fed beef.
Along with Portland’s wide selection of restaurants, two downtown centerpieces provide residents with great sources of fresh foods from neighboring farms and the sea. During summer months, local growers stock the all-organic Farmers’ Market. And right next door is the 37,000-square-foot fresh food hall, the Portland Public Market--reminiscent of the great covered markets of Europe. The Market features everything from fresh-baked bread to lobster year-round.
Seafood lovers will also find everything they need at Browne Trading Company, featuring fish from around the world and specialty items from beluga caviar to spicy baby octopus.
Housing
Portland offers a wide variety of housing, from single-family homes to condominiums and multi-family units. The average home price in Portland is $181,194.
The two major residential neighborhoods in town are the West End and Munjoy Hill. The West End features well-kept vintage homes, many with slate shingles and wrap-around porches. Prices range from $85,000 for a two-bedroom condo to $500,000+ for an old colonial. Munjoy Hill is packed with old-style apartment houses and tightly sited city homes averaging $140,000.
For more acreage and more family-oriented neighborhoods, the Scarborough area offers everything from three-bedroom ranches in the $100,000 range to three- to four-bedroom colonials for $160,000. In nearby Falmouth, prices are steeper, from $350,000 and up. Falmouth Foreside, an elegant enclave on the sea, features stately Tudors that can fetch over $2 million when they go on the market.
Employment
Businesses are drawn to Portland for a host of reasons, including its highly productive workforce, state-of-the art telecommunications and transportation infrastructures, strategic global location, strong state support for business growth, and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Greater Portland region ranked 14th on the Milken Institute’s “Best Performing Cities 2004” index—the only metro area in the Northeast to rank in the top 20. The study, focused on high-tech industries, notes the region’s draw as a popular tourist destination and the strong economic growth from health care and nearby defense facilities. The area’s highly educated and skilled work force, ranking 22nd in the percentage of adults with bachelor’s degrees, will “continue to attract companies demanding knowledge-intensive workers,” the study concludes.
Along with health care, information technology, and telecommunications, leading industries in Portland include shipping, fishing, insurance, financing, real estate, tourism, construction, and light manufacturing. Next to Washington, DC, Portland also has more attorneys per capital than any other America city.
The city’s largest employers are UNUM Provident, a holding company whose subsidiaries sell disability and life insurance; Maine Medical Center, Maine’s largest hospital; and LL Bean, a world-renowned leader in outdoor clothing and gear.
Education
The Portland Public Schools District is Maine’s largest and most diverse school district. It educates 7,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade and about 6,000 adult learners. Facilities range from a one-room schoolhouse on an island in Casco Bay to the nation’s second oldest public high school to a state-of-the-art elementary school on the downtown peninsula.
Greater Portland also boasts several institutes of higher learning, including:
University of Southern Maine: Portland is home to one of the three campuses of USM. Founded in 1878, the University enrolls 11,382 students, more than any other institution in the state.
Andover College: Known as Maine’s career college, Andover offers associates degrees and certificate programs.
Maine College of Art (MECA): Founded in 1882, this dynamic college of art and design offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in fine arts. The college gallery, the Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA, has been hailed as one of the finest art spaces in the Northeast for exhibiting leading-edge contemporary art.
Portland Conservatory of Music: The Conservatory provides musical training for students of all ages and levels.
Salt Institute for Documentary Studies: The only school of its kind in the US, Salt offers semester programs in nonfiction writing and editing, documentary radio, and documentary photography at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Southern Maine Community College: SMCC offers a broad range of college-level arts, sciences, and technical curricula—all focused on the application of knowledge.
Where Is Portland, Maine?
Written by Sue Carrington exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
Photos credits:
1) Photo courtesy of Greater Portland Landmarks
(Uncredited photos are file photos.)
|
sign up for updates about this project or community |
Search similar Lifestyle :
Search similar Housing :
|
Beach Front
Condos