Augusta is the capital city of the US state of Maine. Located in Kennebec County, at the 2010 Census it had a population of 19,136. and a population density of 127 inhabitants/km², which places it as the third smallest state capital in the country, after Montpelier —capital of Vermont— and Pierre —capital of South Dakota. It is located along the Kennebec River.
The area of today's city was explored by European settlers since
1607. They were based in the short-lived settlement of Sagadahoc, also
known as Popham Colony. The first settlers in the area came from the
Plymouth Colony. They established a trading post on the Kennebec River
around 1628 to trade agricultural products for furs with the local
Indians. The trading post was abandoned between 1669 and 1676.
In
addition to the English, there were also French influences in the 17th
and 18th centuries. Jesuit Father Gabriel Dreuillettes visited the area
in 1646 and set up a mission for the Kennebec Indians. It was at this
time that the term Cushnoc (Coussinoc or Kouissnoc) was coined for the
Plymouth Colony trading post.
Fort Western was built in 1754 in
Augusta, near the former trading post, to protect the first settlers
during the Seven Years' War in North America. During the American
Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold and his troops passed through Fort
West on their way to Quebec. The fort was below the falls and also
served as a supply depot for Fort Halifax. After the end of the war,
Captain James Howard, the fort's former commander, remained on site as
the first permanent settler, using the fort's main building for
residence and business.
In 1771 the area was organized under the
name Hallowell and in 1797 the northern part of Hallowell was organized
as a separate town under the name Harrington. The name was changed to
Augusta on June 9, 1797.
Augusta became a shire town of Kennebec
County in 1799 and in 1827 Augusta was made the capital of Maine, which
had become the 23rd state to join the Union in 1820. The first session
of the Maine government was held in Augusta in 1832. Augusta was
organized as a city on August 20, 1849.
From 1890 to 1932 Augusta
had a tram service with the Augusta tram.
Four locations in
Augusta have National Historic Landmark status, including the James G.
Blaine House, which serves as the governor's residence, and the Kennebec
Arsenal. The city has 42 structures and sites listed on the National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as of November 5, 2018.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Augusta has a total
area of 150.9 km², of which 142.79 km² is land and 7.51 km² is water.
Geographical location
Augusta is located in central Kennebec
County on the Kennebec River, which flows north-south through the city
area. To the east of the area are several larger lakes such as Togus
Pond, Little Togus Pond, Threecornered Pond and others. The surface is
flat, with no elevations worth mentioning.
All distances are given as the crow flies between the official
coordinates of the 2010 census locations.
North: Sydney, 4.7 km
Northeast: Vassalboro, 10.1 km
East: Windsor, 18.0 km
Southeast:
Chelsea, 1.8 miles
Southwest: Hallowell, 9.5 km
West: Manchester,
9 miles
city outline
There are several settlement areas in
Augusta: Augusta, Bolton (former post office site), Coombs Mills
(Coombs' Mills), Hallowell Court House (former post office site),
Kennebec (former railway station) and North Augusta.
The mean average temperature in Augusta ranges from −6.1°C (21°F) in January to 20.6°C (69°F) in July. This means that the place is about 6 degrees cooler than the long-term mean of the USA. Snowfall between October and May is up to eight feet, more than twice the mean snow depth in the United States; the daily sunshine duration is at the lower end of the value spectrum for the USA.
The City Council consists of eight members, one member representing each of the four districts of the city and four other members. They serve three-year terms and may only serve in that position for three consecutive terms.
Augusta Mayor is David Rollins. He took office on November 6, 2014. Rollins is an Augusta native and served on the City Council prior to his election as mayor.
Museums
The Maine State Museum is the official museum of the state
of Maine. It is located next to the Maine State House. The collections
focus on the prehistory, history and natural sciences of the state.
Another museum is the Children's Discovery Museum, which offers
exhibits and activities that encourage children's developmental skills,
including social, cognitive, problem-solving, and peer interaction.
The Maine Military Historical Society Museum is a military and
aviation museum in Augusta.
buildings
A number of districts
and buildings in Augusta have been designated National Monuments and are
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
parks
The
botanical garden Viles Arboretum, formerly also called Pine Tree State
Arboretum, with an area of 90.6 ha is worth seeing.
Augusta is home to the paper, steel, food and computer industries.
Traffic
Interstate 95 runs north-south through Augusta on the
west bank of the Kennebec River. On the east bank, also running
north-south, is the U.S. Highway 201 north-south. The US Highway 202
intersects both roads and runs west-east. Several Maine State Routes
meet in central Augusta.
Augusta State Airport is located west of
Augusta off the interstate. It bears the IATA code AUG.
Augusta
is connected to the freight network by the Maine Eastern Railroad.
media
The Kennebec Journal is the daily newspaper for Augusta and
the surrounding area.
Several radio stations are based in
Augusta, and TV station WCBB channel 10 is the local station on the
Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
Public facilities
There are
several medical facilities and hospitals in Augusta that are also
available to residents of neighboring towns.
Three public
libraries are located in Augusta, the Maine State Library at State House
Station, the Lithgow Library on Winthrop Street, and the University of
Maine Library at Augusta.
Education
The Augusta School
Department is responsible for school education in Augusta.
The
following schools are located in Augusta:
Lincoln School, with
classes from Kindergarten to 6th grade
Lillian P. Hussey Elementary
School, with classes from Kindergarten to 6th grade
Sylvio Gilbert
Elementary School, with classes from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade
Farrington Elementary School, with classes from Kindergarten to 6th
grade
Cony High School, with classes from 7th to 12th grade.
The
private, Catholic St. Michael School offers classes from
pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
Augusta is home to the University
of Maine at Augusta.