List of municipalities in Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Municipalities of Maine |
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| Category | Municipality |
| Location | State of Maine |
| Found in | County |
| Created | 1647 (Kittery) |
| Number | 482 |
| Possible types | City Town Plantation |
| Populations | 5 (Glenwood Plantation) – 68,408 (Portland) |
| Areas | 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (Monhegan) – 128.6 square miles (333 km2) (Allagash) |
| Government | Council–manager Town meeting Mayor–council Select Board |
| Subdivisions | Village Neighborhood |
Hey there! Did you know that the state of Maine is divided into many smaller areas? These areas are called municipalities. Think of them as local communities where people live and work.
Maine is a state in the Northeastern United States. It has 16 different counties. Within these counties, there are 482 municipalities. These include cities, towns, and special places called plantations.
A plantation in Maine is a type of local government. It's similar to a town or city but has a bit less power. For example, plantations usually can't make their own local laws. Most plantations even have "Plantation" as part of their official name!
As of 2023, Maine has 23 cities, 430 towns, and 29 plantations. That's a lot of different communities!
Contents
What are Municipalities?
A municipality is a place that has its own local government. This means people in that area can make decisions about their community. They decide things like how to manage schools, roads, and local services.
In Maine, there are three main types:
- Cities: These are usually larger areas with more people. They often have a mayor and a city council.
- Towns: These are smaller than cities but still have their own local government. Many towns in Maine use a "town meeting" style of government. This is where all eligible voters can gather to make decisions.
- Plantations: These are the smallest type of municipality. They have some self-government but with fewer powers than cities or towns.
Big and Small Municipalities
Maine has some really big municipalities and some tiny ones! The largest city by population is Portland, with over 68,000 people. It's a busy place with lots going on.
On the other end, the smallest municipality by population is Glenwood Plantation. Only 5 people live there! Imagine how quiet that must be.
When it comes to land area, Allagash is the largest, covering about 128.6 square miles. The smallest is Monhegan, which is less than one square mile.
Some of Maine's Largest Municipalities
Here are some of the biggest cities and towns in Maine, based on how many people live there:
| Municipality | Type | County | Population (2020) |
Land area (sq mi) |
Year incorporated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | City | Cumberland (seat) | 68,408 | 21.6 | 1786 |
| Lewiston | City | Androscoggin | 37,121 | 34.2 | 1795 |
| Bangor | City | Penobscot (seat) | 31,753 | 34.3 | 1834 |
| South Portland | City | Cumberland | 26,498 | 12.1 | 1895 |
| Auburn | City | Androscoggin (seat) | 24,061 | 59.3 | 1842 |
| Biddeford | City | York | 22,552 | 30.1 | 1653 |
| Scarborough | Town | Cumberland | 21,982 | 47.6 | 1658 |
| Sanford | City | York | 21,982 | 47.8 | 1768 |
| Brunswick | Town | Cumberland | 21,756 | 46.7 | 1739 |
| Westbrook | City | Cumberland | 20,400 | 17.2 | 1814 |
| Saco | City | York | 20,381 | 38.6 | 1775 |
| Augusta | City (capital) | Kennebec (seat) | 18,899 | 55.2 | 1797 |
Municipalities That Changed
Over time, some municipalities in Maine have changed. They might have become part of a larger area or changed their type of government. For example, some towns have become "unorganized territories" (UTs), which means they don't have their own local government anymore.
See also
- List of places in Maine
- List of counties in Maine
- List of unorganized territories in Maine
- New England town
