Often cited as one of America's best small cities to live in, Portland, Maine's largest city with nearly 64,000 inhabitants (and over 230,000 in the Greater Portland area), after being destroyed four different times dating from the 17 century, is one of the most beautiful cities in New England. The city seal is a phoenix rising out of ashes, which goes with its motto, "Resurgam," which means "I will rise again."
It was originally called Machigonne (Great Neck). Renamed Casco in 1632, it was renamed Falmouth again in 1658. Portland was the original capital of the state of Maine, which is now in Augusta.
A seacoast town and one of the few remaining working waterfront cities in the US, it was entered into the National Register of Historic places in 1982. It offers a funky and lively downtown, beautiful and outstanding architecture, a vibrant shopping and business community, outstanding dining, and great cultural opportunities.
Like the similarly named city on the West Coast, Portland combines metropolitan living with a cozy small town ambience. It is the financial capital of Northern New England. Only 90 minutes from Boston, Portland offers all the amenities one expects from city living: the arts, waterfront, museums, parks, upscale hotels, diverse shopping opportunities; yet within minutes, one can be skiing in the mountains, canoing on the river, or hiking in the Maine Woods.
Some of its more famous inhabitants have included the writer Stephen King, actors Liv Tyler, Judd Nelson, Linda Lavin, and Victoria Rowell, the late singer Bob Marley and director John Ford, architect Alexander Parris, and Revolutionary war general Peleg Wadsworth.
