Portland, Maine, USA (Deering)
1895 - Portland

Portland, the commercial metropolis of Maine, a port of entry, and seat of justice of Cumberland co, on Casco Bay, 60 miles S.S.W. of Augusta, 105 miles N.E. of Boston, 292 miles S.E. of Montreal, and 317 miles from Quebec. Lat. 43° 39' 27" N.; lon. 70° 15' 40" W. It is pleasantly situated on a narrow peninsula or tongue of land projecting from the W. shore of Casco Bay. This peninsula is about 3 miles in length from E. to W., and rises at each extremity into considerable elevations, giving the city a beautiful appearance as it is approached from the sea. Its breadth averages about three-quarters of a mile, though it is much wider than this at its eastern termination and also at its junction with the mainland. The harbor is one of the best on the Atlantic coast, the anchorage being protected on every side by land, the communication with the ocean easy and direct, and the depth sufficient for the largest ships. Although in a northern latitude, it is never entirely closed by ice, even in the very coldest weather. The principal entrance lies between the mainland of Cape Elizabeth on the S.W. and House and Cushing's Islands on the N.E.; it is defended by Fort Preble, on Cape Elizabeth, and torpedo-stations on Cape Elizabeth and Diamond Island, N. of the ship channel. Fortifications are in progress at Port land Head, on Cape Elizabeth, 3 miles from the city, and on the southerly side of Cushing's Island, where modern rifled-cannon will command the entrance to the harbor. The city, with but few exceptions, is regularly laid out, and handsomely built, chiefly of brick. Congress street is the principal thoroughfare, and extends from Munjoy Hill on the E. to Bramhall's Hill on the W., following the ridge of the peninsula throughout its length.

Among the public buildings of Portland are a splendid city hall, built in 1867–68, of drab-colored sandstone, surmounted by a lofty dome; a spacious granite custom-house, a post-office of marble, the Maine general hospital, the home for aged women, the female orphan asylum, a granite mechanics’ hall, and a beautiful public library building, the gift to the city of Hon. James P. Baxter. The churches are 33 in number, viz., 8 Trinitarian Congregationalist, 2 Unitarian, 2 Universalist, 3 Baptist, 3 Protestant Episcopal, 6. Methodist Episcopal, 2 Roman Catholic, 1 Swedenborgian, 1 Quaker, 2 Lutheran, 1 Presbyterian, 2 Second Ad vent. It is the seat of a Catholic bishop, and of the Protestant Episcopal bishop of Maine...

Portland was settled by an English colony in 1632. Its Indian name was Maehigonne. During the wars in which the colonies were involved with the Indians, the French, and the mother-country, this town suffered the severest disasters; three times it was entirely destroyed. Since the Revolution it has steadily increased in wealth and population. The city charter was granted in 1832. In 1866 a large part of the city was destroyed by fire. Pop. in 1830, 12,601 in 1840, 15,218; in 1850, 20,815; in 1860, 26,342; in 1870, 31,413; in 1880, 33,810; in 1890, 36,425, exclusive of several contiguous villages, the city proper covering only 1666 acres of land.

Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

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