Maine's crisp ocean air, majestic mountains and abundant outdoor recreation, make it the perfect place for the adventurous types or for those who just enjoy beautiful scenery and solitude. Known for their lobsters, Maine is also the largest exporter of blueberries and toothpicks.
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Maine is known for its picture postcard villages that lure many summer vacationers and provide needed relief from the urban grind. It has no metropolises. Portland, its largest city has a population of less than eighty thousand.
Because of the forest based industries, lumber, pulp and paper operations remain the largest segment of the state’s manufacturing. The largest land crop is potatoes and Maine is rated in the top five for production. The famous Maine lobster is the most valuable part of the $210 million fishing industry. It is also the only state that has facilities to pack a can of sardines.
Maine’s statewide sales tax is six percent.
Tourism cannot be omitted a large part of the economy since Maine is one of America’s foremost vacation destinations. Recreation is big business there and sports are varied. Its proximity to the ocean allows swimming, fishing, whale watching, sunbathing and windjammer cruises. With the many Maine rivers, white-water rafting and canoeing are both pleasurable and challenging. However, there are areas recommended for only the more experienced adventure seekers. Freshwater and saltwater fishing have their own following and remain a strong economic commodity.
