Back in August 1797, Maine’s capital was named after Augusta Dearborn–daughter of American soldier and statesman Henry Dearborn. Augusta’s nickname is “Artgusta” while “The Pine Tree State” is a popular moniker for Maine.
The capital city of Augusta is remarkable for its National Historic Landmark named Fort Western, a former British colonial outpost on the Kennebec River. Today, that landmark is the oldest wooden fort in the United States.
The biggest employers headquartered in Augusta include the Central Maine Power Company, Maine General Medical Center, grocery store chain Shop ‘n Save and O’Connor GMC Buick.
From an international trade perspective, the state of Maine shipped U$2.7 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019. Its most valuable exports are live, fresh or chilled lobsters (13.6% of Maine’s global total), civilian aircraft including engines and other parts (10.8%), non-liquid natural gas (6.2%), electronic integrated circuits (5.9%), chemical woodpulp (4%), rough wood (2.6%), paper (also 2.6%), Atlantic salmon (2.1%), mucilages and thickeners (2%), composite diagnostic and laboratory reagents (1.8%), and Pacific salmon (1.5%) according to United States Census Bureau data.
Maine’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate 6.6% as of June 2020, compared to 5.5% for Kennebec County where Augusta is located.
Capital Facts for Augusta, United States: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Augusta Civic Center, Children’s Discovery Museum, Maine State Museum, Old Fort Western, Old Post Office, and The Governor Hill Mansion
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Augusta, Maine.
- Rachel Nichols, actress & producer (born Jan. 8, 1980)
- David Peoples, professional golfer (born Jan. 9, 1960)
- Julia Clukey, Olympic luger (born Apr. 29, 1985)
- Amy Thomas, actress (born Oct. 10, 1976)
- Ben Lucas, college football quarterback (born Jan. 21, 1996)
- Manch Wheeler, professional football quarterback (born Mar. 2, 1939)
- Clark Gesner, music composer, songwriter & author (born Mar. 27, 1938)
- Thurlow Cooper, professional football player (born Mar. 18, 1933)
- Niles Perkins, athlete & physician (born Jul. 1, 1919)
- Don Brennan, MLB baseball pitcher (born Dec. 2, 1903)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches of published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for an Augusta resident: Augustan
Population: 18,809 (Augusta) at July 18, 2020
Density: 341.1 people per square mile (131.5 per square kilometer)
Population: 1,345,790 (Maine) at July 18, 2020
Density: 43.1 people per square mile (16.6 per square kilometer)
Median age: 44 years of age (Maine)
Financial
Real GDP: US$58.53 billion for 2019 (Maine)
Real GDP per person: $43,541
Note: The above GDP metrics are on a current basis and are in U.S. dollars.
Official currency used in Augusta, Maine: U.S. dollars
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data).
City-Data.com, Augusta: Economy.
Dilemma X, U.S. Census Bureau metropolitan population estimates July 1, 2016.
Forbes Global 2000, The World’s Biggest Public Companies.
Maine.gov Center for Workforce Research and Information, Unemployment and Labor Force.
Nations Online, Capital Cities of the USA.
Official Government Website, City of Augusta official website.
Simple English Wikipedia, List of U.S. states by population.
Sperling’s Best Places, Augusta, Maine.
Statista, Real GDP, Maine 2000-2019.
United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade: State by 6-Digit HS Code and Top Countries.
United States Census Bureau, State Population Totals Tables: 2010-2016.
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: Seasonally Adjusted Metropolitan Area Estimates.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product by Metropolitan Area, 2015 (Tables Only).
Wikimedia Commons, Augusta city flag.
Wikipedia, Augusta, Maine.
Wikipedia, Augusta National Golf Course.
Wikipedia, List of capitals in the United States.
Wikipedia, Kennebec County, Maine.
Wikipedia, List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Wikipedia, Maine.
World Population Review, Augusta, Maine Population 2020.
World Population Review, Maine Population 2020.
Augustans celebrate America’s Independence Day as a national holiday each July 4.
Within city limits, Augusta occupies 55.1 square miles (142.9 square kilometers). The state capital’s population was 18,809 Augustans as of July 18, 2020.
The state of Maine has a land area of 35,380 square miles (91,767 square kilometers) home to 1.346 million people.
The city of Augusta’s population density is 341.1 residents per square mile (131.5 per square kilometer).
Zooming out to Maine state’s land boundaries, population density dilutes to an average 43.1 inhabitants per square mile (16.6 per square kilometer).
