Bangor, Maine

Bangor is a city in the United States, located in Penobscot County, Maine. It is known as the "Queen City" and has a population of 31,753, making it the state's third-most populous city after Portland and Lewiston.

The city began to grow in the mid-19th century thanks to its strong lumber and shipbuilding industries. Because Bangor lies on the Penobscot River, logs from the Maine North Woods could float down to the city's sawmills. From there, goods were shipped from Bangor's port to the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. You can still see evidence of this time in the grand Greek Revival and Victorian homes built by wealthy lumber barons, as well as a huge statue of the legendary figure Paul Bunyan.

Today, Bangor's economy relies more on services, healthcare, and education. The city also has a port of entry at Bangor International Airport, which is home to the Bangor Air National Guard Base. In the past, Bangor was an important stop for airplanes traveling between the U.S. East Coast and Europe on the Great Circle Air Route.

Name and pronunciation

Bangor was originally founded as Kenduskeag Plantation in 1791 and later became a town in 1834. The city's name comes from a Welsh hymn tune and is shared by another city, Bangor, Gwynedd, where "bangor" means "wattled enclosure" in Old Welsh.

People in Bangor pronounce the final syllable as gor. In 2015, some local famous people and business owners made a fun YouTube video titled "How to Say Bangor," sung to the tune of "We Are the World."

History

The Penobscot people have lived around Bangor for thousands of years. They call the area kkάtaskkik, meaning "at/on the water parsnip ground." Europeans arrived in the 1500s, seeking fur, and later established a mission.

Bangor began as a small settlement in 1769 and grew into a major lumber center in the 1800s. The Penobscot River helped transport timber to sawmills and ships. By 1860, Bangor was the world's largest lumber port, with many sawmills and ships.

During the Civil War, Bangor sent soldiers to fight for the Union. The city also developed other industries, like making moccasins and producing bricks. Though faced with fires and economic changes, Bangor continued to grow and adapt.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bangor has a total area of 34.59 square miles (89.59 km²), with 34.26 square miles (88.73 km²) of land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km²) of water.

Bangor is located on the banks of the Penobscot River and has a humid continental climate, meaning it has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. The city experiences an average of 74.6 inches of snowfall each year and about 20 nights where the temperature drops to 0 °F (−18 °C) or below.

Demographics

Bangor, Maine, is the third most populous city in the state. As of the 2020 census, Bangor had a population of 31,753 people. The city has a mix of different age groups, with about 16.7% of residents under 18 and 19.1% aged 65 or older. Most people in Bangor live in urban areas.

In 2010, the city's population was recorded as 33,039. The racial makeup was mostly White, with small percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and other races. Many households in Bangor consist of individuals, though some are made up of families or married couples.

Economy

Bangor, Maine, has many important jobs and places that help the local economy. Big stores like Hannaford Supermarkets, Shaw's and Star Market, Walmart, and Hollywood Casino provide work for many people. The Bangor Savings Bank is a major bank in the state, and hospitals such as Eastern Maine Medical Center care for residents. Schools like the University of Maine, Husson University, and others also employ many staff and support the community.

The city is a central hub for a large area, including five counties, and offers many outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. Bangor Raceway hosts horse racing events, and the Bangor Air National Guard Base supports military operations. These industries and services make Bangor a busy and important place in Maine.

Arts and culture

Bangor, Maine, has many fun cultural events and places to explore. Every year, the city hosts the Bangor State Fair, one of the oldest fairs in the country, with rides, live shows, and exhibits about farming. There are also special music and art festivals.

The city has many interesting buildings and places to visit. You can see old houses made in Greek Revival, Victorian, and Colonial Revival styles. Some famous spots include the University of Maine Museum of Art, the Maine Discovery Museum for kids, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. There are also cool statues around the city, like one of Paul Bunyan, the famous lumberman, and memorials for important people and events.

Sports

From 2002 to 2017, Bangor hosted the Senior League World Series, a major baseball tournament for older players. The city also had several minor league baseball teams over the years, including the Bangor Blue Ox, the Bangor Lumberjacks, and the Bangor Millionaires.

The Penobscot River is famous for salmon fishing, and the Penobscot Salmon Club would send the first fish caught each year to the President of the United States. Although salmon fishing was banned from 1999 to 2006 due to low fish numbers, the wild salmon population is now recovering thanks to efforts like the Penobscot River Restoration Project. The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, a white-water event, has taken place near Bangor since 1965.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Bangor, Maine

Bangor is the county seat of Penobscot County.

Since 1931, Bangor has had a council–manager form of government. The nine-member city council is a nonpartisan body, with three city councilors elected to three-year terms each year. The nine council members elect the chair of the city council, who is referred to informally as the mayor, and plays the role when there is a ceremonial need. As of 2025^[update], the council members are Michael Beck, Susan Deane, Carolyn Fish, Rick Fournier, Susan Hawes, Joseph Leonard, Cara Pelletier (chair), Wayne Mallar, and Dan Tremble.

In 2007, Bangor was the first city in the U.S. to ban smoking in vehicles carrying passengers under the age of 18.

In 2012, Bangor’s city council passed an order in support of same-sex marriage in Maine. In 2013, the City of Bangor also signed an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court calling for the federal Defense of Marriage Act to be struck down.

In the United States House of Representatives, Bangor is included in Maine's 2nd congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat Jared F. Golden.

Education

Bangor, Maine, is home to several institutions of higher learning. The University of Maine was founded in nearby Orono in 1868 and is part of the larger University of Maine System. Other colleges in Bangor include Husson University, which serves around 3,500 students each year, and Beal University, established in 1891, offering programs in nursing, healthcare, business, and more. The city also had the Bangor Theological Seminary until it closed in 2013.

The Bangor School Department runs public schools in the area, with Bangor High School being the main public high school. Private school options include John Bapst Memorial High School, which was recognized by the Washington Post High School Challenge, Bangor Christian Schools, and All Saints Catholic School, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Media

Bangor, Maine, has many media outlets for its size. The city has a long history of newspapers, starting from 1815, and by the end of the Civil War, almost thirty different papers had been started there. The Bangor Daily News, founded in 1889, is one of the few family-owned newspapers left in the United States. Another publication, The Maine Edge, is also based in Bangor.

The city is home to more than a dozen radio stations and seven television stations. These include WLBZ 2 (NBC), WABI 5 (CBS; CW on DT2), WVII 7 (ABC), WBGR-LD 33 (MeTV), and WFVX-LD 22 (Fox/MyNetworkTV). The area’s PBS station is WMEB 12, licensed to nearby Orono. Some radio stations, like WKIT and WZON, are owned by Zone Radio Corporation, which is owned by the famous author Stephen King. Other stations are run by Blueberry Broadcasting and Townsquare Media.

Infrastructure

Bangor is connected by several major roads, including interstates I-95 and I-395, and U.S. highways US 1A, US 2, US Route 2A, and US 202. The city links to nearby Brewer through three important bridges. Public bus services operate within Bangor and to nearby places.

Bangor International Airport serves the area with flights to many destinations. The airport has one long runway and was once a key stop for planes traveling between the U.S. East Coast and Europe before longer-range jets made such stops unnecessary. Bangor also has two major hospitals that provide healthcare to the community.

Popular culture

Bangor has appeared in many songs, such as King of the Road, I've Been Everywhere, How 'Bout Them Cowgirls, and What the Cowgirls Do.

The city is also known in movies and TV shows. For example, the Marvel Comics villain MODOK is from Bangor, and Julie "The Cat" Gaffney from The Mighty Ducks film franchise is from there. The TV series The Langoliers is set at Bangor International Airport. Famous writer Stephen King often includes Bangor in his stories, and some of his films were shot there.

Sister cities

Bangor has sister cities around the world. These include Harbin in Heilongjiang, China, and Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada. Sister cities are towns or cities in different countries that have agreements to work together on projects and cultural exchanges.

Notable people

Bangor has been home to many interesting people throughout history. You can find a list of notable individuals from Bangor, Maine here.