What Was Maine Called Before It Became a State?

Let's explore the names and historical phases that defined Maine before it became a state.

Land of the Wabanaki Confederacy

For thousands of years before European arrival, the land that would become Maine was the ancestral home of the Wabanaki Confederacy. This powerful alliance of Algonquian-speaking peoples included the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Abenaki, and Micmac tribes. They lived along the rivers, lakes, and extensive coastline, relying on hunting, fishing, and gathering for their sustenance.

These tribes had their own names for various regions, rivers, and natural features across their traditional territories. The name "Maine" itself, as we'll see, is of European origin.

Early European Claims: Norumbega, New France, and British Charters

Maine's coast was one of the first parts of North America visited by European explorers. Vikings may have reached it centuries earlier, and by the late 15th and early 16th centuries, English, French, and Portuguese fishermen and explorers frequented its shores.

1. Norumbega (Mythical City): Early European maps and legends often depicted a mythical city or region called "Norumbega" somewhere along the New England coast, fueled by tales of riches and vast rivers. While the city never existed, the name was used for the general area for some time.

2. New France and Acadia: The French were among the earliest claimants. Samuel de Champlain explored the Maine coast extensively in the early 17th century. They claimed the region as part of New France, specifically the area known as Acadia, which included parts of present-day Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The French established some early, albeit often short-lived, settlements and trading posts, like those on St. Croix Island and at Castine.

3. British Grants and Charters: The English also had strong claims, based on voyages like that of John Cabot. Numerous royal charters were issued throughout the 17th century, granting vast tracts of land that included Maine. Early attempts at colonization, such as the Popham Colony (1607-1608) at the mouth of the Kennebec River, were ultimately unsuccessful.

The Province of Maine (Early English Colonial Designations)

The name "Maine" itself appeared in early English records. The region was first officially referred to as the "Province of Mayne" in a 1622 royal charter granted to Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it likely referred to the "mainland" to distinguish it from the numerous islands along the coast.

Over the 17th century, various English colonial claims and proprietary grants were made over parts of Maine. The area became a contested frontier, not only between English and French empires but also between different English colonial entities.

Part of Massachusetts: "District of Maine"

The most enduring and significant pre-statehood designation for Maine came through its absorption by the powerful Massachusetts Bay Colony. Massachusetts gradually asserted its control over the various settlements and claims in Maine throughout the late 17th century.

In 1691, the new charter that created the Province of Massachusetts Bay formally incorporated all the lands of Maine into Massachusetts. From this point until 1820, Maine was not an independent colony or territory, but rather a geographical subdivision of Massachusetts. It was officially known as the "District of Maine."

During this long period as part of Massachusetts, Maine experienced significant growth in fishing, shipbuilding, and logging. It also served as a critical defensive frontier against French and Native American attacks during various colonial wars.

The Drive for Separation and Statehood

Despite being part of Massachusetts, the District of Maine maintained a distinct identity. Its geographical distance from Boston, differing economic interests (Maine was more focused on maritime industries and timber, while Massachusetts developed manufacturing), and a sense of political underrepresentation fueled a growing movement for separation.

The War of 1812, during which British forces occupied parts of eastern Maine (including Castine), further highlighted the challenges of being governed by a distant capital and spurred calls for independent statehood.

Maine's statehood also became entangled in the national debate over slavery. To maintain the balance between free and slave states, Maine's admission to the Union was linked to Missouri's admission as a slave state in the Missouri Compromise of 1820.

On March 15, 1820, President James Monroe signed the bill admitting Maine to the Union as the 23rd state, finally separating it from Massachusetts. The name "Maine," with its centuries-old English origins, was retained for the new state.