| Bangor, Maine is named for an Irish hymn | | | | 1-A and onto the Maine Coast. Canada is 90 |
| entitled "Bangor." This hymn was supposed to | | | | minutes away on State Route 9. |
| have been the favorite of Pastor Seth Noble | | | | |
| who traveled to Boston with the initial | | | | Bangor International Airport offers over 50 |
| intention of naming the town Sunbury. | | | | flights a day to and from major cities in the |
| | | | Northeast, national and regional hubs, and |
| During the 19th Century, Maine's forest | | | | Florida and the Caribbean. |
| provided supplies of lumber that brought | | | | |
| wealth to the region. By the 1850s, Bangor | | | | Inter-city bus services is provided by |
| was considered the lumber capital of the | | | | Concord Trailways and Greyhound with frequent |
| world and was one of the busiest ports on the | | | | service to Boston and beyond. The services |
| East Coast. Bangor was very much engaged in | | | | provide direct connections to Amtrak in |
| shipbuilding and commerce during these years. | | | | either Portland, Maine or Boston. |
| | | | |
| By the twentieth century, the shipbuilding | | | | The BAT Community Connector provides local |
| industry was transformed by the steam and | | | | bus service to the communities of Bangor, |
| steel industries. Bangor's sawmills and | | | | Brewer, Hampden, Veazie, Orono and Old Town. |
| shipyards gave way to today's dominant forest | | | | This service is operated by the City of |
| industry of pulp and paper. | | | | Bangor and is especially convenient for those |
| | | | who prefer not to rely on private |
| Today, Bangor is the commercial and social | | | | transportation. The BAT serves many of the |
| center of Northern, Central and Eastern | | | | major employment and activity centers that |
| Maine, and is the region's largest center of | | | | include Bangor Mall and the University of |
| retail and service businesses. It is also a | | | | Maine at Orono. |
| center for government, education, and | | | | |
| employment offering residents a widely | | | | Augusta, the state capital of Maine, is about |
| diversified economy. Unemployment normally | | | | an hour away from Bangor. Portland is two |
| is below both the state and federal rates. | | | | hours away. Saint John New Brunswick is |
| | | | three hours away from Bangor. Boston and |
| The largest employment categories are in | | | | Montreal are four to five hours from Bangor, |
| services, wholesale/retail trade, and | | | | Maine. |
| government. There are also strong employment | | | | |
| opportunities in manufacturing, | | | | Climate |
| transportation and utilities, construction, | | | | |
| finance, insurance, and real estate. | | | | Bangor, Maine enjoys four seasons. |
| | | | Temperatures rise into the 70's by late May |
| Health care in the area is represented by | | | | early June. Temperatures rarely rise above |
| Eastern Maine Medical Center, St. Joseph's | | | | 90 in the summer. Temperatures gradually |
| Hospital, Acadia Hospital and the Bangor | | | | cool through October and November with wintry |
| Mental Health Institute. | | | | weather returning around Thanksgiving. In |
| | | | December nighttime lows are often below |
| Cost of Living in Bangor, Maine | | | | freezing and daytime highs in the 30's and |
| | | | 40's. January and February bring the most of |
| It is moderate when compared to the New | | | | wintry weather. Below zero temperatures are |
| England Region as a whole. The median single | | | | possible but infrequent and rarely last for |
| family home sells for approximately $120,000. | | | | any length of time. |
| Two bedroom apartments rent at approximately | | | | |
| $550 to $600 per month. This rent often | | | | Snow: Crews normally have the streets plowed |
| includes heat, water and sewer. | | | | and sanded within 6 hours of the end of a |
| | | | storm. Even during the heaviest snowfalls, |
| Public water on the average is about $10 per | | | | streets are maintained so essential business |
| month with public sewer service costing about | | | | can continue. Most school districts in the |
| $30. More rural areas are served by private | | | | area plan for three to five snow days per |
| wells and septic systems. Most of the homes | | | | year. It is relatively rare for shops and |
| are heated with oil. Prices vary. | | | | businesses to close because of snow and the |
| Electricity in Maine has been deregulated and | | | | weather. |
| prices vary with market conditions. | | | | |
| | | | Winter weather offers a variety of outdoor |
| Major taxes in Maine include the local | | | | activities in and near Bangor, Maine that |
| property tax. In Bangor it is about 2.2% of | | | | includes ice skating to crossing country |
| the market value of your property per year. | | | | skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. |
| Retail sales tax is 5% with items such as | | | | |
| food and medicine exempt. | | | | In conclusion, Bangor, Maine is a very nice |
| | | | area to live and work. |
| Transportation | | | | |
| | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| There is easy access to the Main Coast via | | | | resource box. |
| I-95, and I-395 that connects to State Route | | | | |