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