Lighthouse lore and local secrets: Fun Facts About Portland
Think you really know Portland? It's a city with an 1812 cannonball lodged in a brick wall, three lighthouses visible from the north, and Old Port cobblestones that are ankle traps disguised as quaint. Let's run through the facts, stats, and lobster math that showcase what makes Portland's personality bigger than Casco Bay.
Greg, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Greg moved to Maine before it was trendy, stayed when it got crowded, and 28 years later still loves it. He grew up here, went to UMaine, tried Connecticut, and survived eight years in Virginia before eventually packing up and moving back home. He is a former newspaper copy editor, pizza lover (Portland Pie, OTTO, & Cargo regular), and family man. At Snappy Scout, Greg helps newcomers decode Maine, a place that plays by its own rules and usually keeps them to itself.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Portland Portland?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Portland
The Forest City, The Phoenix City, 207, Port City
Local Reality Check
Think quaint European seaport, actually a foodie city with February slush and parking wars.
You're most likely moving from
Boston, Brooklyn, New Jersey.
Strangely large concentration of
craft breweries, for a city this small.
Music scene
State Theatre nights, indie at One Longfellow Square, waterfront shows at Thompson's Point.
You'll have to see it to believe it
Summer ferry ride on Casco Bay Lines.
Unique Geography
Peninsula city facing 200 plus Casco Bay islands.
Portland is home to
the International Cryptozoology Museum.
Well known for its
Old Port cobblestones, oyster bars, and diversifying population.
Fun history fact
The Great Fire of July 4, 1866 leveled much of the peninsula.
Celebrity sightings
Anna Kendrick hometown visits, Judd Nelson roots, Bourdain filmed at J’s Oyster.
Noteworthy Census stat
2020 population: 68,408.
Most interesting sub-culture within Portland
Hearts of Pine USL League One professional soccer club.
Population
largest city in ME, not top 200 nationwide.
Portland is roughly the same geographic size as
Providence, Rhode Island.
A Local Event Worth Experiencing Once
PAYSA rec league soccer Sundays, September through October. It's a mini World Cup, formerly held at Dougherty Field and now at Payson Park. Teams of U-8 through U-12, plus a mixed-age team out on Peaks Island when numbers call for one. Kids of every skill levels and ethnic backgrounds wear uniforms designated by country. You might play for Germany one year, Argentina the next. Kids from far ends of the city come together and form memories that last a lifetime. The concentration of games at one location make for a festival atmosphere, complete with orange slices.
— Greg Reid
Maine Local Expert
Ready to See If Portland Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Portland guide for the bigger picture.