Augusta Is Full of Surprises (Pine-tree-state trivia)
Think you really know Augusta? It's a city with a wooden dam, a Capitol dome that is the center of the local universe, and historic mills that are older than your great-great-grandma's best recipes. Let's run through the facts, stats, and legislative quirks that showcase what makes Augusta's small-town swagger worth knowing.
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 Augusta Augusta?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Augusta
The Capital City, Cushnoc (original Kennebec name), Disgusta (a good-natured putdown from jealous neighbors)
Local Reality Check
People expect Portland vibes. You get a working government town without the Old Port charm
You're most likely moving from
Southern Maine towns or Massachusetts suburbs seeking cheaper housing
Strangely large concentration of
State employees per capita and bridges crossing the Kennebec River
Music scene
Small but loyal: local bands at The Clubhouse and occasional shows at Waterfront Park
You'll have to see it to believe it
The Civic Center lobby plaque commemorating Elvis' only Maine performance on May 24, 1977
Unique Geography
Split by the Kennebec River with the east side distinctly hillier than west
Augusta is home to
Fort Western, the oldest surviving wooden fort in America (1754)
Well known for its
State government jobs and being Maine's capital despite having only 19,000 people
Fun history fact
Benedict Arnold's troops stopped at Fort Western in 1775 marching to Quebec
Celebrity sightings
Stephen King occasionally, plus state legislators if that counts as celebrity
Noteworthy Census stat
Median age is 44.5, nearly five years older than Maine's already gray average
Most interesting sub-culture within Augusta
The State House staffers who know where every good lunch spot is
Population
9th largest city in ME, roughly top 200 nationwide
Augusta is roughly the same geographic size as
Beaverton, Oregon (both around 55 square miles)
A Local Event Worth Experiencing Once
I never miss the annual Cony-Gardiner high school football game, the oldest rivalry game in Maine.
— Greg Reid
Maine Local Expert
Ready to See If Augusta Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Augusta guide for the bigger picture.