Narrative Map

Maine, the northeasternmost state in the U.S., is known for its rugged coastline, forested interior, and maritime heritage. With over 4800 islands and more than 500 towns, it borders only one other state—New Hampshire—and shares an international boundary with Canada. Yet, within its borders lies a surprising global reach. Many Maine towns bear international names like Norway, China, Mexico, Peru, Lisbon, and Denmark, reflecting the worldviews of early settlers. Some names, like Belfast and Limerick, honor the Irish roots of local families; others, like Mexico and Peru, show solidarity with independence movements abroad. A few, like Norway, arose by accident or admiration. As we scroll through the map, starting with Belfast, we can see the development of many towns appearing throughout the state, with some being named after whole countries, marked in red, and others just named after international cities, marked in blue, signifying the expansion and settlement that Maine saw during this time.