The historic town of Bangor, Maine, sits near the banks of the Penobscot River, thirty miles from Penobscot Bay. Officially incorporated in 1791, Pastor Seth Noble named Bangor after an Irish hymn of the same name, although the town settler had sent it to Boston to name the town Sunbury. Bangor’s early economy flourished when the lumber industry took off and much of its history is tied to the industry. Due to money from the logging industry during the 19th century, much of Bangor is full of historic 19th century architecture.

Today, Bangor is the third largest city in the state of Maine, due in large part to its role as a major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine. Bangor is a center for cultural activities. In addition to its vocational schools, Bangor is only 9 miles from the University of Maine. Bangor is home to the University of Maine Museum of Art and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the year, Bangor hosts several annual fairs and festivals.

Bangor also has green natural beauty. With over 90% coverage, Maine is the most forested state in the Union and a popular destination for campers and hikers. Bangor City Forest has over 5 miles of hiking, biking and cross country trails. The city of Bangor is located near the three largest rivers in Maine, which fishermen and whitewater rafters can enjoy. In winter, Bangor becomes an ideal place for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and ice fishing.

With its abundance of natural beauty and as one of Maine’s cultural centers, Bangor is one of the best places to live in America.