2031 UNITED STATES (Maine) - Maine map and flag

Located in the New England region, and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, New Hampshire, and the  Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, Maine is known for its jagged, rocky coastline; low, rolling mountains; heavily forested interior, and picturesque waterways, as well as for its seafood cuisine, especially lobster and clams. In spite of its maritime position, it has a continental climate even in coastal areas such as its largest city, Portland. The capital city is Augusta.

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples were the only inhabitants of the territory that is now Maine. At the time of European encounter, several Algonquian-speaking peoples inhabited the area. The first European settlement in Maine was by the French in 1604 on Saint Croix Island. The first English settlement in Maine, the short-lived Popham Colony, was established in 1607.

As Maine entered the 18th century, only a half dozen European settlements had survived. Patriot and Loyalist forces contended for Maine's territory during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820 when it voted to secede from Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820, it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state.

Maine has the highest percentage of French Americans among U.S. states (23,9%), and also the highest percentage of current French-speakers. As a result, 28% of the inhabitants are Catholic, but a study named Maine as the least religious state in the U.S. It also has the highest percentage of non-Hispanic whites of any state, at 94.4% of the total population. Actually Maine doesn't have an official language, but the most widely spoken language in the state is English.

The flag of the state of Maine, adopted in 1909, features the state coat of arms on a blue field. In the center of the shield, a moose rests under a tall pine tree. A farmer and seaman represent the traditional reliance on agriculture and the sea by the state. The North Star represents the state motto: Dirigo ("I Lead"). Maine is also one of only two states with a separate ensign. It features symbols from the current flag and the older one, with a white field and green pine tree.

About the stamps
Two of the stamps are part of a series issued to mark the Batman’s 75th anniversary as the protector of Gotham City, about which I wrote here. The last stamp is part of the series Apples, about which I wrote here.

References
Maine - Wikipedia
Flag of Maine - Wikipedia

Sender: Denise 
Sent from Greenvale (New York / United States), on 10.10.2014 
Illustration by Philip Timper