Augusta
Augusta is one of our country’s most beautiful capitals and has been the capital city since 1827. The Capitol Building is the centerpiece for our beautiful City.
Augusta is one of our country’s most beautiful capitals and has been the capital city since 1827. The Capitol Building is the centerpiece for our beautiful City.
Located on both sides of the Kennebec River, Augusta is the center of employment, commerce and service for Central Maine and is the seat of state and county government. Augusta is a one-hour drive from Portland and less than a three hours drive from Boston. While the City’s population is relatively small at 18,500 it’s the service center to a large area of some 70,000 people. With recent development , Augusta has become a retail shopping destination for a population of some 250,000 Mainers.
Augusta is a city rich in history. From its early days as a trading post, Augusta has grown as an industrial and trade center and has become a center for the region’s health and educational services.
Joint public and private efforts have resulted in the development of the Augusta Business Park, Augusta Civic Center Complex, downtown redevelopment and regional retail shopping centers. A beautiful City Hall Complex, including a renovated Old Fort Western museum complex, now graces the banks of the Kennebec.
Augusta’s climate is classified as a humid continental climate. Summers are typically warm, rainy, and humid, while winters are cold, windy, and snowy. Spring and fall are usually mild, but conditions are widely varied, depending on wind direction and jet stream positioning. The hottest month is July, with an average high temperature of 80°F (26.7°C). The coldest month is January, with an average low of 10°F (−12.2°C). Most snowfall occurs from December through March. There is usually little or no snow in April and November, and snow is rare in May and October.
Augusta’s public schools–offer a traditional curriculum based in the language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and the fine arts. Other quality academic programs include foreign languages (6-12th grade), technology, health and physical education. These academic areas of study are enhanced by a myriad of student support programs to address the needs of various students.
The Augusta region also boasts diversified post-secondary educational opportunities, including prestigious universities, innovative technical schools and business colleges… Click on the following links to learn more.
For more information on education in Augusta, including assessment scores for our public schools, download our guide to Post-Secondary and Public Schools Serving the City of Augusta (PDF).
At the “Marketplace at Augusta” there many opportunities for shopping, dining and movies. The Downtown of Augusta also offers many excellent options for shopping and dining. There are also many other restaurants and shopping centers along Western Ave. as you travel from the highway into Augusta.
Augusta and it’s surrounding communities is home to many opportunities for entertainment for all ages. There are movie theaters, mass retail shopping centers, quaint local shops, bowling, night clubs/bars, indoor and outdoor concerts, theaters/playhouses, museums, boating, fishing, swimming, and more.
Over 5,000 kids and adults enjoy the more than 50 programs offered by the city’s bureau of recreation, as well as several tournaments, clinics, concerts, field trips, playground activities and senior excursions offered throughout the year. Municipal recreation facilities include tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools, softball/baseball fields, winter skating rinks, and river boat launches. Contact the Augusta Bureau of Recreation, City Center, 16 Cony St., Augusta, ME04330. Tel: (207) 626-2350.
Passive recreational opportunities are available thanks to the efforts of the city’s parks bureau,which cares for 15 neighborhood parks and public grounds throughout the city. The city has two parks which are situated ideally on the banks of the Kennebec River, where you can enjoy rejuvenated river that’s as clean and populated with wildlife as it was a hundred years ago.
Bicentennial Nature Park is the newest fixture in the city’s parks system. Augusta residents and their guests enjoy swimming, picnicking and hiking alongside scenic Three Cornered Pond on the city’s east side. The park is open from Memorial Day to late October. Contact the Augusta Bureau of Parks and Cemeteries, City Center, 16 Cony St., Augusta, ME 04330. Tel: (207) 626-2310.
The Central Maine Region is known nationally for its vast array of passive and active recreational offerings. The Upper Kennebec and Moose River Valleys offer incomparable opportunities for hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fishing, hunting,cross country skiing, snowmobiling and fall foliage viewing. Contact the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, 21 University Dr., Augusta, ME 04332. Tel (207) 623-4559.
Augusta’s central location also positions its residents for easy day trips to the ocean,mountains, and over 30 neighboring lakes. Contact the Maine Department of Tourism, 59 StateHouse Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0059. Tel: 1-888-624-6345.
Golf courses of every skill level are conveniently located throughout the Central Maine region,including Augusta’s own Western View Golf Club on the Bolton Hill Road, and Kennebec Heights Golf Club in nearby Farmingdale. The Belgrade Lakes Golf Club in neighboring Belgrade Lakes was recently rated at #5 in the USA for new upscale courses.
Scholastic athletics are a staple at Cony High School, which suits up 23 competitive varsity teams in sports like football, basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, track, and more. Root on the home team! Contact the Cony High School Athletic Office, 120 Cony St., Augusta, ME 04330.Tel: (207) 626-2456.
One of the city’s most popular annual events is the Class C and D high school basketbal lchampionships, held every February and March at the Augusta Civic Center. Thousands of Maine hoop fans flock to watch some of the finest student-athletes in the state compete for the Gold Ball.
Being Augusta is the State Capitol it’s the home of our State Government there’s a large influx of daily commuters coming to the State complex at the center of the city. We have easy access to the Interstate highway and many major State roads offering easy access for commuters from all regions of the State.