Bangor, Maine, USA
1854 - Bangor

Bangor, a city, port of entry, and seat of justice of Penobscot county, Maine, on the right bank of Penobscot river, about 60 miles from its mouth. It is 66 miles E. N. E. from Augusta, 116 W. from Eastport, 126 N. E. from Portland, 231 N. E. from Boston, and 661 miles N. E. from Washington. It is situated on both sides of the Kenduskeag river, which here enters the Penobscot This stream, about 190 yards wide, is crossed by several bridges, uniting the two parts of the city. A fall in the Kenduskeag, about a mile from its mouth, affords extensive water-power. A short dis tance above the city, a bridge 1820 feet long extends across the Penobscot, connecting Bangor with Orringford. The harbor, which is at and below the mouth of the Kenduskeag, is nearly 500 yards wide, and at high tide (the tide rises here 17 feet) is of sufficient depth for vessels of the largest sue. Bangor is one of the greatest lumber depots in the world. The great extent of country drained by the Penobscot and its tributaries is heavily timbered with pine, the cutting and hauling of which to the numerous saw mills that everywhere line the bunks of the rivers, afford one of the chief occupations of the inhabitants. The vast amount of lumber which these mills yearly produce is all brought to Bangor for exportation ; this port being at the head of navigation on the Penobscot. Nearly 2000 vessels are annually employed in this trade during the season of navigation, which usually continues eight or nine months in the year. Bangor is also extensively engaged in foreign commerce, in the coast trade and in ship-building. The city has a pleasant location, commanding a fine view of the river and surrounding country. The buildings are generally neat and well constructed, while some exhibit a style of superior elegance. It contains a theological seminary and a number of other educational institutions, several fine churches and hotels, a custom house, 11 banks, be sides the county buildings. The Bangor Theological Seminary is situated in the more elevated portion of the town, commanding a fine view of the Penobscot river. It was originally established at Hampden, (6 miles S. of Bangor. Four newspapers are published in the city. Steamboats make regular trips from this place to Boston, Portland, and places along the river about two-thirds of the year. Bangor is connected by railroad with Old Town, 12 miles distant. It is also in the line of the Eastern railroad. The lumber surveyed at this port in 1852, amounted to 199,389,422 feet. The aggregate burden of the shipping, June 30th, 1862, of the same year, amounted to 12,570 tons registered, and 19,660 tons, enrolled and licensed : total, 32,230 tons. During the year, 29 vessels, (7 of them ships,) with an aggregate of 4615 tons, were admeasured. Population in 1820, 1221; 1880, 2868; 1840, 8627; 1850, 14,482.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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