Augusta is the capital of Maine and stands on the Kennebec River in the central part of the state.
The area was settled by English colonists in the 17th century and was known as Cushnoc, a name derived from an Indigenous term associated with the Kennebec region. A trading post was established there in 1628, making the site one of the earliest English settlements on the river.
The settlement was later called Hallowell, then separated as a distinct community. It was incorporated as Augusta in 1797, shortly before Maine separated from Massachusetts. Maine became a state in 1820, and Augusta was selected as the capital in 1827, replacing Portland.
Portland remains Maine’s largest city and a major seaport, which sometimes causes confusion about the capital. Augusta is farther inland, and the Kennebec River helped shape its early importance for trade, transportation, and settlement.