Augusta, the capital of Maine, is in the south central part of the state along the banks of the Kennebec River. The population is 18,560. The Kennebec River is one of the longest and largest rivers in the State of Maine. Augusta was first established back in the late to mid 1700s. Old Fort Western was built around 1754 and is now a historic site that you can visit. It was used as a trading post. Maine was a part of Massachusetts for quite some time before eventually gaining independence. The state grew up around the Kennebec River because it was a major shipping channel. Augusta is the northern most point in the river for large ships. Today, as the state capital, most of the community is centered on government activities. We employ around 30,000 state employees in this area.
