In 1998, EMMC became one of three designated trauma centers in the Maine Trauma System, a voluntary trauma response network involving all Maine hospitals and the state’s Emergency Medical Service.

Community
Bangor is centrally located, providing its residents with easy access to the coast, Maine’s mountains, and many area lakes. This is an award-winning community rated as one of America’s Best Small Metro Areas in MacMillan’s Places Rated Almanac. Bangor is also among the top 20 Best Places to Raise a Family in a Reader’s Digest poll scoring communities on schools, absence of crime, healthcare, and the environment.

• Recreation
  Enjoy four seasons of outdoor activities in Maine! This part of the state offers opportunities for sailing and kayaking, hiking, cycling, and skiing. Maine’s rockbound coast, Acadia National Park, and inland woods and mountains, lakes and streams offer spectacular beauty and unsurpassed recreation, all within easy reach. Organized sports and adventure programs, and a variety of indoor athletic facilities, are available for all ages. Try a new sport, or hone an outdoor skill at the University’s Maine Bound program, offering instruction, guided trips and rental equipment. Or, check out a course at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, less than two hours away in Rockland. Hunting and fishing, rock climbing and golf, bird watching and antiquing are all popular activities in Maine.

  If you’re more into indoor activities, you won’t want to miss out on all the wonderful shopping opportunities Bangor offers. With a large mall and all the major retail stores, Bangor is the shopping hub for all of Northern and Downeast Maine. If you’re looking for something with a little more action, head on over to Hollywood Slots, Bangor’s newest entertainment experience. With 475 slot machines, 24 video poker machines, a restaurant and much more, you’ll never run out of things to do!

  The recently-opened Maine Discovery Museum downtown draws children and families from all around the state. With seven major interactive exhibit areas on three floors, MDM is the largest children’s museum north of Boston. Seven permanent exhibits teach children about the following subject areas: nature, geography, children’s literature, music, art, science, and anatomy. MDM is an excellent spot to host a child’s birthday party where the kids can learn while they’re having fun!

• Schools
  Bangor and its surrounding towns offer excellent educational options, with first-rate primary and secondary schools, both public and private. These schools rank among the best in New England, earning distinction for standardized test scores, advanced placement programs, math competitions, music, art, and sports. In fact, over 90% of graduating seniors go on to continue their education at post secondary institutions, including some of the most prestigious in the country. Preschool choices in Bangor include traditional nursery schools, all-day programs, and several Montessori schools.

  Minutes north of Bangor is the town of Orono, home of the flagship campus of the University of Maine, with over 10,000 full time students in baccalaureate and graduate programs and all of the recreational facilities and cultural amenities you’d expect on the campus of a major university.

• Economy
  The Bangor Region’s business community serves the entire state of Maine, as well as the Maritime Provinces, with a breadth of professional services, manufactured goods, and a vibrant wholesale trade center.

  If you want to travel to visit family, or just to get away, use the convenient Bangor International Airport (BGR). Owned and operated by the City of Bangor, this airport has more than 60 flights coming and going daily, connecting Bangor to major cities in the Northeast, plus national and regional hubs, and vacation destinations in Florida and the Caribbean. BGR features 100% jet aircraft for non-stop, comfortable and convenient flights.

• Culture
  The National Council for the Arts selected Bangor as the host city for the National Folk Festival, America’s premier showcase for an international program of music and dance, art, crafts, and cuisine. The Bangor Symphony, America’s oldest community orchestra, offers a full performance season and sponsors a youth symphony. The Penobscot Theatre Company produces a number of plays each year, and the Maine Center for the Arts hosts entertainers from around the world. Long a haven for artists and writers (Bangor is the home of Stephen King), Maine has a wealth of museums and galleries, and a diverse literary community. The internationally known WoodenBoat School and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts are each just an hour from Bangor.

• Real Estate
  This region provides an exciting range of affordable housing options. You can purchase a newer or older home in heart of downtown Bangor and live handily near to all the local amenities. Or, buy some acreage just outside of the city and build your dream home in an area that is close enough to be convenient, yet but far enough away to be private. In between, you’ll find subdivisions in several of Bangor’s suburbs, country living on quiet roads or former farms, and even quaint New England villages easily near enough for commuting.

• History / Fun Facts
  Between Waterville and Bangor, I-95 loops northwest to provide connections to US Route 2, a major east-west highway, and Maine Route 7, which provides a connection from the coast to the Moosehead Lake region. In generating favorable highway alignments, engineers created a situation where the northbound lanes of I-95 actually run east-southeast and the southbound lanes actually run west-northwest. Better not use the sun’s location for navigation!

  Joshua L. Chamberlain born in Brewer (a city right next to Bangor) received the only battlefield promotion to General during the Civil War. He was also the last Civil War soldier to die of wounds incurred in the War.