Why Maine’s Black Population Is Lower Than the National Average
Reader Takeaway
Why is Maine’s Black population so low compared to the rest of the U.S.?
Because Maine began with a very small Black population, was largely bypassed by the Great Migration, offered limited industrial opportunity, and had a socially insular culture where racism and xenophobia—often informal—made it difficult for small communities to grow or remain over time.
Why Maine’s Black Population Is Lower Than the National Average
Maine’s Black population has remained far below the national average for centuries. Today, Black residents make up roughly 1–2% of Maine’s population, compared to about 13–14% nationally.1 This gap is not the result of a single event or policy, but of long-term historical, economic, and social forces that shaped who came to Maine—and who stayed.
A Small Starting Point
Slavery did exist in colonial Maine, but on a relatively small scale. It was outlawed early—in 1780, while Maine was still part of Massachusetts—and the enslaved population was never large.2 Because of this, Maine never developed a sizable foundational Black population comparable to those in the South or Mid-Atlantic states.
After emancipation, free Black people lived in Maine primarily as sailors, dockworkers, laborers, and tradespeople. Small communities formed in port cities such as Portland and Bangor, supporting churches and civic organizations. Still, these communities were small from the outset, often numbering in the dozens or low hundreds.3
Being Bypassed by the Great Migration
One of the most decisive factors shaping Maine’s demographics was the Great Migration. Between roughly 1915 and 1970, millions of Black Americans left the South seeking industrial jobs and greater safety in Northern and Midwestern cities.4
They were drawn to places with:
- Large factories and unionized labor
- Dense urban housing
- Established Black communities and institutions
Maine offered few of these “pull factors.” Its economy centered on lumber, fishing, agriculture, and seasonal work, not steel, auto, or manufacturing industries. As a result, most migrants went to cities like Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and New York. Maine was largely bypassed.5
Racism and Xenophobia Without Jim Crow
Maine did not have formal segregation laws, but racism and xenophobia still shaped everyday life. Housing discrimination, limited job access, social isolation, and being the “only” minority family in town discouraged long-term settlement and community growth.6
This social insularity was not directed only at Black residents. Historically, Maine also expressed hostility toward French Canadians, Irish Catholics, Jews, and other minority groups. A strong cultural suspicion of “outsiders” made demographic change slow and difficult.
There were also overt episodes of racial injustice. In 1912, the mixed-race community living on Malaga Island was forcibly evicted amid eugenics-era fears, with some residents institutionalized and their homes destroyed.7 Events like this reinforced exclusion even when minority populations were small.
Temporary Growth from the Military
Military installations occasionally increased diversity for short periods. In Bangor, Dow Air Force Base brought servicemembers and families of many backgrounds during the mid-20th century, including Black Americans.8
However, military populations are transient. When assignments ended or the base closed in 1968, families of all races moved on. These short-term increases did not translate into lasting demographic change.
Recent Changes—and Long Shadows
In recent decades, Maine’s Black population has grown modestly, largely due to immigration and refugee resettlement from African nations such as Somalia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.9 Even so, the state’s historical patterns—economic structure, geography, and social climate—continue to shape where people settle and whether communities can grow sustainably.
The Bigger Picture
Maine’s low Black population is not explained by one cause. It reflects:
- A small Black population from the beginning
- Being bypassed by major migration waves
- Limited industrial and urban opportunity
- Racism and xenophobia that discouraged long-term settlement
Understanding this history moves the conversation beyond myths or blame—and toward a clearer view of how demographics are shaped over time.
Explainer Graphic (Suggested)
Why Maine’s Black population remained small: early demographics, missed migration waves, economic structure, and social barriers.
Footnotes & Sources
Footnotes
- U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census & American Community Survey ↩
- Massachusetts Constitution of 1780; Maine Historical Society ↩
- Black Bangor (University Press scholarship); Maine Memory Network ↩
- Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns ↩
- U.S. Department of Labor, Historical Industrial Employment Data ↩
- Maine Civil Rights Commission historical summaries ↩
- Maine State Museum, Malaga Island Exhibit ↩
- Bangor Historical Society; Dow AFB closure records (1968) ↩
- Maine Department of Labor; Office of New Mainers ↩