Augusta, ME., the capital of the state and the county seat of Kennebec co., 63 mi. n. e. of Portland, on the Maine Central railroad and on the Kennebec River, 45 mi. from its mouth. The river furnishes water power for manufactures of cotton goods, paper, wood pulp and lumber. The state house, city hall, post office, asylum and United States arsenal are important buildings. In the state house is the state library of 60,000 volumes and a notable collection of portraits of distinguished Americans. Four miles from the city is a National Soldiers' Home. The first settlement, known as Cushnoc, was made by traders in 1754, and the town was incorporated as Hallowell in 1771, but the name was soon changed to Augusta. It became the capital of the state in 1831. Population in 1910, 13,211.