Down East: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Down East is a New England geographical term that is applied in at least a couple of different ways.

In the narrowest sense, Down East refers to the coast of the U.S. state of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian border.

As a cultural region, Down East Maine is based around the communities of Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine, as well as Brewer, Blue Hill, Bucksport, Ellsworth, Mount Desert Island, Winter Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Searsport. It also includes Acadia National Park and environs. There are five National Wildlife Refuges in the region: Carlton Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, and Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

In a still broader sense it refers to all of coastal New England and parts of the Canadian Maritimes. Nova Scotians, for example, do identify themselves as Down Easterners.

The Down East magazine FAQ explains the origin of the term: "When ships sailed from Boston to ports in Maine (which were to the east of Boston), the wind was at their backs, so they were sailing downwind, hence the term 'Down East.' And it follows that when they returned to Boston they were sailing upwind; many Mainers still speak of going 'up to Boston,' despite the fact that the city lies approximately 50 miles to the south of Maine’s southern border."