Belfast is located in south central Maine, and can be found in Waldo County. As of the 2000 census the population was estimated to be at 6,000 individuals, though no doubt the number has increased substantially during this time. Belfast is known for Belfast Bay, which is a beautiful outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. As a former major seaport, it has incredible architecture and views and remains very popular with tourists. During the warmer months of the year, the population of the town grows slightly to accommodate the people who are taking advantage of Belfast’s beautiful summer months.

Belfast was incorporated into the state of Maine in 1853 as a city – the eighth such in the state. It slowly developed into a shipbuilding center, which brought the city a lot of prestige and wealth – to the point where it was designated as Waldo County’s county seat. Belfast specialized in building three, four, and five masted schooners, and these popular vessels soon made their producers rich.

The touch of old money can still be seen in Belfast. A walk down nearly any street in the city will produce a wealth of buildings in a myriad of architectural designs: Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate in particular. The shipbuilding days started to fade from glory around the time that refrigeration was invented – then the money started shifting into fisheries, harvesting everything from lobsters, scallops, sardines, herrings, and mackerel for the larger markets of Boston and New York.

Today, likely the biggest industry in the area is the credit card business. MBNA, which is now owned by Bank of America, established a large facility in Belfast and is a major reason why the population of the city is as large as it is today. With the influx of people coming in, the word got out about the beauty of Belfast and the surrounding area, which triggered the tourism industry.

There are many reasons why Belfast is such a popular destination from many tourists, both within the United States and internationally. It’s a beautiful city set in a beautiful state – come see what all of the fuss is about!