Portland is located in "the big bend" of the Connecticut River near the center of the state, where natural resources provided a prosperous livelihood for generations of residents. First settled as part of Middletown, the area was incorporated as Portland in 1841. The town is known for its brownstone quarries, the Gildersleeve shipyard, and shade-grown tobacco. Meshomasic, the first state forest in New England, is located here. In Portland, historic photographs drawn from the archives of the Portland Historical Society and from private collections take the reader on a journey through the rich history of this quiet small town, now known for its golf courses and marinas.