You think you know everything about where you live, and then the internet happens.

I’ve lived in Maine for 41 of my 45 years (not counting five years of college out of state). I assumed I had a solid grasp on what makes this state what it is. However, sometimes you stumble upon a fact that absolutely floors you — and that’s exactly what happened to me.

I was 43 years old when I learned that Maine used to be the nation’s capital of toothpick manufacturing. That’s right — Maine was the land of the toothpick. What a fascinating little tidbit. Getty Images/iStockphoto Getty Images/iStockphoto loading...

What is Maine's History With the Toothpick?

The area most associated with this incredible fact is the town of Strong . This small spot in Franklin County was cranking out toothpicks

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