People & Place
Dating back 10,000 years, the Northern Forest has a history
of people living and working in the wooded landscape. The Northern
Forest is the native land of the Iroquois and Algonquin peoples;
it was the birthplace of the modern paper industry and the cradle
of American mountain exploration and skiing. The Northern Forest
was the first great wilderness European settlers encountered
in the New World. It has been called America's First Great Forest.
Today’s population, more than 1.5 million people, lives in rural
communities throughout the heart of the forest and in larger
towns and small cities on its edges.
The people of the Northern Forest are among its greatest assets.
Human history, culture, arts and innovations have made the region
what it is, and will play a key role in shaping its future. The
Northern Forest's 237 communities are rich with assets that make
the region a great place to live. Based on population, the Northern
Forest has higher voter participation, less violent crime, more
historical societies, more arts organizations and more independent
business than the more urban and suburban areas of the Northeast.
Not surprisingly, the Northern Forest also has more “good air
quality” days, more forestland and reserves and more trails.
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