1. On January 16, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state in the United States of America. This followed a lengthy process of negotiations and political maneuvering, as Maine had been part of the state of Massachusetts since colonial times.

2. In 1947, a blizzard struck Maine on January 16th, dumping over 28 inches of snow in some areas and causing widespread disruption to transportation and power infrastructure. The storm led to several deaths and was one of the most severe winter storms in Maine's history.

3. On January 16, 1973, the Northern New England Telephone Operations building in Portland was bombed by a group of Vietnam War protesters. The explosion caused extensive damage to the building and disrupted phone service for thousands of people in Maine and New Hampshire.

4. January 16th is also the birthday of Maine's first female governor, Janet Mills. Mills, who was born in 1947, served as Maine's attorney general from 2009 to 2019 before being elected as governor in 2018.

5. In 1825, the Maine Historical Society was founded in Portland on January 16th. The society has played an important role in preserving and promoting Maine's history and cultural heritage, sponsoring research, publications, and educational programs for the public.