Formerly known as East Middletown from 1714 to 1767 and later as Chatham from 1767 to 1841, Portland was incorporated in 1841. Land on the east side of the Connecticut River had been granted in 1652, and the first permanent settler, James Stancliff, a stone cutter, built his home here about 1690. The area was inhabited by Wangunk Indians, whose name means Big Bend in the river. Portland became famous for its brownstone, quarried here for over two hundred years and used in the construction of public buildings and mansions still seen in major coastal cities, especially New York City. Nearly one hundred other minerals have been found in local quarries. Shipbuilding was a major industry for nearly two centuries, providing vessels for war and trade. The production of Pickering engine governors, tinware, and fertilizers, along with feldspar mining and tobacco cultivation, contributed to Portland's growth.