is home to Maine’s second largest population center – the Lewiston-Auburn area, and is fourth in overall population among Maine’s counties. It was established in 1854 by taking several towns from Cumberland, Kennebec, Lincoln, and Oxford counties. See an1858 map of the county in the Map Cabinet. A commercial and industrial hub, it has been…
the “rooftop of Maine,” John Steinbeck. This northernmost county, known as “the County,” is the state’s largest, established in 1839, during the “Aroostook War.” Famed for its potato growing, the County’s premiere crop has declined steadily, as has its population. Nevertheless, agriculture still dominates the County’s economy and its culture.
Maine has sixteen counties, as well as hundreds of local governments. The earliest established was York, in 1652; the latest, Knox in 1860. The structure and functions of county government are similar throughout the state. For a brief sketch of each county, click on its name in the map at right. Aroostook is the largest…
the most populous of Maine’s counties, contains approximately 20% of the state’s population with less than 3% of the state’s land area. Four of the ten largest communities by population are in Cumberland County. See an 1857 map of the county in the Map Cabinet. The City of Portland dominates the cultural and commercial environment…
located in west central Maine, was formed from towns and land previously belonging to Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset counties on May 9, 1838. Smaller adjustments were made during the following fourteen years. See an 1861 map of the county in the Map Cabinet. The county extends from Chesterville, New Sharon, and Farmington in the south,…
Hancock County is one of two downeast coastal counties located east of the Penobscot River. It was formed when the extensive Lincoln County split on June 25, 1789 by adding Hancock and Washington counties. The westerly portion of the new Hancock County was eventually split off to form Waldo County. See an 1860 map of…
is the fourth largest in population of the sixteen counties, located in central Maine and bisected by the Kennebec River. It was formed on February 20, 1799 from the northern part of Lincoln County. It lost a large part of its original northern portion when Somerset County was created on June 1, 1809. At least…
is the tenth largest in population of the sixteen counties, located in mid-coast Maine and home to about twenty moderate-sized islands, the largest of which are Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Isle Au Haut. It was formed on April 1, 1860 from parts of Lincoln and Waldo counties. The county currently consists of the city of…
is the thirteenth largest in population of the sixteen counties, located in mid-coast Maine. Its early history is well described as follows: Lincoln County was the most easterly of the two counties established, June 21, 1760, when York County was first divided. Its western boundary started at the eastern extremity of Casco Bay to New…
Oxford County is the seventh largest in population of the sixteen counties, located in western Maine along the New Hampshire border to the east and the Province of Quebec border to the north. The northern parts of York and Cumberland counties were separated to form Oxford County on March 5, 1805. As with many counties,…
is the thirdlargest in population of the sixteen counties, located in east central Maine, bisected by the Penobscot River and, the newer avenue of transportation, Interstate 95. Formed on April 1, 1816 from the northern part of what was then Hancock County, it later gave up territory to form Piscataquis and Aroostook counties. As with…
is the least populous of the sixteen counties, located in north central Maine. Formed on April 38, 1838 from portions of Somerset and Penobscot counties. Initially it had twenty-two towns, two more were incorporated later, Dover and Foxcroft combined, and seven towns surrendered their organization, becoming townships. The well-known Baxter State Park is located on…
is the twelfth most populous of the sixteen counties, located in southern mid-coast Maine. Formed on April 4, 1854 from a portion of Lincoln County. All its initial municipalities still comprise the county: the City of Bath and the towns of Arrowsic, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Georgetown, Perkins, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Woolwich. The only exception…
A series of boundary changes in the 19th century came to an end in 1885 when a portion of Wellington in Piscataquis County was annexed to Cambridge in Somerset. The county now consists of the towns of Anson, Athens, Bingham, Cambridge, Canaan, Caratunk, Cornville, Detroit, Embden, Fairfield, Harmony, Hartland, Jackman, Madison, Mercer, Moose…
is the eleventh most populous of the sixteen counties, located in mid-coast Maine, and was formed on July 3, 1827 from portions of Hancock, Kennebec, and Lincoln counties. Several adjustments were made in the 19th century, resulting in the current boundary containing the City of Belfast and the towns of Belmont, Brooks, Burnham, Frankfort, Freedom,…
William Drew Washburn (brother of Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu Benjamin Washburn, and Cadwallader Colden Washburn) was a U.S Representative and a U.S. Senator from Minnesota. (See more on the Washburn family at Norlands.) Born in Livermore, Maine on January 14, 1831, he attended the common schools and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1854, then studied…
Washington is the fourteenth most populous of the sixteen counties, located on the eastern most coast of Maine. It was formed on May 1, 1790 comprising all land west from the St. Croix River to the then eastern boundary of Hancock County. Only one town, Machias, existed within its boundaries. The county lost half its…
was Maine’s first county, established November 20, 1652, by the Massachusetts act that also incorporated the town of Kittery. The county included all of the land claimed by Massachusetts beyond the Piscataqua River, which now defines the southern boundary of Maine with New Hampshire. In 1674, the jurisdiction of Massachusetts was extended to Muscongus Bay,…