Penobscot River entering Penobscot Bay (2003)
Location Map for Penobscot
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 786 |
| 1980 | 1,104 |
| 1990 | 1,131 |
| 2000 | 1,344 |
| 2010 | 1,263 |
Population Trend 1790-2010
| Geographic Data | |
|---|---|
| N. Latitude | 44:28:46 |
| W. Longitude | 68:43:16 |
| Maine House | District 131 |
| Maine Senate | District 8 |
| Congress | District 2 |
| Area sq. mi. | (total) 46.7 |
| Area sq. mi. | (land) 39.8 |
| Population/sq.mi. | (land) 31.7 |
County: Hancock
Total=land+water; Land=land only |
|
[pen-OB-skot] is a town in Hancock County, settled in 1760 and incorporated on February 23, 1787 from Majabigwaduce Plantation, also known as Plantation Number Three.
Penobscot Bay from West Side of Route 166 (2003)
The community takes its name from the Penobscot River, which forms its western boundary.
Church, North Side of Route 175 (2003)
The originally large area was reduced by ceding land to form Castine in 1796 and then adding to it in 1817, 1839 and 1927. With other nearby towns, it helped form Brooksville with some land in 1817. Penobscot regained area in the mid-nineteenth century as it annexed land from Surry and Blue Hill in 1845, and from Sedgwick in 1857.
The discovery of about 2000 French and Spanish coins in 1840 on a hillside near the Bagaduce River led to speculation they were either pirate treasure or the Baron de Castin’s family fortune, hidden during their flight from the area in 1704.
“1856” Bagaduce Hall ” (2003)
Littlefield Cove on Northern Bay (2003)
In the late 19th century the town hosted a mining company, four wood-related mills, a meal and flour mill, and several manufacturers of clothing, barrels, carriages, harnesses and other items.
Reached from Orland off U.S. Route 1, the town is served by Maine Routes 15, 175 and 199. Northern Bay, a major spur of the Bagaduce River, splits the southern end of the town.
Form of Government: Town Meeting-Select Board.
Additional resources
Devereux Family. Papers 1831-1934. (Writings on farming, the Civil War, schools, and goods bought and sold.) [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections]
Doudiet, Ellenore. Majabigwaduce: Castine, Penobscot, Brooksville. Castine, Me. Castine Scientific Society. 1978. [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections; Maine State Library]
Grindle, James E. The Back Ridge and Beyond. 200-? [Bangor Public Library]
Honey, Mark E. Penobscot, Maine: 1761-2011. Penobscot, Me.? Penobscot Historical Society? Printed by Snowman Printing. 2011. [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections; Bangor Public Library]
Mitchell, Frederick B. Penobscot Bicentennial, 1787-1987. Penobscot, Me. Penobscot Historical Society? 1987. [Maine State Library]
Moore, Rilla Leach. Mill Creek, Penobscot, Maine. Me. c1967. [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections]
Wheeler, George Augustus. Castine, Past and Present: The Ancient Settlement of Pentagöet and the Modern Town. Boston. Rockwell and Churchill Press. 1896.
Williamson, Joseph. The British Occupation of Penobscot During the Revolution. Read before the [Maine Historical] Society, December 21, 1883. [Bangor Public Library]
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient: Civil War
LEWELLYN G. ESTES