Rangeley Scenic Overlook on Route 17 (2018)
Location Map for Rangeley Plantation
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 52 |
| 1980 | 69 |
| 1990 | 103 |
| 2000 | 123 |
| 2010 | 189 |
Population Trend 1870-2010
| Geographic Data | |
|---|---|
| N. Latitude | 44:52:42 |
| W. Longitude | 70:43:33 |
| Maine House | District 117 |
| Maine Senate | District 17 |
| Congress | District 2 |
| Area sq. mi. | (total) 47.4 |
| Area sq. mi. | (land) 40.7 |
| Population/sq.mi. | (land) 4.6 |
County: Franklin
Total=land+water; Land=land only |
|
[RAANJ-lee] Plantation is located south of the town of Rangeley in Franklin County, and was formally organized on March 5, 1895.
Known as Dallas Plantation until 1852, it was organized for election purposes in 1840 and 1859.
Named for Squire James Rangeley, as was the Town of Rangeley, the Plantation has substantial frontage on Mooselookmeguntic Lake and on Rangeley Lake.
The Plantation has few improved roads: South Shore Road runs along the south shore of the 6,ooo-acre Rangeley Lake and east-west across the northern section of the plantation. Bemis Road runs along the eastern shore of the 16,300-acre Mooselookmeguntic Lake. The remainder are dirt woods roads near the 3,160 foot Beaver Mountain.
A 1992 survey of the lake observed:*
Mooselookmeguntic Lake, as with all the Rangeley Lakes except Aziscohos, provides excellent temperatures, dissolved oxygen levels, and general water quality characteristics for cold water fishes. These conditions provide a habitat that produces good salmon and trout fishing despite the presence of yellow perch, a competing warm water species.
Rangeley Lake State Park occupies part of the shore near South Cove of Rangeley Lake. Access to the Bald Mountain trail is from the South Shore Road in the State Park. According to the Management Plan for the area,
The Park offers camping, boating and fishing access, hiking, picnicking and swimming, all within a scenic remote setting. . . .
The Park is most renowned for its campground, beach and boat access site. The campground contains 50 well-spaced campsites and campers can easily walk or drive to the beach and picnic area, located in a somewhat secluded cove, for swimming and picnicking. Day use visitors as well as campers can use the boat access area which includes a trailered ramp and docks with slips for tying boats.
Maine Route 17 runs north-south through the western portion, passing through one section of the Four Ponds Public Reserved Land in the south.
The Appalachian Trail runs just below the plantation boundary in the other section of the Reserved Land.
The Rangeley Scenic Overlook on Route 17 offers great views and explanatory panels identifying its features.
Rangeley Scenic Overlook in Rangeley Plantation off Route 17 (2018)
Form of Government: Assessors-Annual Meeting.
Additional resources
Rangeley Region’s Economy: Current Situation and Future Outlook: Resource Document. Winthrop, Me. The Irland Group. 2001. [Maine State Library]
*Maine. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Mooselookmeguntic Lake” https://www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/lake-survey-maps/franklin/mooselookmeguntic_lake.pdf
Maine. Department of Conservation. Bureau of Parks and Lands. Western Mountains Region Management Plan. “Rangeley Lake State Park.” http://ftp.state.me.us/doc/parks/programs/planning/northern/documents/RangeleyRegion.pdf (accessed February 27, 2012)