St. Francis down the St. John River from Allagash (2003

St. Francis down the St. John River from Allagash (2003)

Location Map for St. Francis

Location Map for St. Francis

Year Population
1970 811
1980 839
1990 683
2000 577
2010 485
St. Francis Population Chart 1870-2010

Population Trend 1870-2010

Geographic Data
N. Latitude 47:08:51
W. Latitude 68:53:10
Maine House District 151
Maine Senate District 1
Congress District 2
Area sq. mi. (total) 30.4
Area sq. mi. (land) 29.8
Population/sq.mi. (land) 16.3
County: Aroostook

Total=land+water; Land=land only

Sign: Welcome to St. Francis (2003) [FRAN-ciss] in Aroostook County, organized as a plantation on May 29, 1875; incorporated as a town on March 1, 1967.

The St. Francis River, which forms the northeastern border with Canada along with the St. John River, joins the St. John at the town of St. Francis. Across the St. John lies Madawaska County, New Brunswick.

The town was settled in the 18th century by Acadians fleeing the British and by french speaking people from Canada.

St. Francis Town Office and Fire Station (2003)

St. Francis Town Office and Fire Station (2003)

St. John River in St. Francis on Route 161 (2003)

St. John River, Rt. 161 (2003)

The St. John River forms the northern boundary of this small community, which, like its surrounding neighbors, has been declining in population for the past two decades. It is the last organized town on Route 161, which follows the St. John River from Fort Kent.

The Rocky Island nature preserve is a 2 acre habitat for six rare plants, at the confluence of the St. John and St. Francis Rivers and is managed by the Nature Conservancy.

Form of Government: Town Meeting-Select Board.

Additional resources

Hafford, Faye O’Leary. Angel of the Wilderness: and Other St. Francis Stories. F.O. Hafford?. 1998. [University of Maine at Fort Kent, Blake Library]

History Speaks. St. Francis Historical Society. c1988. [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections; University of Maine at Fort Kent; Blake Library]

I’ve been working on the railroad: train stories from the people of St. Francis. Compiled by Debby Atwell, Gene Perreault. Saint Francis, Me.  St. Francis Historical Society. 2001.

Melanson, Laurette Lebel. Laurette Lebel and Thelma E. Melanson Collection. ca.1915-1946. [University of Maine at Fort Kent, Blake Library]

“Memories.” St. Francis Bicentennial Fellowship Committee. 1976? [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections]

St. Francis Historical Society, with a Bangor & Aroostook Railroad car in the background as part of its collection. (2003)

St. Francis Historical Society, with a Bangor & Aroostook Railroad car in the background as part of its collection. (2003)

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