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Washington County, Maine
MachiasME WashingtonCountyCourthouse
Washington County Courthouse
Flag of Washington County, Maine
Flag
Map of Maine highlighting Washington County
Location in the state of Maine
Map of the U.S
Maine's location in the U.S.
Founded June 25, 1789
Named for George Washington
Seat Machias
Largest city Calais
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

3,258 sq mi (8,438 km²)
2,563 sq mi (6,638 km²)
695 sq mi (1,800 km²), 21%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

31,095
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://washingtoncountymaine.com/

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,095,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Machias.[2] The county was established on June 25, 1789. It borders the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

It is sometimes referred to as "Sunrise County" because it includes the easternmost point in the United States, and claims have been made that Washington County is where the sun first rises on the 48 contiguous states.[3] Many small seaside communities have small-scale fishing-based economies. Tourism is also important along the county's shoreline, but it is not as important as elsewhere in the state. The blueberry crop plays a major role in the county's economy.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,258 square miles (8,440 km2), of which 2,563 square miles (6,640 km2) is land and 695 square miles (1,800 km2) (21%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

  • Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge
  • Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
  • Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge
  • Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

Major highways[]

  • US 1 US 1
  • US 1A US 1A
  • MA Route 6 SR 6
  • MA Route 9 SR 9
  • MA Route 192 SR 192
  • MA Route 193 SR 193

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 2,760
1800 4,461 61.6%
1810 7,870 76.4%
1820 12,744 61.9%
1830 21,294 67.1%
1840 28,327 33.0%
1850 38,811 37.0%
1860 42,534 9.6%
1870 43,343 1.9%
1880 44,484 2.6%
1890 44,482 0%
1900 45,232 1.7%
1910 42,905 −5.1%
1920 41,709 −2.8%
1930 37,826 −9.3%
1940 37,767 −0.2%
1950 35,187 −6.8%
1960 32,908 −6.5%
1970 29,859 −9.3%
1980 34,963 17.1%
1990 35,308 1.0%
2000 33,941 −3.9%
2010 32,856 −3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[9]

2000 census[]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 33,941 people, 14,118 households, and 9,303 families living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5/km2). There were 21,919 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 4.43% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 95.0% spoke English, 1.9% Passamaquoddy, 1.0% Spanish and 1.0% French as their first language.

There were 14,118 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,869, and the median income for a family was $31,657. Males had a median income of $28,347 versus $20,074 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,119. About 14.20% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 19.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 32,856 people, 14,302 households, and 8,847 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 12.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.9 /km2). There were 23,001 housing units at an average density of 9.0 per square mile (3.5 /km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% white, 4.9% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 30.4% were English, 17.0% were Irish, 7.0% were German, 6.1% were Scottish, and 5.6% were American.[13]

Of the 14,302 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 46.1 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,859 and the median income for a family was $43,612. Males had a median income of $35,981 versus $27,336 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,401. About 14.1% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Government[]

Washington County is considered to be a more conservative county in Maine. In 2004, it was one of only two counties (the other being Piscataquis County) in Maine to vote for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry. The county voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1980 until 2020, when the county was carried by Donald Trump, who lost to Joe Biden.

No Democrat has carried a majority of the county since Hubert Humphrey in 1968. The last Republican to do so was Donald Trump in 2020.[15]

In the 2012 Maine Republican Presidential Caucuses, the majority of Washington County voters cast their votes for Republican Ron Paul, but votes from Washington County were not counted because of snow. Mitt Romney ultimately won the state by a narrow margin.

Voter registration[]

Voter registration and party enrollment as of May 2019 [16]
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px | Unenrolled 8,566 36.21%
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | Democratic 6,703 28.33%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | Republican 7,540 31.87%
style="background-color:#0BDA51;" width=10px | Green Independent 846 3.58%
style="background-color:#FFCC00;" width=10px | Libertarian 3 0.01%
Total 23,658 100%
United States presidential election results for Washington County, Maine[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,194 58.73% 6,761 38.95% 402 2.32%
2016 9,093 55.56% 6,075 37.12% 1,197 7.31%
2012 7,550 47.68% 7,803 49.27% 483 3.05%
2008 8,077 48.50% 8,246 49.51% 331 1.99%
2004 8,619 49.79% 8,391 48.47% 300 1.73%
2000 7,958 50.66% 6,701 42.66% 1,049 6.68%
1996 4,793 31.56% 7,198 47.39% 3,198 21.05%
1992 5,493 30.92% 6,284 35.37% 5,988 33.71%
1988 7,872 56.93% 5,831 42.17% 125 0.90%
1984 9,713 64.41% 5,308 35.20% 60 0.40%
1980 7,180 48.55% 6,050 40.91% 1,558 10.54%
1976 7,039 49.45% 6,644 46.67% 552 3.88%
1972 7,820 67.57% 3,742 32.33% 12 0.10%
1968 5,523 46.10% 6,249 52.16% 208 1.74%
1964 3,816 29.05% 9,312 70.88% 9 0.07%
1960 9,118 65.91% 4,716 34.09% 0 0.00%
1956 8,181 76.20% 2,555 23.80% 0 0.00%
1952 7,396 65.89% 3,806 33.91% 23 0.20%
1948 5,130 58.64% 3,538 40.44% 80 0.91%
1944 5,380 48.44% 5,709 51.40% 18 0.16%
1940 6,253 43.65% 8,048 56.18% 25 0.17%
1936 6,387 44.06% 7,925 54.67% 183 1.26%
1932 7,507 51.95% 6,829 47.26% 115 0.80%
1928 8,531 73.30% 3,073 26.40% 35 0.30%
1924 6,010 69.71% 2,106 24.43% 505 5.86%
1920 6,768 68.57% 2,997 30.36% 105 1.06%
1916 3,891 52.24% 3,459 46.44% 99 1.33%
1912 1,862 26.40% 3,178 45.07% 2,012 28.53%
1908 3,507 59.49% 2,256 38.27% 132 2.24%
1904 3,393 64.58% 1,691 32.19% 170 3.24%
1900 3,682 61.60% 2,109 35.29% 186 3.11%
1896 4,627 68.93% 1,925 28.68% 161 2.40%
1892 3,817 54.79% 2,906 41.71% 244 3.50%
1888 4,298 58.89% 2,876 39.41% 124 1.70%
1884 4,244 53.82% 3,341 42.37% 300 3.80%
1880 4,361 53.97% 3,622 44.82% 98 1.21%



Communities[]

Cities[]

Towns[]

  • Addison
  • Alexander
  • Baileyville
  • Beals
  • Beddington
  • Charlotte
  • Cherryfield
  • Columbia
  • Columbia Falls
  • Cooper
  • Crawford
  • Cutler
  • Danforth
  • Deblois
  • Dennysville
  • East Machias
  • Grand Lake Stream
  • Harrington
  • Jonesboro
  • Jonesport
  • Lubec
  • Machias (county seat)
  • Machiasport
  • Marshfield
  • Meddybemps
  • Milbridge
  • Northfield
  • Pembroke
  • Perry
  • Princeton
  • Robbinston
  • Roque Bluffs
  • Steuben
  • Talmadge
  • Topsfield
  • Vanceboro
  • Waite
  • Wesley
  • Whiting
  • Whitneyville

Plantations[]

  • Baring Plantation
  • Codyville Plantation

Unorganized territories[]

  • East Central Washington
  • North Washington

Indian reservations[]

  • Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation
  • Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation

Census-designated places[]

  • Danforth
  • Jonesport
  • Lubec
  • Machias
  • Milbridge
  • Vanceboro
  • Woodland

Notable people[]

  • Jeremiah O'Brien, (1744-1818) Commander of the sloop Unity during the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War; Machias.
  • Henry Plummer (1832–1864), Sheriff and outlaw leader of The Innocents, in Bannock, Montana, Idaho Territory, born and raised in Addison.
  • Hiram Burnham (1814-1864), Civil War general; Cherryfield.
  • Reuben L. Snowe (1866-1942), Maine state legislator; born in Danforth.
  • Theodore Enslin (1925–2011), American poet; resident of Milbridge.
  • Carl Willey (1931 - 2009), American professional baseball player; Cherryfield.
  • Lyn Mikel Brown (b. 1956), American academic, author, feminist, and community activist; born in Vanceboro.
  • Katie Aselton (b. 1978), American actress, film director and producer; born in Milbridge.

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Maine

References[]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Washington County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US23029. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Trotter, Bill. "Where in Maine does the sun rise first?". Bangor Daily News. https://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/22/outdoors/where-in-maine-does-the-sun-rise-first/. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_23.txt. 
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/me190090.txt. 
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23029.html. 
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  11. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23029. 
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23029. 
  13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23029. 
  14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23029. 
  15. ^ Politico live election results: 2020 Maine results
  16. ^ Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions (5 May 2019). "Registered & Enrolled Voters - Statewide". Department of the Secretary of State, State of Maine. p. 29. https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/data/data-pdf/r-e-active.pdf. 
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 44°58′N 67°37′W / 44.97, -67.61


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Washington County, Maine. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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