Hancock County, Maine

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2345 sqmi, of which 1587 sqmi is land and 758 sqmi (32%) is water. The county high point is Cadillac Mountain, 1527 feet, the highest summit on the U.S. Atlantic seaboard.

The county is home to Acadia National Park, the only national park in New England, which is centered on Mount Desert Island, Maine's largest island and surrounded by several large bays. The county also lies on the eastern side of both Penobscot Bay and the mouth of the Penobscot River, which can be crossed via the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The county extends inland from the coast, making it one of Maine's eight coastal counties.

Adjacent counties

• Penobscot County — north
• Washington County — northeast
• Waldo County — west
• Knox County — southwest

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 2018

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 55,478. Of the residents, 16.8% were under the age of 18 and 26.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 49.5 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.7% of the population.

There were 24,948 households in the county, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 40,133 housing units, of which 37.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.9% were owner-occupied and 25.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 54,418 people, 24,221 households, and 14,834 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034328/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213185743/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032447/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 24,221 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.8% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.71. The median age was 46.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,533 and the median income for a family was $60,092. Males had a median income of $41,046 versus $32,444 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,876. About 6.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013322/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 51,791 people, 21,864 households, and 14,233 families living in the county. The population density was 33 /mi2. There were 33,945 housing units at an average density of 21 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.61% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Hancock County, Maine according to the 2000 census are:

• 24.6% English
• 16.6% American
• 11.9% Irish
• 6.6% French
• 6.1% German

96.8% spoke English, 1.5% French and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 21,864 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,811, and the median income for a family was $43,216. Males had a median income of $30,461 versus $22,647 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,809. About 7.00% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Of employed persons 16 years and over in 1990, 1,108 indicated involvement in the "agriculture, forestry and fisheries" industry, though 1,206 indicated "farming, forestry and fishing occupations." The U.S. Census data are not dependable for determining the numbers of individuals involved in the fishing industry. Only firms with 10 or more employees must report their numbers, as well as firms paying workmen's compensation insurance. Because the majority of fishermen in Maine are considered self-employed, the statistics underreport fishing employment.

Cranberry Isles, Deer Isle, Frenchboro, Gouldsboro, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swans Island and Tremont (Bass Harbor) were identified by a key respondent as fisheries dependent. Bar Harbor, Brooklin, Brooksville, Hancock, Lamoine, Mount Desert, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Sorrento and Sullivan were also noted as having either significant fishing activity or a significant number of people who fish. Winter Harbor's fishing activities were once dwarfed by the economic activity associated with a naval base, but now that the naval base has closed, fishing activity will most likely be the dominant economic activity in the community. Salmon farming is also popular in the area and Maine Salmon is an important export.

Hancock County has the longest coastline of any Maine county. Commercial fishing and tourism are the county's most important industries. Hancock County is home to Acadia National Park (the only national park in Maine or the New England region, excluding the national sea shore on Cape Cod) and Cadillac Mountain (the highest point in Maine's coastal region). Jackson Laboratory, noted for cancer research, is located in Bar Harbor. Two institutions of higher education are located in Hancock County: Maine Maritime Academy at Castine and the College of the Atlantic at Bar Harbor.

Air pollution

The American Lung Association issues annual State of the Air reports. Their current score card gives Hancock county an "F" for ozone pollution, the only Maine county to receive an F score.

Government and politics

The county's Commissioners are William F. Clark, John Wombacher and Samuel DiBella.

From 1856 to 1988, Hancock County was a Republican stronghold, with Democrats only carrying the county in three of the 34 presidential elections. Since then, Democrats carried the county every time, although George W. Bush came within one percent of taking the county in 2000.

Voter registration

Communities

City

• Ellsworth (county seat)

Towns

• Amherst
• Aurora
• Bar Harbor
• Blue Hill
• Brooklin
• Brooksville
• Bucksport
• Castine
• Cranberry Isles
• Dedham
• Deer Isle
• Eastbrook
• Franklin
• Frenchboro
• Gouldsboro
• Great Pond
• Hancock
• Lamoine
• Mariaville
• Mount Desert
• Orland
• Osborn
• Otis
• Penobscot
• Sedgwick
• Sorrento
• Southwest Harbor
• Stonington
• Sullivan
• Surry
• Swan's Island
• Tremont
• Trenton
• Verona Island
• Waltham
• Winter Harbor

Unorganized territories

• Central Hancock
• East Hancock
• Marshall Island
• Northwest Hancock

Census-designated places

• Bar Harbor
• Blue Hill
• Bucksport
• Castine
• Northeast Harbor
• Southwest Harbor
• Winter Harbor

Other unincorporated villages

• Bass Harbor
• Bernard
• Corea
• East Blue Hill
• East Orland
• Harborside
• Hulls Cove
• Islesford
• Manset
• Minturn
• Prospect Harbor
• Salisbury Cove
• Sargentville
• Seal Cove
• Seal Harbor
• Somesville
• Enoch's Landing
• Sunset
• Town Hill

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

• Airline Community School District
• Blue Hill School District
• Brooklin School District
• Brooksville School District
• Castine School District
• Cranberry Isles School District
• Dedham School District
• Deer Isle-Stonington Community School District
• Ellsworth Public Schools
• Hancock Public Schools
• Frenchboro School District
• Lamoine Public Schools
• Otis School District
• Penobscot School District
• Sedgwick School District
• Surry School District
• Trenton School District
• Regional School Unit 24
• Regional School Unit 25
• School Administrative District 76

Secondary:

• Mount Desert Community School District

Elementary:

• Bar Harbor School District
• Mount Desert School District
• Southwest Harbor School District
• Tremont School District

There is also the Hancock Unorganized Territory, The Maine Department of Education takes responsibility for coordinating school assignments in the unorganized territory.

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Hancock County, Maine". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. "QuickFacts. Hancock County, Maine.". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hancock County, Maine". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hancock County, Maine".
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hancock County, Maine".
18. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "Report Card: Maine".
20. (March 29, 2024). "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide".
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
22. Geography Division. (January 14, 2021). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hancock County, ME". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
23. "Education In Unorganized Territory (EUT)". [[Maine Department of Education]].
24. "Education in the Unorganized Territory - Find Your School". [[Maine Department of Education]].