Penobscot County, Maine

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 3557 sqmi, of which 3397 sqmi is land and 160 sqmi (4.5%) is water. The county highpoint is East Turner Mountain at 2456 ft next to Baxter State Park.

Adjacent counties

• Aroostook County – north
• Washington County – southeast
• Hancock County – south
• Waldo County – southwest
• Somerset County – west
• Piscataquis County – northwest

National protected area

• Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 152,199. Of the residents, 18.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males. 42.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 57.1% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.

There were 64,250 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 74,878 housing units, of which 14.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.4% were owner-occupied and 33.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 153,923 people, 62,966 households, and 38,917 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031646/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192051/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021726/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 62,966 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 28.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 39.9 years.

The county's median household income was $42,658 and the median family income was $54,271. Males had a median income of $41,094 versus $31,910 for females. The county's per capita income was $22,977. About 10.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021218/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23019 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 144,919 people, 58,096 households, and 37,820 families living in the county. The population density was 43 /mi2. There were 66,847 housing units at an average density of 20 /mi2. The county's racial makeup was 96.60% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of English, 17.3% United States or American, 14.0% French, 13.0% Irish and 6.7% French Canadian ancestry. 95.8% spoke English and 2.3% French as their first language. There were 58,096 households, of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 26.70% of households were one person and 10.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median household income was $34,274 and the median family income was $42,206. Males had a median income of $32,824 versus $23,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,801. About 9.70% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

As the most populous county in Maine's 2nd congressional district, Penobscot County's support for Donald Trump in 2016 helped deliver him a split electoral vote from Maine. It was the first time since 1828 that Maine split its electoral votes. Republican strength in the county has increased in each subsequent election (2020 and 2024).

Voter registration

Communities

Cities

• Bangor (county seat)
• Brewer
• Old Town

Towns

• Alton
• Bradford
• Bradley
• Burlington
• Carmel
• Charleston
• Chester
• Clifton
• Corinna
• Corinth
• Dexter
• Dixmont
• East Millinocket
• Eddington
• Edinburg
• Enfield
• Etna
• Exeter
• Garland
• Glenburn
• Greenbush
• Hampden
• Hermon
• Holden
• Howland
• Hudson
• Kenduskeag
• Lagrange
• Lakeville
• Lee
• Levant
• Lincoln
• Lowell
• Mattawamkeag
• Maxfield
• Medway
• Milford
• Millinocket
• Mount Chase
• Newburgh
• Newport
• Orono
• Orrington
• Passadumkeag
• Patten
• Plymouth
• Springfield
• Stacyville
• Stetson
• Veazie
• Winn
• Woodville

Plantations

• Carroll Plantation
• Drew Plantation
• Seboeis Plantation
• Webster Plantation

Census-designated places

• Bradley
• Corinna
• Dexter
• East Millinocket
• Hampden
• Howland
• Lincoln
• Mattawamkeag
• Milford
• Millinocket
• Newport
• Orono
• Patten

Unorganized territories

• Argyle
• East Central Penobscot
• Kingman
• North Penobscot
• Prentiss
• Twombly Ridge
• Whitney

Indian reservation

• Penobscot Indian Island Reservation

Education

K-12 education

School districts include:

• Bangor School District
• Brewer School District
• Burlington Public Schools
• Carroll Plantation School District
• Drew Plantation School District
• East Millinocket School District
• Glenburn School District
• Greenbush School District
• Indian Island School District
• Hermon School District
• Lakeville School District
• Lowell School District
• Medway School District
• Milford School District
• Millinocket School Department
• Orrington School District
• Regional School Unit 19
• Regional School Unit 22
• Regional School Unit 26
• Regional School Unit 34
• Regional School Unit 89
• School Administrative District 23
• School Administrative District 30
• School Administrative District 31
• School Administrative District 41
• School Administrative District 46
• School Administrative District 63
• School Administrative District 64
• School Administrative District 67
• School Administrative District 68
• Seboeis Plantation School District
• Veazie School District
• Woodville School District

Some portions are in the Penobscot Unorganized Territory, The Maine Department of Education takes responsibility for coordinating school assignments in the unorganized territory. The department operates one school, Kingman Elementary School, in Kingman.

Colleges and universities

University of Maine is in Orono.

References

References

1. Girouard, Maria. (December 3, 2020). "Acknowledging the Land".
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Penobscot County, Maine". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
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. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Penobscot County, Maine". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Penobscot County, Maine".
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Penobscot County, Maine".
17. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Pivot Counties in Maine". [[ballotpedia.org]].
19. "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide".
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. Geography Division. (January 14, 2021). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Penobscot County, ME". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
22. "Education In Unorganized Territory (EUT)". [[Maine Department of Education]].
23. "Education in the Unorganized Territory - Find Your School". [[Maine Department of Education]].
24. "Education in the Unorganized Territory Schools". [[Maine Department of Education]].