Penobscot County, Maine

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Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County Courthouse
Location in the state of Maine
Maine's location in the U.S.
Founded	1816
Named for	Penobscot tribe
Seat	Bangor
Largest city	Bangor
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	3,557 sq mi (9,213 km²) 3,397 sq mi (8,798 km²) 160 sq mi (414 km²), 4.5%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	152,199 45/sq mi (17/km²)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Penobscot County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine, named for the Penobscot Nation on Wabanakik. As of the 2020 census, the population was 152,199. Its county seat is Bangor. The county was established on February 15, 1816, from part of Hancock County when the area was still part of Massachusetts. Penobscot County is home to the University of Maine.

Penobscot County comprises the Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 3,557 square miles (9,210 km²), of which 3,397 square miles (8,800 km²) is land and 160 square miles (410 km²) (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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	13,870		—
1830	31,530		127.3%
1840	45,705		45.0%
1850	63,089		38.0%
1860	72,731		15.3%
1870	75,150		3.3%
1880	70,476		−6.2%
1890	72,865		3.4%
1900	76,246		4.6%
1910	85,285		11.9%
1920	87,684		2.8%
1930	92,379		5.4%
1940	97,104		5.1%
1950	108,198		11.4%
1960	126,346		16.8%
1970	125,393		−0.8%
1980	137,015		9.3%
1990	146,601		7.0%
2000	144,919		−1.1%
2010	153,923		6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

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 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 66,847 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). 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.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 153,923 people, 62,966 households, and 38,917 families living in the county. The population density was 45.3 inhabitants per square mile (17.5 /km²). There were 73,860 housing units at an average density of 21.7 per square mile (8.4 /km²). The county's racial makeup was 95.4% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.9% were English, 17.2% were Irish, 9.4% were American, 7.1% were German, 6.0% were French Canadian, and 5.9% were Scottish.

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.

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.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of May 2019
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px |	Unenrolled	40,750	35.22%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px |	Republican	36,320	31.4%
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px |	Democratic	33,802	29.22%
style="background-color:#0BDA51;" width=10px |	Green Independent	4,800	4.15%
style="background-color:#FFCC00;" width=10px |	Libertarian	13	0.01%
Total		115,685	100%

United States presidential election results for Penobscot County, Maine

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	44,825	52.57%	37,713	44.23%	2,731	3.20%
2016	41,622	51.68%	32,838	40.77%	6,080	7.55%
2012	36,547	47.28%	38,811	50.20%	1,948	2.52%
2008	37,495	46.60%	41,614	51.72%	1,358	1.69%
2004	40,318	49.10%	40,417	49.22%	1,377	1.68%
2000	35,620	48.66%	32,868	44.90%	4,718	6.44%
1996	22,885	32.45%	35,961	51.00%	11,671	16.55%
1992	24,218	30.11%	29,485	36.65%	26,741	33.24%
1988	34,912	54.76%	28,429	44.59%	413	0.65%
1984	40,403	62.11%	24,445	37.58%	206	0.32%
1980	28,869	45.97%	26,519	42.23%	7,405	11.79%
1976	29,016	52.17%	24,672	44.36%	1,925	3.46%
1972	30,186	61.92%	18,552	38.06%	11	0.02%
1968	20,011	44.47%	24,327	54.06%	661	1.47%
1964	14,449	33.42%	28,766	66.54%	17	0.04%
1960	28,459	59.75%	19,175	40.25%	0	0.00%
1956	27,806	76.44%	8,568	23.56%	0	0.00%
1952	24,614	68.59%	11,222	31.27%	49	0.14%
1948	16,367	59.92%	10,705	39.19%	243	0.89%
1944	16,934	55.95%	13,292	43.92%	38	0.13%
1940	18,674	55.79%	14,757	44.09%	40	0.12%
1936	19,077	60.82%	9,732	31.03%	2,559	8.16%
1932	18,987	58.75%	13,058	40.41%	272	0.84%
1928	21,750	70.25%	9,114	29.44%	96	0.31%
1924	15,081	74.93%	3,618	17.97%	1,429	7.10%
1920	14,145	69.35%	6,110	29.95%	143	0.70%
1916	7,324	49.41%	7,294	49.21%	205	1.38%
1912	3,367	23.91%	5,093	36.17%	5,622	39.92%
1908	7,336	66.02%	3,525	31.73%	250	2.25%
1904	7,013	73.64%	2,225	23.36%	285	2.99%
1900	6,873	63.87%	3,615	33.59%	273	2.54%
1896	8,414	66.42%	4,031	31.82%	223	1.76%
1892	6,571	55.78%	4,516	38.33%	694	5.89%
1888	7,873	57.97%	5,292	38.97%	415	3.06%
1884	8,006	56.14%	5,303	37.18%	953	6.68%
1880	8,186	52.21%	6,307	40.23%	1,186	7.56%

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

See also

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

External links

• Penobscot County Official Website
• Penobscot County on Maine.gov
• "The Ancient Penobscot, or Panawanskek". Historical Magazine, February 1872.