Washington County, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Washington County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Washington County Courthouse
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
|
||
 Maine's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Maine |
|
| Founded | June 25, 1789 | |
| Named for | George Washington | |
| Seat | Machias | |
| Largest city | Calais | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3,258 sq mi (8,440 km2) | |
| • Land | 2,563 sq mi (6,640 km2) | |
| • Water | 695 sq mi (1,800 km2) 21%% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 31,095 | |
| • Density | 9.5442/sq mi (3.6850/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 census, its population was 31,095, making it the third-least populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Machias. 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. 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.
Contents
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.
Adjacent counties
- Hancock County, Maine – southwest
- Aroostook County, Maine – northwest
- Penobscot County, Maine – northwest
- York County, New Brunswick, Canada – northeast
- Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada – east
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 1A
SR 6
SR 9
SR 192
SR 193
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.0% | |
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 31,095 | −5.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 |
|||
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. 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). 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. 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.
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.
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.
Communities
Cities
Towns
- Addison
- Alexander
- Baileyville
- Baring Plantation
- Beals
- Beddington
- Centerville
- Charlotte
- Cherryfield
- Codyville Plantation
- 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
Unorganized territories
Indian reservations
- Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation
- Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation
Census-designated places
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
In Spanish: Condado de Washington (Maine) para niños
