Washington County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the U.S. state of

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,095, making it the third-least populous county in Maine. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Machias. The county was established on June 25, 1789. It borders the

Canadian province Canada has ten provinces and three territories that are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Constitution of Canada, Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North Amer ...

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

. It is sometimes referred to as "Sunrise County" because it includes the easternmost point in the 48 contiguous United States. 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 Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

is also important along the county's shoreline, but it is not as important as elsewhere in the state. The

blueberry Blueberries are a widely distributed and widespread group of perennial flowering plants with blue or purple berries. They are classified in the section ''Cyanococcus'' with the genus ''Vaccinium''. Commercial blueberries—both wild (lowbush) ...

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 , of which is land and (21%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Hancock County – southwest * Penobscot County – northwest * Aroostook County – northwest *

York County, New Brunswick York County (2021 population 105,261) is located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county contains the provincial capital, Fredericton. Outside the city, farming and forestry are two major industries in the county, which is bisected by ...

, Canada – northeast *

Charlotte County, New Brunswick Charlotte County (2021 population 26,015) is the most southwestern county of New Brunswick, Canada. It was formed in 1784 when New Brunswick was partitioned from Nova Scotia and named for Queen Charlotte. Once a layer of local government, t ...

, 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

* * * * * *

Demographics

According to U.S. Census Bureau 2022 statistics, Washington County's population density equates to twelve people per square mile.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 33,941 people, 14,118 households, and 9,303 families living in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 21,919 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.48%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.26%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 4.43% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.44% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. 95.0% spoke English, 1.9%

Passamaquoddy The Passamaquoddy (Maliseet-Passamaquoddy language, Passamaquoddy: ''Peskotomuhkati'', Plural: ''Peskotomuhkatiyik'') are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American/First Nations in Canada, First Nations people who live in northea ...

, 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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $14,119. About 14.20% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, 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. The population density was . There were 23,001 housing units at an average density of . 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

, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Washington County is considered to be a more

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

county in Maine. No Democrat has carried a majority of the county since Hubert Humphrey in

1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...

. In

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, it was one of only two counties (the other being Piscataquis County) in Maine to vote for Republican

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

over Democrat

John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as the 68th United States secretary of state from 2013 to 2017 in the Presidency of Barack Obama#Administration, administration of Barac ...

. The county voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election from

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

until

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

, when the county was carried by

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

, who lost nationally to

Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...

. In 2024, the county shifted to the right again, with Trump breaking 60% of the vote for the Republican Party for the first time since 1984. In the 2012 Maine Republican presidential caucuses, the majority of Washington County voters cast their votes for Republican

Ron Paul Ronald Ernest Paul (born August 20, 1935) is an American author, activist, and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1976 to 1977, and again from 1979 to 1985, as well as for Texas' ...

, but votes from Washington County were not counted because of snow.

Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American businessman and retired politician. He served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Utah from 2019 to 2025 and as the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 ...

ultimately won the state by a narrow margin.

Voter registration

Communities

Cities

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

* Eastport

Towns

* Addison *

Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...

* Baileyville * Beals * Beddington * Charlotte * Cherryfield * Columbia * Columbia Falls * Cooper * Crawford * Cutler * Danforth * Deblois * Dennysville * East Machias * Harrington * Jonesboro * Jonesport * Lubec * Machias (county seat) * Machiasport * Marshfield * Meddybemps * Milbridge * Northfield * Pembroke *

Perry Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England (particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire), parts of South Wales, France (especially Normandy and Anjou), Canada, Austral ...

* Princeton * Robbinston * Roque Bluffs * Steuben * Talmadge * Topsfield * Vanceboro * Waite * Wesley * Whiting * Whitneyville

Plantations

* Baring Plantation * Codyville Plantation * Grand Lake Stream 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 A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with woody plants (trees and shrubs), or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunli ...

Public transportation

Washington County does not have a comprehensive public transportation system, despite having a year-round population of around 32,000. West Bus Services, based in Milbridge, serves several communities in northern Maine. The daily Coastal Connection route serves:

, Pembroke, Dennysville, Whiting, Lubec, East Machias, Machias, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Beals, Addison, Cherryfield, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Deblois (seasonal), Township 18 (seasonal), Township 19 (seasonal), Centerville, Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor, Sullivan, Steuben, Hancock, Ellsworth, Lucern,

Holden Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. Founded in Adelaide, it was an automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter that sold cars under its own marque in Australia. It was ...

and Bangor. The route takes around 3.5 hours. On the first Wednesday of each month, a return service runs between Lubec and Machias.

Education

School districts include: K-12 districts:
Text list
/ref> * Alexander School District * Baileyville School District * Baring Plantation School District * Beddington School District * Calais School District * Charlotte School District * Cherryfield School District * Cooper School District * Crawford School District * Cutler School District * Deblois School District * Dennysville School District * East Machias School District * Eastport School District * Great Lake Stream Plantation School District * Indian Township School District * Jonesboro School District * Machias School District * Machiasport School District * Marshfield School District * Meddybemps School District * Northfield School District * Pembroke School District * Perry School District * Pleasant Point School District * Princeton School District * Regional School Unit 24 * Robbinston School District * Roque Bluffs School District * School Administrative District 14 * School Administrative District 19 * School Administrative District 37 * Talmadge School District * Vanceboro School District * Waite School District * Wesley School District * Whiting School District * Whitneyville School District Secondary school districts: * Moosabec Community School District Elementary school districts: * Beals School District * Jonesport School District A portion of the area is in the "Washington Unorganized Territory". Unorganized territory is not in any municipality.

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 Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Moder ...

player; Cherryfield. * Lyn Mikel Brown (b. 1956), American academic, author,

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...

, and community activist; born in Vanceboro. *

Katie Aselton Kathryn Aselton (born October 1, 1978) is an American actress, film director and producer. She directed and co-starred in '' The Freebie'', which was shown in the non-competition "Next" category at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. She also st ...

(b. 1978), American actress, film director and producer; born in Milbridge.

References

External links

Washington County official website
* Digital Maine Repository. Items related t
Washington County
* Core.ac.uk. Assorted items related t
Washington County
* Digital Public Library of America. Assorted materials related t
Washington County
{{coord, 44.97, -67.61, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-ME_source:UScensus1990 Maine counties 1789 establishments in Massachusetts Populated places established in 1789