Historical United States Census totals for Penobscot County, Maine

This article shows U.S. Census totals for Penobscot County, Maine, broken down by municipality, from 1900 to 2000.

There are two types of incorporated municipalities in Maine, towns and cities. The tables below differentiate between towns and cities.

Most areas of New England are entirely divided into incorporated municipalities, with no unincorporated territory. In the three northern New England states, however, some unincorporated territory does exist, generally in areas that are very sparsely populated. Maine contains significantly more unincorporated territory than the other states, with the bulk of it in interior and northern counties, including Penobscot County.

Some unincorporated territory in Maine is organized into a third type of town-level municipality unique to Maine, called a plantation (considered to be “organized”, but not incorporated), while some is entirely unorganized. Penobscot County also contains an Indian reservation, which is considered to be a distinct entity independent from any municipality, although this has not always been the case in the past. Due to the large extent of unincorporated territory in Penobscot County, separate sections with detailed historical census totals for such areas follow the main tables below. For any census, adding up the totals for each town-level municipality, including any plantations, unorganized entities and Indian reservations (when recognized as independent entities), should yield the county total.

For more information on the New England municipal system, see New England town.

Corporate changes since 1900

1900

County Total: 76,246

Unincorporated territory reported 2,206 residents. This consisted of 905 residents in organized plantations, and 1,301 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 269 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1910

County Total: 85,285

Unincorporated territory reported 1,667 residents. This consisted of 1,173 residents in organized plantations, and 494 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 320 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1920

County Total: 87,684

Unincorporated territory reported 2,154 residents. This consisted of 1,159 residents in organized plantations, and 995 residents in unorganized territory. (Note: the Penobscot Indian Reservation was not broken out separately in the 1920 through 1940 censuses.)

1930

County Total: 92,379

Unincorporated territory reported 1,195 residents. This consisted of 844 residents in organized plantations, and 351 residents in unorganized territory. (Note: the Penobscot Indian Reservation was not broken out separately in the 1920 through 1940 censuses.)

1940

County Total: 97,104

Unincorporated territory reported 2,734 residents. This consisted of 2,311 residents in organized plantations, and 423 residents in unorganized territory. (Note: the Penobscot Indian Reservation was not broken out separately in the 1920 through 1940 censuses.)

1950

County Total: 108,198

Unincorporated territory reported 2,634 residents. This consisted of 1,838 residents in organized plantations, and 796 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 323 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1960

County Total: 126,346

Unincorporated territory reported 1,610 residents. This consisted of 780 residents in organized plantations, and 830 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 383 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1970

County Total: 125,393

Unincorporated territory reported 1,254 residents. This consisted of 660 residents in organized plantations, and 594 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 317 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1980

County Total: 137,015

Unincorporated territory reported 1,364 residents. This consisted of 605 residents in organized plantations, and 759 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 458 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

1990

County Total: 146,601

Unincorporated territory reported 1,471 residents. This consisted of 608 residents in organized plantations, and 863 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 476 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

2000

County Total: 144,919

Unincorporated territory reported 1,773 residents. This consisted of 324 residents in organized plantations, and 1,449 residents in unorganized territory. An additional 562 residents lived on an Indian reservation.

Plantations

As of 1900, Penobscot County contained seven plantations: Drew, Grand Falls, Lakeville, Seboeis, Stacyville, Summit, and Webster. By the 1920s, the number had dropped to five, as Summit apparently surrendered its organization sometime between 1910 and 1920 (see notes to the 1910 Census below), and Drew incorporated as a town in 1921. The number would increase again between 1934 and 1940, as five of the six towns in Penobscot County that disincorporated during that period subsequently became plantations: Drew (1934), Kingman (1935), Mount Chase (1936), Carroll (1937), and Prentiss (1940). This brought the number of plantations in the county to ten. In Drew’s case, this marked a return to plantation status after a short time as a town.

Of the ten plantations that existed in 1940, four remain today – Drew, Carroll, Seboeis and Webster. Three have incorporated as towns (Stacyville and Lakeville for the first time, Mount Chase as a re-incorporation). The remaining three have surrendered their organization and reverted to unorganized territory: Kingman (1945), Grand Falls (1981), and Prentiss (1990).

In addition to the above, there is also some evidence suggesting that the former town of Mattamiscontis may have been briefly organized as plantation around 1907, following its disincorporation as a town. If it was, however, it did not last long enough in this status to be tabulated as a plantation in any decennial census (see notes to the 1900 Census below).

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Unorganized territory

Like all of Maine's interior counties, Penobscot County contains a significant amount of unorganized territory. Most of it is in the northern part of the county, an area which has historically been very sparsely populated. There are also some unorganized areas in the east central part of the county along the border with Hancock and Washington counties, another sparsely populated area.

Historically, about two-thirds of the county’s land area was incorporated or organized, leaving the remaining one-third unorganized. There are at least twenty-five townships in the county which have never been organized, along with a few additional gore-like entities. The general divider between the organized and unorganized portions of the county historically followed the northern or interior boundaries of Seboeis, Mattamiscontis, Chester, Woodville, East Millinocket and Medway, and the border with Aroostook County north of Mattawamkeag, Kingman and Drew. With the exception of two townships along the border with Hancock and Washington counties, all territory to the south and east of that line was historically organized, although several municipalities had not advanced beyond the plantation stage. The two townships that were never organized at all are T3R1 NBPP, also known as Twombly Twp. (along the Hancock County line between Burlington and Lakeville), and T5R1 NBPP, also known as Whitney Twp. (in the corner east of Lakeville and south of Carroll, along the border with Washington County). Communities which were historically plantations rather than towns include Seboeis, Webster, Grand Falls, Drew (was a town only for a short period in the early 20th century), Lakeville (did not incorporate as a town until 1981) and Summit. All of these communities are in the area to the immediate south of the above line, and/or along the border with Hancock and Washington counties. The former town of Mattamiscontis and the former Summit plantation both dissolved early in the 20th century, reverting to unorganized territory.

North or to the interior of the line described in the previous paragraph, the only areas that have ever been organized are the town of Millinocket, and three municipalities in the northeast part of the county along the border with Aroostook County (Mount Chase, Patten and Stacyville). Millinocket does not border any other municipality which has ever been organized; it nearly touches East Millinocket, but the two are separated by a narrow strip of territory, most of which is water. Mount Chase, Patten and Stacyville are isolated from any other organized municipalities in Penobscot County, but all three border towns across the county line in Aroostook County. Stacyville was a plantation until the 1950s, and Mount Chase also operated as a plantation between the 1930s and 1970s, but all three are currently incorporated towns.

Between 1935 and 1945, a large number of municipalities in Maine dissolved and reverted to unorganized townships. While six towns in Penobscot County disincorporated around this time period, most of these communities adopted plantation forms of government rather than dissolve entirely, and no municipalities which had historically been plantations dissolved. As a result, only two former municipalities reverted to unorganized territory during this time: Argyle (a town until 1938, when it disincorporated and reverted to unorganized territory) and Kingman (a town until 1935, then became a plantation; surrendered its organization in 1945). A few additional communities have joined them more recently, including Grand Falls (a plantation which surrendered its organization in 1981), Prentiss (once a town, later a plantation, surrendered its organization in 1990), and Greenfield (a town which disincorporated in 1993).

The areas of Penobscot County that are entirely unorganized cover about 1,300 square miles (3,400 km2), with a population of about 1,450 people. This covers about 38% of the county’s land area, but includes only about 1% of its population. Two unorganized townships, the former municipalities of Kingman and Prentiss, have a large enough population to maintain a registrar and clerk to conduct elections for state and federal offices, although they do not have true organized municipal governments. There is also a similar entity called Indian Purchase Township, apparently consisting of one or both of the Indian Purchase townships adjacent to Millinocket.

Over the years, the U.S. Census Bureau has used different methods to compile data for unorganized territory in Maine. From 1900 to 1950, data was tabulated for each individual unorganized entity. In 1960, a single catch-all “Unorganized Territory” listing was provided for each Maine county, generally with no further breakdown. Since 1970, the Census has grouped contiguous areas in each county into one or more “unorganized territories”. As of the 2000 Census, seven such areas are recognized within Penobscot County:

When the Unorganized Territories were first created for the 1970 Census, there were six in Penobscot County. North Penobscot, Argyle, Kingman, Twombly and Whitney were similar to their present-day state. The sixth Unorganized Territory, Summit, consisted of the former Summit Plantation (T1 ND). For the 1990 Census, with Grand Falls having surrendered its organization and reverted to unorganized territory, the adjacent Grand Falls and Summit were combined to form East Central Penobscot Unorganized Territory. For the 2000 Census, East Central Penobscot Unorganized Territory was expanded to include the former town of Greenfield, which had disincorporated. A new Prentiss Unorganized Territory was also added for the 2000 Census, reflecting the former Prentiss Plantation having surrendered its organization.

The listings below provide population figures for 1) all unincorporated territory, including plantations; 2) organized plantations, for which breakouts are available in the main tables above; and 3) unorganized territory, with any available breakouts provided.

1900

All unincorporated territory 2,206

Organized plantations 905

Unorganized territory 1,301

1910

All unincorporated territory 1,667

Organized plantations 1,173

Unorganized territory 494

1920

All unincorporated territory 2,154

Organized plantations 1,159

Unorganized territory 995

1930

All unincorporated territory 1,195

Organized plantations 844

Unorganized territory 351

1940

All unincorporated territory 2,734

Organized plantations 2,311

Unorganized territory 423

1950

All unincorporated territory 2,634

Organized plantations 1,838

Unorganized territory 796

1960

All unincorporated territory 1,610

Organized plantations 780

Unorganized territory 830

The 1960 Census reported all unorganized territory in Penobscot County under a single catch-all listing. No breakdown is available.

1970

All unincorporated territory 1,254

Organized plantations 660

Unorganized territory 594

Starting with the 1970 Census, the unorganized territory in Penobscot County was broken into groups of contiguous territory. Six such entities were recognized in 1970.

1980

All unincorporated territory 1,364

Organized plantations 605

Unorganized territory 759

1990

All unincorporated territory 1,471

Organized plantations 608

Unorganized territory 863

For the 1990 Census, the former Summit Unorganized Territory was combined with the former Grand Falls Plantation to form East Central Penobscot Unorganized territory.

2000

All unincorporated territory 1,773

Organized plantations 324

Unorganized territory 1,449

For the 2000 Census, the new Prentiss Unorganized Territory was added, reflecting the former Prentiss Plantation having surrendered its organization and reverted to unorganized territory.

Note: the unorganized townships in Penobscot County are on several different grids:

Much of Hancock and Washington counties was originally laid out as a series of sequentially numbered townships designated ND (North Division), MD (Middle Division), SD (South Division) and ED (East Division). This area was originally part of Bingham's Penobscot Purchase. Some of the area covered by this numbering scheme extended into the modern boundaries of Penobscot County. All of the townships within Penobscot County that were originally on it were organized municipalities at one point, but a few have dissolved over the years and may sometimes be referred to today by their original grid designations. Summit Township, also known as T1 ND, is the most notable example.

Indian Reservations

Maine contains three federally recognized Indian reservations. One of these, the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, is located in Penobscot County. Maine currently treats Indian reservations as distinct entities, not part of any organized municipality or unorganized entity. This has not always been the case in the past; at one time, present-day reservation land was regarded as part of the municipalities or unorganized entities within which it is geographically located.

The main body of the reservation is adjacent to the Penobscot River at Old Town. The reservation also has jurisdiction over the channel of the Penobscot River for some distance to the north, including portions of both the East and West branches beyond the point where they diverge in Medway. Jurisdiction over the East Branch continues as far as the Medway-East Millinocket line, while jurisdiction over the West Branch continues to the Dolby Pond Dam, along the southern boundary of East Millinocket. In most areas, these channels run along town boundaries, but all three pass through the interior of the town of Medway. As a result, Medway’s territory is technically in three major discontinuous pieces separated by river channels under the jurisdiction of the reservation. Medway controls some islands within the channels, however, creating exclaves within reservation territory. Overall, the reservation has jurisdiction over an area measuring about 13 square miles (34 km2). Fewer than 8 square miles (21 km2) are land, however.

For a short distance along the northeast edge of Woodville, the Penobscot River forms the boundary between Penobscot and Aroostook counties. There is a very small portion of river channel at this location, under the jurisdiction of the reservation, which lies within Aroostook County. The portion of the reservation that extends into Aroostook County measures less than 0.25 square miles (600,000 m2), all of it water, with no population.

Treatment of the reservation by the State of Maine, and by the Census Bureau, has varied over time. Prior to 1900, the main body of the present-day reservation appears to have been part of Old Town, and its population was included with Old Town’s, not broken out separately. In 1900 and 1910, the Census provided a separate breakout within Penobscot County for what was labeled “Indian Island”, apart from any town. The 1920, 1930 and 1940 censuses reverted to the pre-1900 convention of including the reservation’s population largely or entirely with Old Town. Since the 1950 Census, the reservation has been considered a distinct entity, independent of any regular municipality, and has been given its own population breakout in each census. It is unclear how long the river channel has been considered part of the reservation; the portion of the reservation within Aroostook County first appeared in the 2000 Census.

The population of the reservation has been recorded as follows:

1900: 269

1910: 320

1920: not reported separately

1930: not reported separately

1940: not reported separately

1950: 323

1960: 383

1970: 317

1980: 458

1990: 476

2000: 562

Notes

1900 Census

Various sources contain conflicting information on the status of Mattamiscontis at different points in time. The Census reported Mattamiscontis as a town in 1900, but not in any later Censuses. One source indicates that Mattamiscontis was organized as a plantation in 1907. No subsequent mention of Mattamiscontis as a plantation has been found, however, and the Census listed it as an unorganized township in all censuses from 1910 on. This article shows Mattamiscontis as a town in 1900; assumes that it disincorporated in 1907 (based on the above source showing it organizing as a plantation in that year, as no other date of disincorporation has been found); assumes that if it in fact operated as a plantation after 1907, it could not have held this status for long; and shows it as an unorganized township in all censuses since 1910.

1910 Census

Summit appears to have been organized as a plantation for a time in the late 19th century and early 20th century, but the author of this article has been unable to locate a date for its surrender of organization. One source shows it as a plantation as of 1895, and the Census listed it as a plantation in the 1890 through 1910 censuses. From the 1920 Census onward, Summit is shown as an unorganized township. Based on this information, this article shows it as a plantation in 1900 and 1910, and as an unorganized township from 1920 on.

1970 Census

The Census Bureau made a number of revisions to 1970 census totals subsequent to their initial release. The 1970 total for the city of Old Town was originally reported as 9,057; and for the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, 1. The totals were later revised to those shown in the lists above. This was apparently done to correct an assignment error between these entities; the collective population of the two is the same using either set of figures, so the county total was not affected.

See also

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