Calais, Maine
Encyclopedia
Calais (ˈkælɨs, rhyming with palace) is a city in Washington County
, Maine
, United States
. The city has three United States border crossings or also known as a Port of entry
(POE) with the busiest being on the St. Croix River
bordering St. Stephen, New Brunswick
, Canada
. Calais has historically been a city of commerce and is recognized as the primary shopping center of eastern Washington County and Charlotte County, New Brunswick
, Canada
. Currently retail, service, and construction businesses are the primary components of the Calais economy. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census.
when he and his men spent a winter on St. Croix Island in 1604. The first permanent settler was Daniel Hill of Jonesboro
, who arrived in 1779, and with others built the first sawmill
in 1782. On June 27, 1789, the Massachusetts General Court
sold the township to Waterman Thomas for 19¢ an acre (Approx $2.30 an acre in 2006 dollars). Early occupations included farming, hunting
and ship building.
On June 16, 1809, Plantation Number 5 PS was incorporated as Calais after Calais, France
, in honor of French
assistance during the American Revolution
. The river provided the mill town
with water power for industry, which included sawmills, clapboard
and shingle
mills, 2 planing mill
s, a saw
factory, 2 axe
factories and 4 grain
mills. There were foundries
, machine shops, granite
works, shoe factories
and a tannery
. Other businesses produced bricks, bedsteads, broom
s, carriage
s and plaster
.
Calais is the home of the first railroad built in the state of Maine, the Calais Railroad incorporated by the state legislature on February 17, 1832. It was built to transport lumber from a mill on the Saint Croix River
opposite Milltown, New Brunswick two miles (3 km) to the tidewater at Calais in 1835. In 1849, the name was changed to the Calais & Baring Railroad and the line was extended four more miles to Baring. In 1870, it became part of the St. Croix & Penobscot Railroad.
Calais was incorporated as a city on August 24, 1850. On July 18, 1864, Confederate agents crossed the border from New Brunswick
, and robbed a bank in Calais.
The Calais Free Library
was designed by noted Boston
architect Arthur H. Vinal
and opened on July 4, 1893. The Romanesque Revival
building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2001.
Other places in Calais listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Calais Historic District, Calais Residential Historic District, Devils Head Site, Gilmore House, Thomas Hamilton House, Hinckley Hill Historic District, Holmes Cottage, Dr. Job Holmes House, Theodore Jellison House, Pike's Mile Markers, St. Anne's Episcopal Church
, George Washburn House and Whitlocks Mill Light.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 40 square miles (103.6 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) of it (14.94%) is water. Calais is located at the head of tide
on the St. Croix River
. Recently, the City of Calais acquired Devil's Head. This remarkable site comprises 318 acres (1.3 km²) of land; one mile (1.6 km) of frontage on the St Croix estuary; 6/10 of a mile of frontage on Coastal U.S. Route One; and having a variety of significant features, including: a 340 feet (103.6 m) high granite headland towering over the estuary; low tide sand and boulder beach; upland forest and abundant wildlife. Trail construction was completed in 2003. In addition, Calais is the northern terminus of the East Coast Greenway
which has its southern terminus in Key West, Florida
.
of 2000, there were 3,447 people, 1,486 households, and 904 families residing in the city. The population density
was 101.3 people per square mile (39.1/km²). There were 1,921 housing units at an average density of 56.4 per square mile (21.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.81% White, 0.35% Black or African American
, 0.61% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.49% from other races
, and 1.04% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,486 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,623, and the median income for a family was $39,118. Males had a median income of $37,684 versus $20,058 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,135. About 11.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.
and Maine State Route 9
.
form of government. The current city manager is Diane Barnes. Some past city managers include: William Bridgeo, Nancy Orr, and Mark Ryckman
. The current city mayor is Joseph Cassidy.
, Fire
, and EMS
department.
, a middle school
, a high school
, and a technical school
.
and a school
for extended learning and continuing education
. The University of Maine at Machias
and a Boat School in Eastport, ME are located nearby as well.
connect Calais to St. Stephen, New Brunswick
, Canada
. Construction began in 2008 on a third bridge and Port of entry
(POE) to connect the two communities as well. Referred to as the International Avenue Bridge
, this bridge and POE opened on November 16, 2009 and serves commercial, cargo, trucking
, passenger vehicles, campers, RVs, and buses. However, both Ferry Point and Milltown crossings remain in use for passenger vehicles.
The new inspection facility alleviates traffic congestion from downtown Calais and the neighboring towns in Canada. It is equipped with state-of-the-art security equipment that allows for efficient processing of both commercial and passenger vehicles. The new facility is occupied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). This facility was built as part of GSA's high performance green building program and has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold certification for comprehensive use of sustainable design and technology. Recycled, reused, and local materials were used during the construction. The facility conserves energy by bringing natural light into every occupied space, and conserves water by using low-flow fixtures that consumes 40 percent less water than traditional plumbing. The Calais Port of entry
, designed by Robert Siegel Architects
, provides six lanes of non-commercial inspection and three lanes of commercial inspection.
(LNG) receiving terminal and storage facility on the outskirts of Calais, Maine. The 330 acres (1.3 km²) site is located approximately seven miles south of downtown Calais and features 2800 feet (853.4 m) of shoreline along the deepwater banks of the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay
. The Calais LNG facility would feature: 1) A pier with berthing for one LNG vessel, 2) Two 5,650,000-cubic-foot (160,000 m3), full-containment LNG storage tanks, with potential expansion for a third tank, 3) LNG receiving facility, 4) Send-out plant & ancillary features, and 5) A 20 miles (32.2 km) pipeline connecting the facility to the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. The project is claimed to support approximately 250 construction jobs and between 40 and 60 permanent operations and maintenance jobs. Calais LNG had previously secured the financial support of Goldman Sachs
as a key investor and put together a group of highly experienced industry and regional experts. However, on 2010 July 21, Goldman Sachs backed out of financing the project. Being able to demonstrate financial capacity to carry out the project is a Maine permitting requirement; thus, Calais LNG does not meet that requirement.
On 2010 September 1, Calais LNG did not renew its purchase option for the land required to build its terminal, essentially losing state-required Title, Right, or Interest (TRI) in the necessary property. Although this deadline passed, Calais LNG did not inform the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) of the lapse at the 2010 September 15 BEP meeting on the project.
On 2010 September 23, the owners of the property required for Calais LNG's terminal wrote to the BEP, informing the Board that Calais LNG no longer held TRI in the property, and that the property owners are under no obligation to sell the property to Calais LNG.
A major hurdle is the opposition of the Canadian federal government, which has said it will not permit LNG tankers to pass through Head Harbor Passage, which they would have to do to reach the Calais LNG terminal. In its database on proposed energy projects, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lists the Calais LNG project’s completion as “unlikely.”
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Washington County, Maine
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 32,856. Its county seat is Machias.Sometimes referred to as "Sunrise County" because it is the easternmost county in the United States, and it is often where the rising sun first shines on the 48...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city has three United States border crossings or also known as a Port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
(POE) with the busiest being on the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Maine-New Brunswick)
The St. Croix River is a river in northeastern North America, in length, that forms part of the Canada – United States border between Maine and New Brunswick . The river rises in the Chiputneticook Lakes and flows south and southeast, between Calais and St. Stephen...
bordering St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Calais has historically been a city of commerce and is recognized as the primary shopping center of eastern Washington County and Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County is located in the southwestern portion of New Brunswick, Canada.In most of the county, fishing and aquaculture dominate the local economy, although the town of St. Andrews is a tourist mecca and St...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Currently retail, service, and construction businesses are the primary components of the Calais economy. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census.
History
The river and its area were first explored by Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
when he and his men spent a winter on St. Croix Island in 1604. The first permanent settler was Daniel Hill of Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Maine
Jonesboro is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The town was named for John Coffin Jones, a landholder. The population was 594 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, who arrived in 1779, and with others built the first sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in 1782. On June 27, 1789, the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
sold the township to Waterman Thomas for 19¢ an acre (Approx $2.30 an acre in 2006 dollars). Early occupations included farming, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and ship building.
On June 16, 1809, Plantation Number 5 PS was incorporated as Calais after Calais, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in honor of French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
assistance during the American Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The river provided the mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
with water power for industry, which included sawmills, clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
and shingle
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
mills, 2 planing mill
Planing mill
A planing mill is a facility that takes cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and turns them into finished dimensional lumber. Machines used in the mill include the planer and matcher, the molding machines, and varieties of saws...
s, a saw
Saw
A saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive...
factory, 2 axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
factories and 4 grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
mills. There were foundries
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
, machine shops, granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
works, shoe factories
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
and a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
. Other businesses produced bricks, bedsteads, broom
Broom
A broom is a cleaning tool consisting of stiff fibers attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a variety of brush with a long handle. It is commonly used in combination with a dustpan....
s, carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
s and plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
.
Calais is the home of the first railroad built in the state of Maine, the Calais Railroad incorporated by the state legislature on February 17, 1832. It was built to transport lumber from a mill on the Saint Croix River
St. Croix River (Maine-New Brunswick)
The St. Croix River is a river in northeastern North America, in length, that forms part of the Canada – United States border between Maine and New Brunswick . The river rises in the Chiputneticook Lakes and flows south and southeast, between Calais and St. Stephen...
opposite Milltown, New Brunswick two miles (3 km) to the tidewater at Calais in 1835. In 1849, the name was changed to the Calais & Baring Railroad and the line was extended four more miles to Baring. In 1870, it became part of the St. Croix & Penobscot Railroad.
Calais was incorporated as a city on August 24, 1850. On July 18, 1864, Confederate agents crossed the border from New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, and robbed a bank in Calais.
The Calais Free Library
Calais Free Library
Calais Free Library is a public library in Calais, Maine. It was built in 1892 and designed by Boston, Massachusetts architect Arthur H. Vinal. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also home to an art gallery.-External links:...
was designed by noted Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
architect Arthur H. Vinal
Arthur H. Vinal
Arthur H. Vinal was an American architect who lived and worked in Boston, Massachusetts. Vinal started a partnership with Henry F. Starbuck in 1877; the firm broke up when Starbuck moved away. Vinal was City Architect of Boston from 1884 to 1887. He is principally known for his Richardsonian...
and opened on July 4, 1893. The Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2001.
Other places in Calais listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Calais Historic District, Calais Residential Historic District, Devils Head Site, Gilmore House, Thomas Hamilton House, Hinckley Hill Historic District, Holmes Cottage, Dr. Job Holmes House, Theodore Jellison House, Pike's Mile Markers, St. Anne's Episcopal Church
St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Calais, Maine)
St. Anne's Episcopal Church, built in 1853, is a historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church located at 23 Church Street, in Calais, Maine, in the United States. On July 8, 1982, St. Anne's was added to the National Register of Historic Places....
, George Washburn House and Whitlocks Mill Light.
Geography
Calais is located at 45°9′58"N 67°14′33"W (45.166045, -67.242434).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 40 square miles (103.6 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) of it (14.94%) is water. Calais is located at the head of tide
Head of tide
Head of tide is the farthest point upstream where a river is affected by tidal fluctuations. This applies to rivers which flow into tidal bodies such as oceans, bays and sloughs. Though this point may vary due to storms and seasonal or annual differences in water flows, there is generally an...
on the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Maine-New Brunswick)
The St. Croix River is a river in northeastern North America, in length, that forms part of the Canada – United States border between Maine and New Brunswick . The river rises in the Chiputneticook Lakes and flows south and southeast, between Calais and St. Stephen...
. Recently, the City of Calais acquired Devil's Head. This remarkable site comprises 318 acres (1.3 km²) of land; one mile (1.6 km) of frontage on the St Croix estuary; 6/10 of a mile of frontage on Coastal U.S. Route One; and having a variety of significant features, including: a 340 feet (103.6 m) high granite headland towering over the estuary; low tide sand and boulder beach; upland forest and abundant wildlife. Trail construction was completed in 2003. In addition, Calais is the northern terminus of the East Coast Greenway
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
which has its southern terminus in Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,447 people, 1,486 households, and 904 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 101.3 people per square mile (39.1/km²). There were 1,921 housing units at an average density of 56.4 per square mile (21.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.81% White, 0.35% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.61% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.04% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,486 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,623, and the median income for a family was $39,118. Males had a median income of $37,684 versus $20,058 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,135. About 11.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Calais is located along U.S. 1U.S. Route 1 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway serving the eastern part of the state. It parallels the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire north through Portland, Brunswick, and Belfast to Calais, and then the St. Croix River and the rest of the Canadian border...
and Maine State Route 9
Maine State Route 9
State Route 9 is a numbered state highway in Maine, running from the New Hampshire border at Berwick in the west to the Canadian border with New Brunswick at Calais in the east. State Route 9 runs a total of .-Route description:...
.
Government
The City of Calais operates under the council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The current city manager is Diane Barnes. Some past city managers include: William Bridgeo, Nancy Orr, and Mark Ryckman
Mark Ryckman
Mark L. Ryckman is the City Manager of the City of Corning, New York, a municipal corporation founded in 1890. In July 1997, Ryckman's appointment as City Manager was approved by the Corning City Council. As the City's Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for all daily operations and...
. The current city mayor is Joseph Cassidy.
Public safety
Calais has a full time PolicePolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, Fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
, and EMS
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
department.
Public schools
Calais has an elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and a technical school
Technical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
.
Higher education
Calais is home to a community collegeCommunity college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
and a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
for extended learning and continuing education
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
. The University of Maine at Machias
University of Maine at Machias
The University of Maine at Machias is one of seven campuses in the University of Maine System. Located in Machias, Maine, United States, the seat of Washington County, the university was founded in 1909 as a normal school for developing teachers, and offers studies in recreation, education,...
and a Boat School in Eastport, ME are located nearby as well.
- Washington County Community College
- Husson University's Unobskey College
- Husson University's Boat School
- University of Maine at Machias
Healthcare
Calais Regional Hospital (CRH) currently has 15 acute care beds and 10 swing beds, in addition to a 24-hour physician staffed emergency department. It continues to serve Northeastern Washington County with an approximate population of 14,000 from Topsfield to the North, Wesley to the West and Eastport to the south. CRH is the largest employer in Calais, employing more than 200 people. The hospital is licensed by the State of Maine.International Border Crossings
The Ferry Point International Bridge and the Milltown International BridgeMilltown International Bridge
The Milltown International Bridge is an international bridge, which connects St. Stephen, New Brunswick in Canada and Calais, Maine in the United States, across the St. Croix River....
connect Calais to St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Construction began in 2008 on a third bridge and Port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
(POE) to connect the two communities as well. Referred to as the International Avenue Bridge
International Avenue Bridge
The International Avenue Bridge is an international bridge across the St. Croix River, connecting the town of St. Stephen, New Brunswick in Canada with the town of Calais, Maine in the United States....
, this bridge and POE opened on November 16, 2009 and serves commercial, cargo, trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, passenger vehicles, campers, RVs, and buses. However, both Ferry Point and Milltown crossings remain in use for passenger vehicles.
The new inspection facility alleviates traffic congestion from downtown Calais and the neighboring towns in Canada. It is equipped with state-of-the-art security equipment that allows for efficient processing of both commercial and passenger vehicles. The new facility is occupied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
(CBP), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). This facility was built as part of GSA's high performance green building program and has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) Gold certification for comprehensive use of sustainable design and technology. Recycled, reused, and local materials were used during the construction. The facility conserves energy by bringing natural light into every occupied space, and conserves water by using low-flow fixtures that consumes 40 percent less water than traditional plumbing. The Calais Port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
, designed by Robert Siegel Architects
Robert Siegel Architects
Robert Siegel Architects is a New York City based architecture firm, and is dedicated to architectural innovation and creation of public buildings, academic and cultural facilities, and commercial and residential interiors...
, provides six lanes of non-commercial inspection and three lanes of commercial inspection.
Calais LNG
Calais LNG is proposing to construct and operate a Liquefied Natural GasLiquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....
(LNG) receiving terminal and storage facility on the outskirts of Calais, Maine. The 330 acres (1.3 km²) site is located approximately seven miles south of downtown Calais and features 2800 feet (853.4 m) of shoreline along the deepwater banks of the St. Croix River and Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
. The Calais LNG facility would feature: 1) A pier with berthing for one LNG vessel, 2) Two 5,650,000-cubic-foot (160,000 m3), full-containment LNG storage tanks, with potential expansion for a third tank, 3) LNG receiving facility, 4) Send-out plant & ancillary features, and 5) A 20 miles (32.2 km) pipeline connecting the facility to the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline. The project is claimed to support approximately 250 construction jobs and between 40 and 60 permanent operations and maintenance jobs. Calais LNG had previously secured the financial support of Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
as a key investor and put together a group of highly experienced industry and regional experts. However, on 2010 July 21, Goldman Sachs backed out of financing the project. Being able to demonstrate financial capacity to carry out the project is a Maine permitting requirement; thus, Calais LNG does not meet that requirement.
On 2010 September 1, Calais LNG did not renew its purchase option for the land required to build its terminal, essentially losing state-required Title, Right, or Interest (TRI) in the necessary property. Although this deadline passed, Calais LNG did not inform the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) of the lapse at the 2010 September 15 BEP meeting on the project.
On 2010 September 23, the owners of the property required for Calais LNG's terminal wrote to the BEP, informing the Board that Calais LNG no longer held TRI in the property, and that the property owners are under no obligation to sell the property to Calais LNG.
A major hurdle is the opposition of the Canadian federal government, which has said it will not permit LNG tankers to pass through Head Harbor Passage, which they would have to do to reach the Calais LNG terminal. In its database on proposed energy projects, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lists the Calais LNG project’s completion as “unlikely.”
Sites of interest
- St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Wabanaki Cultural Center (formerly known as the Downeast Heritage Museum)
- St. Croix Historical Society & Museum
- Calais Waterfront Walkway
- Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
- East Coast Greenway
- St. Croix Island
- Down East Sunrise Trail
- Bicycle Coalition of Maine - Down East Trails
- Quoddy Loop Tour Guide
- Cobscook Bay State Park
- Quoddy Head State Park
- Shackford Head State Park
- Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land
- St. Croix Country Club
- Whitlocks Mill Lighthouse
- Greystone Bed & Breakfast
- Keenes Lake Family Campground
- Hilltop Camp Ground
- Sunrise Canoe and Kayak
- Maine Birding
- St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada
- Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada
Notable people
- Nehemiah AbbottNehemiah AbbottNehemiah Abbott was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Sidney, studied law at the Litchfield, Connecticut Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1836 and began his practice at Calais, Maine....
, congressman - Ron CorningRon CorningRon Corning is an American television host at the ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas, Texas. He co-anchors the station's morning newscast, Daybreak, and is solo anchor of Midday, the station's one-hour noon newscast....
, television anchor man - Thomas FullerThomas Fuller (Maine)Thomas James Duncan Fuller was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Hardwick, Vermont on March 17, 1808. He attended the common schools....
, congressman - Andrea GibsonAndrea GibsonAndrea Gibson born April 22, 1975 is an award-winning poet and activist. She currently lives in Colorado. Her poetry focuses on gender norms, politics, and today's struggles facing non-heterosexual people. Gibson disclosed that she chose to write what was in her bones and thus these subject...
, spoken word artist, poet, activist - Roger LyndonRoger LyndonRoger Conant Lyndon was an American mathematician, for many years a professor at the University of Michigan. He is known for Lyndon words, the Curtis–Hedlund–Lyndon theorem, Craig–Lyndon interpolation and the Lyndon–Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence.-Biography:Lyndon was born on December 18, 1917...
, mathematician - Frederick A. PikeFrederick A. PikeFrederick Augustus Pike was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in Calais, Maine, Pike attended the common schools and the Washington Academy, East Machias, Maine....
, congressman - James Shepherd PikeJames Shepherd Pike-Biography:He was born in Calais, Maine, was a journalist in the United States during the mid 19th century. From 1850-1860 he was the chief Washington correspondent and associate editor of the New York Tribune. The Tribune was the chief source of news and commentary for many Republican newspapers...
, journalist - Henry Milner RideoutHenry Milner RideoutHenry Milner Rideout was a native of Calais, Maine. Author of sixteen novels, twenty-three short stories and novellas, and a biographical memoir, he also was editor of one college textbook, as well as co-editor of three others...
, author - Harriet Prescott SpoffordHarriet Elizabeth Prescott SpoffordHarriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford was a notable American writer remembered for her novels, poems and detective stories.-Biography:...
, author - Horatio Nelson YoungHoratio Nelson YoungHoratio Nelson Young was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on the USS Lehigh during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, naval hero
Media
10.1 WMED-TV HD PBS10.2 WMED-TV SD PBS
10.3 WMED-TV PBS World
Stations available on Cable:
- CBAT-TVCBAT-TVCBAT-TV is the CBC's television station in New Brunswick. The station's main studios are located in Fredericton. It broadcasts terrestrially on VHF channel 4 from its main transmitter on Mount Champlain near Saint John, its city of licence until 2011, and serves the province via a network of relay...
CBC Fredericton - WVII (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
), (BangorBangor, MaineBangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
) - WABI-DT2 (The CW), (BangorBangor, MaineBangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
)