Historical U.S. 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

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

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

New England town

The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...

Corporate changes since 1900

1901 – New town of Millinocket incorporated from previously unorganized territory (formerly part of T3 Indian Purchase)

1907 – New town of East Millinocket incorporated from previously unorganized territory (formerly part of TAR7 WELS)

1907 – Mattamiscontis disincorporated; may have been briefly subsequently organized as plantation (see notes to the 1900 Census below), but ultimately reverted to unorganized territory

1921 – Drew Plantation incorporated as a town

1934 – Drew disincorporated; subsequently organized as a plantation

1935 – Kingman disincorporated; subsequently organized as a plantation, but later reverted to unorganized territory

1936 – Mount Chase disincorporated; subsequently organized as a plantation

1937 – Carroll disincorporated; subsequently organized as a plantation

1938 – Argyle disincorporated and reverted to unorganized territory

1939 – Prentiss disincorporated; subsequently organized as a plantation, but later reverted to unorganized territory

1953 – Stacyville Plantation incorporated as a town

1979 – Mount Chase Plantation re-incorporated as a town

1981 – Lakeville Plantation incorporated as a town

1993 – Greenfield disincorporated and reverted to unorganized territory

1900

County Total: 76,246

Bangor (city) 21,850
Old Town (city) 5,763
Brewer (city) 4,835
Orono 3,257
Dexter 2,941
Hampden 2,182
Lincoln 1,731
Newport 1,533
Orrington 1,266
Hermon 1,183
Patten 1,172
Corinna 1,170
Enfield 1,062
Corinth 1,042
Bradford 954
Kingman 936
Carmel 932
Exeter 879
Garland 857
Dixmont 843
Charleston 842
Milford 838
Lee 801
Levant 789
Newburgh 734
Winn 688
Bradley 682
Eddington 663
Plymouth 658
Holden 602
Greenbush 586
Lagrange 574
Veazie 555
Springfield 532
Etna 527
Mattawamkeag 527
Howland 519
Stetson 503
Prentiss 502
Carroll 487
Glenburn 461
Hudson 430
Kenduskeag 423
Passadumkeag 409
Burlington 394
Chester 363
Argyle 320
Alton 314
Lowell 300
Mount Chase 299
Medway 297
Clifton 236
Greenfield 160
Woodville 160
Maxfield 115
Edinburg 65
Mattamiscontis 28

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

Bangor (city) 24,803
Old Town (city) 6,317
Brewer (city) 5,667
Orono 3,555
Dexter 3,530
Millinocket 3,368
Hampden 2,380
Lincoln 1,988
Newport 1,747
Patten 1,406
Corinna 1,237
Orrington 1,219
Hermon 1,210
Carmel 1,050
Corinth 1,034
Enfield 970
Milford 967
Bradford 930
East Millinocket 923
Exeter 888
Charleston 864
Garland 817
Dixmont 757
Lee 748
Kingman 741
Levant 707
Newburgh 694
Winn 655
Bradley 634
Eddington 611
Holden 609
Lagrange 590
Plymouth 590
Veazie 557
Etna 523
Mattawamkeag 517
Howland 494
Medway 489
Greenbush 485
Kenduskeag 481
Stetson 480
Carroll 472
Prentiss 472
Springfield 459
Glenburn 457
Passadumkeag 445
Hudson 403
Burlington 370
Chester 349
Alton 259
Lowell 259
Argyle 233
Mount Chase 227
Clifton 217
Greenfield 195
Woodville 125
Maxfield 79
Edinburg 45

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

Bangor (city) 25,978
Old Town (city) 6,956
Brewer (city) 6,064
Millinocket 4,528
Dexter 4,113
Orono 3,133
Lincoln 2,452
Hampden 2,352
Newport 1,709
Patten 1,498
Corinna 1,394
East Millinocket 1,392
Hermon 1,190
Orrington 1,174
Milford 1,128
Enfield 1,041
Carmel 918
Corinth 891
Exeter 807
Bradford 738
Howland 724
Lee 724
Charleston 720
Garland 677
Bradley 672
Winn 638
Kingman 604
Dixmont 602
Levant 602
Newburgh 578
Plymouth 576
Mattawamkeag 553
Holden 549
Eddington 527
Veazie 504
Springfield 497
Lagrange 478
Kenduskeag 451
Stetson 427
Carroll 395
Medway 390
Etna 386
Greenbush 381
Glenburn 377
Prentiss 373
Hudson 369
Passadumkeag 354
Burlington 330
Chester 285
Mount Chase 239
Lowell 212
Alton 209
Clifton 185
Argyle 170
Greenfield 108
Woodville 100
Maxfield 67
Edinburg 41

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

Bangor (city) 28,749
Old Town (city) 7,266
Brewer (city) 6,329
Millinocket 5,830
Dexter 4,063
Orono 3,338
Lincoln 2,970
Hampden 2,417
Newport 1,731
Howland 1,605
East Millinocket 1,593
Corinna 1,485
Patten 1,278
Hermon 1,204
Orrington 1,167
Milford 1,203
Enfield 1,138
Corinth 931
Carmel 881
Exeter 773
Bradford 721
Charleston 716
Garland 673
Bradley 671
Lee 669
Levant 596
Veazie 568
Winn 560
Newburgh 551
Holden 543
Dixmont 538
Kingman 495
Eddington 487
Lagrange 468
Plymouth 468
Mattawamkeag 461
Springfield 451
Stetson 420
Etna 418
Medway 406
Kenduskeag 397
Greenbush 373
Hudson 363
Glenburn 357
Prentiss 330
Passadumkeag 325
Burlington 301
Carroll 293
Chester 253
Mount Chase 210
Alton 209
Lowell 161
Clifton 156
Argyle 120
Greenfield 119
Maxfield 116
Woodville 115
Drew 110
Edinburg 45

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

Bangor (city) 29,822
Old Town (city) 7,688
Brewer (city) 6,510
Millinocket 6,223
Dexter 3,714
Orono 3,702
Lincoln 3,653
Hampden 2,591
Newport 2,052
East Millinocket 1,663
Patten 1,548
Orrington 1,517
Corinna 1,515
Milford 1,264
Howland 1,189
Hermon 1,182
Enfield 979
Corinth 954
Carmel 870
Mattawamkeag 843
Charleston 768
Exeter 751
Bradford 734
Bradley 716
Holden 680
Levant 661
Medway 623
Lee 618
Garland 610
Veazie 597
Newburgh 591
Winn 585
Dixmont 576
Eddington 571
Lagrange 508
Glenburn 500
Plymouth 462
Etna 460
Springfield 442
Greenbush 439
Stetson 408
Kenduskeag 387
Hudson 372
Burlington 338
Alton 286
Passadumkeag 277
Chester 258
Clifton 168
Lowell 161
Woodville 133
Greenfield 110
Maxfield 67
Edinburg 34

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

Bangor (city) 31,558
Old Town (city) 8,261
Orono 7,504
Brewer (city) 6,862
Millinocket 5,890
Dexter 4,126
Lincoln 4,030
Hampden 3,608
Newport 2,190
Orrington 1,895
Corinna 1,752
Hermon 1,728
Patten 1,536
Howland 1,441
Milford 1,435
East Millinocket 1,358
Enfield 1,196
Corinth 1,167
Carmel 996
Mattawamkeag 803
Bradford 793
Bradley 786
Veazie 776
Charleston 771
Holden 754
Exeter 734
Medway 725
Levant 706
Glenburn 694
Eddington 664
Dixmont 631
Lee 610
Newburgh 599
Garland 581
Lagrange 511
Winn 497
Plymouth 496
Greenbush 477
Etna 458
Hudson 455
Stetson 434
Burlington 425
Springfield 414
Kenduskeag 387
Passadumkeag 331
Alton 314
Chester 256
Clifton 193
Lowell 192
Woodville 91
Greenfield 88
Edinburg 36
Maxfield 26

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

Bangor (city) 38,912
Brewer (city) 9,009
Old Town (city) 8,626
Orono 8,341
Millinocket 7,453
Hampden 4,583
Lincoln 4,541
Dexter 3,951
Orrington 2,539
East Millinocket 2,392
Newport 2,322
Hermon 2,087
Corinna 1,895
Milford 1,572
Holden 1,375
Howland 1,362
Veazie 1,354
Patten 1,312
Medway 1,266
Carmel 1,206
Corinth 1,138
Enfield 1,098
Glenburn 965
Eddington 958
Bradley 951
Mattawamkeag 945
Levant 765
Charleston 750
Exeter 707
Bradford 690
Stacyville 673
Newburgh 636
Kenduskeag 584
Garland 568
Greenbush 565
Lee 555
Dixmont 551
Hudson 542
Winn 526
Plymouth 494
Etna 486
Springfield 426
Lagrange 424
Stetson 420
Passadumkeag 355
Burlington 353
Alton 303
Chester 261
Clifton 227
Lowell 132
Greenfield 100
Woodville 49
Maxfield 39
Edinburg 19

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

Bangor (city) 33,168
Orono 9,989
Brewer (city) 9,300
Old Town (city) 8,741
Millinocket 7,742
Lincoln 4,759
Hampden 4,693
Dexter 3,725
Orrington 2,702
East Millinocket 2,567
Hermon 2,376
Newport 2,260
Holden 1,841
Milford 1,828
Corinna 1,700
Veazie 1,556
Medway 1,491
Howland 1,468
Eddington 1,358
Carmel 1,301
Patten 1,266
Corinth 1,212
Glenburn 1,196
Enfield 1,148
Bradley 1,010
Mattawamkeag 988
Charleston 909
Newburgh 835
Levant 802
Kenduskeag 733
Exeter 663
Lee 599
Garland 596
Greenbush 591
Bradford 569
Dixmont 559
Stacyville 547
Plymouth 542
Etna 526
Winn 516
Hudson 482
Stetson 395
Lagrange 393
Alton 340
Springfield 336
Passadumkeag 326
Burlington 266
Chester 255
Clifton 233
Lowell 154
Greenfield 117
Edinburg 67
Woodville 62
Maxfield 24

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

Bangor (city) 31,643
Orono 10,578
Brewer (city) 9,017
Old Town (city) 8,422
Millinocket 7,567
Hampden 5,250
Lincoln 5,066
Dexter 4,286
Orrington 3,244
Hermon 3,170
Newport 2,755
Holden 2,554
East Millinocket 2,372
Glenburn 2,319
Milford 2,160
Corinna 1,887
Medway 1,871
Eddington 1,769
Corinth 1,711
Carmel 1,695
Veazie 1,610
Howland 1,602
Enfield 1,397
Patten 1,368
Newburgh 1,228
Kenduskeag 1,210
Bradley 1,149
Levant 1,117
Greenbush 1,064
Charleston 1,037
Mattawamkeag 1,000
Bradford 888
Exeter 823
Dixmont 812
Plymouth 811
Hudson 797
Etna 758
Garland 718
Lee 688
Stetson 618
Stacyville 554
Lagrange 509
Winn 503
Alton 468
Clifton 462
Springfield 443
Chester 434
Passadumkeag 430
Burlington 322
Mount Chase 233
Woodville 226
Greenfield 194
Lowell 194
Edinburg 126
Maxfield 64

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

Bangor (city) 33,181
Orono 10,573
Brewer (city) 9,021
Old Town (city) 8,317
Millinocket 6,956
Hampden 5,974
Lincoln 5,587
Dexter 4,419
Hermon 3,755
Orrington 3,309
Glenburn 3,198
Newport 3,036
Holden 2,952
Milford 2,884
Corinna 2,196
Corinth 2,177
East Millinocket 2,166
Eddington 1,947
Medway 1,922
Carmel 1,906
Veazie 1,633
Levant 1,627
Enfield 1,476
Howland 1,435
Newburgh 1,317
Greenbush 1,309
Patten 1,256
Kenduskeag 1,234
Charleston 1,187
Plymouth 1,152
Bradley 1,136
Bradford 1,103
Garland 1,064
Hudson 1,048
Dixmont 1,007
Etna 977
Exeter 937
Stetson 847
Lee 832
Mattawamkeag 830
Alton 771
Clifton 607
Lagrange 557
Stacyville 480
Winn 479
Chester 442
Passadumkeag 428
Springfield 406
Burlington 360
Greenfield 267
Lowell 267
Mount Chase 254
Woodville 215
Edinburg 107
Maxfield 86
Lakeville 45

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

Bangor (city) 31,473
Orono 9,112
Brewer (city) 8,987
Old Town (city) 8,130
Hampden 6,327
Lincoln 5,221
Millinocket 5,203
Hermon 4,437
Glenburn 3,964
Dexter 3,890
Orrington 3,526
Newport 3,017
Milford 2,950
Holden 2,827
Corinth 2,511
Carmel 2,416
Levant 2,171
Corinna 2,145
Eddington 2,052
East Millinocket 1,828
Veazie 1,744
Enfield 1,616
Medway 1,489
Greenbush 1,421
Charleston 1,397
Newburgh 1,394
Hudson 1,393
Howland 1,362
Plymouth 1,257
Bradley 1,242
Bradford 1,186
Kenduskeag 1,171
Patten 1,111
Dixmont 1,065
Etna 1,012
Exeter 997
Garland 990
Stetson 981
Lee 845
Mattawamkeag 825
Alton 816
Lagrange 747
Clifton 743
Chester 525
Passadumkeag 441
Winn 420
Stacyville 405
Springfield 379
Burlington 351
Lowell 291
Woodville 286
Mount Chase 247
Edinburg 98
Maxfield 87
Lakeville 63

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

Stacyville 347
Lakeville 129
Webster 124
Drew 120
Seboeis 96
Grand Falls 52
Summit 37

1910

Stacyville 577
Drew 247
Webster 103
Lakeville 96
Seboeis 86
Grand Falls 50
Summit 14

1920

Stacyville 583
Drew 286
Webster 87
Lakeville 84
Seboeis 83
Grand Falls 36

1930

Stacyville 600
Webster 90
Lakeville 60
Seboeis 41
Grand Falls 53

1940

Stacyville 717
Kingman 367
Prentiss 337
Carroll 304
Mount Chase 198
Drew 93
Webster 89
Seboeis 80
Lakeville 71
Grand Falls 55

1950

Stacyville 679
Prentiss 315
Carroll 288
Mount Chase 250
Webster 92
Drew 72
Seboeis 70
Lakeville 50
Grand Falls 22

1960

Prentiss 227
Mount Chase 179
Carroll 147
Webster 79
Seboeis 77
Drew 43
Lakeville 21
Grand Falls 7

1970

Mount Chase 197
Prentiss 159
Carroll 132
Seboeis 63
Webster 56
Drew 32
Lakeville 15
Grand Falls 6

1980

Prentiss 205
Carroll 175
Webster 82
Drew 57
Seboeis 53
Lakeville 32
Grand Falls 1

1990

Prentiss 245
Carroll 185
Webster 95
Drew 43
Seboeis 40

2000

Carroll 144
Webster 82
Drew 57
Seboeis 41

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 1300 square miles (3,367 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:

North Penobscot Unorganized Territory: the unorganized area north or to the interior of Seboeis, Maxfield, Howland, Enfield, Chester, Lincoln, Woodville, Medway and East Millinocket. It encompasses all territory to the north or interior of those communities except for the towns of Millinocket, Stacyville, Patten and Mount Chase. This covers the bulk of the historically unorganized territory in Penobscot County, as well as the former town of Mattamiscontis.

East Central Penobscot Unorganized Territory: the former town of Greenfield, and the former Grand Falls and Summit plantations.

Argyle Unorganized Territory: the former town of Argyle, which is its own Unorganized Territory because it does not border any other land that is unorganized.

Kingman Unorganized Territory: the former town (later plantation) of Kingman, which is its own Unorganized Territory because it does not border any other land that is unorganized.

Prentiss Unorganized Territory: the former town (later plantation) of Prentiss, which is its own Unorganized Territory because it does not border any other land that is both unorganized and within Penobscot County.

Twombly Unorganized Territory: Twombly Twp. (T3R1 NBPP), which is its own Unorganized Territory because it does not border any other land that is both unorganized and within Penobscot County.

Whitney Unorganized Territory: Whitney Twp. (T5R1 NBPP), which is its own Unorganized Territory because it does not border any other land that is both unorganized and 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

T3 Indian Purchase 1,144
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 50
Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 49
T6R7 17
TAR7 16
T2R8 NWP 7
T3R1 7
T2R9 5
T6R8 5
T5R7 1

1910

All unincorporated territory 1,667

Organized plantations 1,173

Unorganized territory 494

Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 208
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 75
T3 Indian Purchase 44
Grindstone Twp. (T1R7 WELS) 40
T6R7 26
T2R8 NWP 21
Soldiertown Twp. (T2R7) 15
Mattamiscontis Twp. (T1R7 NWP) 12
T4R7 12
T2R9 11
T6R8 11
TAR7 7
T5R7 6
T3R1 3
T3R7 2
T7R8 1

1920

All unincorporated territory 2,154

Organized plantations 1,159

Unorganized territory 995

Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 207
T7R7 75
Grindstone Twp. (T1R7 WELS) 70
T3 Indian Purchase 62
T7R8 61
T6R6 59
T8R8 49
T3R7 48
T1R6 46
Soldiertown Twp. (T2R7) 45
T4R7 45
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 42
T5R8 39
T6R7 38
T3R9 33
T8R7 23
T2R8 WELS 14
T2R8 NWP 13
T6R8 9
Mattamiscontis Twp. (T1R7 NWP) 7
TAR7 6
Summit Twp. (T1 ND) 4

1930

All unincorporated territory 1,195

Organized plantations 844

Unorganized territory 351

T1R6 81
Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 66
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 41
Grindstone Twp. (T1R7 WELS) 34
T3 Indian Purchase 29
T2R8 NWP 21
T6R7 15
T2R9 13
Soldiertown Twp. (T2R7) 12
TAR7 10
T6R8 5
T4 Indian Purchase 4
T3R8 4
T1R8 3
T4R8 3
Summit Twp. (T1 ND) 2
T2R8 WELS 2
Tract Z 2
Mattamiscontis Twp. (T1R7 NWP) 1
Hopkins Academy Grant 1
T6R6 1
T3R7 1

1940

All unincorporated territory 2,734

Organized plantations 2,311

Unorganized territory 423

Argyle Twp. 128
T3 Indian Purchase 116
Grindstone Twp. (T1R7 WELS) 82
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 30
Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 21
T4 Indian Purchase 11
T6R7 8
Soldiertown Twp. (T2R7) 7
TAR7 6
T6R8 6
T2R8 NWP 5
T1R8 2
Mattamiscontis Twp. (T1R7 NWP) 1

1950

All unincorporated territory 2,634

Organized plantations 1,838

Unorganized territory 796

Kingman Twp. 358
Argyle Twp. 133
T3 Indian Purchase 97
Long A Twp. (TAR8 & 9) 55
Grindstone Twp. (T1R7 WELS) 53
T4 Indian Purchase 37
Herseytown Twp. (T2R6) 35
TAR7 5
T6R6 5
T6R7 5
T6R8 4
T2R8 NWP 3
T3R8 2
T5R7 2
Mattamiscontis Twp. (T1R7 NWP) 1
T2R8 WELS 1

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.

Kingman Unorganized Territory 264
North Penobscot Unorganized Territory 175
Argyle Unorganized Territory 155
Summit Unorganized Territory 0
Twombly Unorganized Territory 0
Whitney Unorganized Territory 0

1980

All unincorporated territory 1,364

Organized plantations 605

Unorganized territory 759

Kingman Unorganized Territory 281
North Penobscot Unorganized Territory 246
Argyle Unorganized Territory 225
Summit Unorganized Territory 7
Twombly Unorganized Territory 0
Whitney Unorganized Territory 0

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.

North Penobscot Unorganized Territory 403
Kingman Unorganized Territory 246
Argyle Unorganized Territory 202
East Central Penobscot Unorganized Territory 12
Twombly Unorganized Territory 0
Whitney Unorganized Territory 0

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.

North Penobscot Unorganized Territory 443
East Central Penobscot Unorganized Territory 324
Argyle Unorganized Territory 253
Prentiss Unorganized Territory 214
Kingman Unorganized Territory 213
Twombly Unorganized Territory 2
Whitney Unorganized Territory 0

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

WELS (west of the Easterly Line of the State): as its name suggests, the baseline for this grid is the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick in Aroostook County. In places, it has up to 20 numbered rows, arranged from north to south. The upper rows exist only in Aroostook County, however, so that only rows 1 through 8 enter the modern borders of Penobscot County. A row “A” and “B” also exist in some areas to the south of row 1; west of the Penobscot River, the boundary between this grid and the one to the south of it (NWP) is irregular. The townships on this grid in Penobscot County are generally in ranges 6 through 8, although rows A and B do not exist in all ranges. The towns of Mount Chase, Patten and Stacyville were originally part of this grid. With the notable exception of the territory along the eastern edge, most of the area of Penobscot County covered by the WELS system is remote and very sparsely populated. Many of the townships are identified only by their row and range numbers and have never developed informal township names.

NWP (North of Waldo Patent): located in the area to the south of the WELS grid, west of the Penobscot River. Most of the townships in Penobscot County that were originally on this grid are now organized municipalities, but a few remain unorganized. These include T2R8, T2R9, and T3R9; the former town of Mattamiscontis is also sometimes referred to by its designation of T1R7. Ranges are numbered south to north, rows east to west. The northernmost range is generally range 9, although there is a range 10 in some places, as the boundary between this grid and the one to the north of it (WELS) is irregular. All of the never-organized townships on this grid in Piscataquis County are in ranges 8 or 9, and in rows 1 through 3. (Higher-numbered rows are further west, in Piscataquis County).

In the area where the WELS and NWP grids meet, there were originally some townships that were numbered sequentially as part of the “Indian Purchase”. Two of these townships remain as unorganized entities, numbers 3 and 4. The town of Millinocket was originally formed from part of T3. The area where the WELS and NWP grids meets also contains a few additional unorganized entities not part of any grid, including Hopkins Academy Grant and Veazie Gore.

NBPP (North of Bingham’s Penobscot Purchase): the area to the south of the WELS grid east of the Penobscot River was originally on this grid, which also extended into Washington County. Most of the original townships on this grid are now organized municipalities, but a few have never organized. These include Twombly Twp. (T3R1) and Whitney Twp. (T5R1).

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 (33.7 km²). Fewer than 8 square miles (20.7 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 (647,497 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 back 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