# Washington County, Maine

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,095, making it the third-least populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Machias. The county was established on June 25, 1789. It borders the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is sometimes referred to as "Sunrise County" because it includes the easternmost point in the 48 contiguous United States. Claims have been made that Washington County is where the sun first rises on the 48 contiguous states. Many small seaside communities have small-scale fishing-based economies. Tourism is also important along the county's shoreline, but it is not as important as elsewhere in the state. The blueberry crop plays a major role in the county's economy.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,258 square miles (8,440 km$^2$), of which 2,563 square miles (6,640 km$^2$) is land and 695 square miles (1,800 km$^2$) (21%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Hancock County – southwest
* Penobscot County – northwest
* Aroostook County – northwest
* York County, New Brunswick, Canada – northeast
* Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada – east

### National protected areas

* Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge
* Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
* Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge
* Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

### Major highways

* US 1
* US 1A
* SR 6
* SR 9
* SR 192
* SR 193

## Demographics

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

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,941 people, 14,118 households, and 9,303 families living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km$^2$). There were 21,919 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 93.48% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 4.43% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 95.0% spoke English, 1.9% Passamaquoddy, 1.0% Spanish and 1.0% French as their first language.
There were 14,118 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,869, and the median income for a family was $31,657. Males had a median income of $28,347 versus $20,074 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,119. About 14.20% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 19.20% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 32,856 people, 14,302 households, and 8,847 families living in the county. The population density was 12.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.9/km$^2$). There were 23,001 housing units at an average density of 9.0 units per square mile (3.5 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% white, 4.9% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 30.4% were English, 17.0% were Irish, 7.0% were German, 6.1% were Scottish, and 5.6% were American.
Of the 14,302 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 46.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,859 and the median income for a family was $43,612. Males had a median income of $35,981 versus $27,336 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,401. About 14.1% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

Washington County is considered to be a more conservative county in Maine. No Democrat has carried a majority of the county since Hubert Humphrey in 1968. In 2004, it was one of only two counties (the other being Piscataquis County) in Maine to vote for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry. The county voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1980 until 2020, when the county was carried by Donald Trump, who lost nationally to Joe Biden.
In the 2012 Maine Republican presidential caucuses, the majority of Washington County voters cast their votes for Republican Ron Paul, but votes from Washington County were not counted because of snow. Mitt Romney ultimately won the state by a narrow margin.

### Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024 :
| | Republican | 8,027 | 38.53% |
| | Unenrolled | 6,072 | 29.15% |
| | Democratic | 5,591 | 26.84% |
| | Green Independent | 752 | 3.61% |
| | No Labels | 314 | 1.51% |
| | Libertarian | 76 | 0.36% |
| Total | Total | 20,832 | 100% |
United States presidential election results for Washington County, Maine :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 11,001 | 60.96% | 6,763 | 37.48% | 282 | 1.56% |
| 2020 | 10,194 | 58.73% | 6,761 | 38.95% | 402 | 2.32% |
| 2016 | 9,093 | 55.56% | 6,075 | 37.12% | 1,197 | 7.31% |
| 2012 | 7,550 | 47.68% | 7,803 | 49.27% | 483 | 3.05% |
| 2008 | 8,077 | 48.50% | 8,246 | 49.51% | 331 | 1.99% |
| 2004 | 8,619 | 49.79% | 8,391 | 48.47% | 300 | 1.73% |
| 2000 | 7,958 | 50.66% | 6,701 | 42.66% | 1,049 | 6.68% |
| 1996 | 4,793 | 31.56% | 7,198 | 47.39% | 3,198 | 21.05% |
| 1992 | 5,493 | 30.92% | 6,284 | 35.37% | 5,988 | 33.71% |
| 1988 | 7,872 | 56.93% | 5,831 | 42.17% | 125 | 0.90% |
| 1984 | 9,713 | 64.41% | 5,308 | 35.20% | 60 | 0.40% |
| 1980 | 7,180 | 48.55% | 6,050 | 40.91% | 1,558 | 10.54% |
| 1976 | 7,039 | 49.45% | 6,644 | 46.67% | 552 | 3.88% |
| 1972 | 7,820 | 67.57% | 3,742 | 32.33% | 12 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 5,523 | 46.10% | 6,249 | 52.16% | 208 | 1.74% |
| 1964 | 3,816 | 29.05% | 9,312 | 70.88% | 9 | 0.07% |
| 1960 | 9,118 | 65.91% | 4,716 | 34.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 8,181 | 76.20% | 2,555 | 23.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 7,396 | 65.89% | 3,806 | 33.91% | 23 | 0.20% |
| 1948 | 5,130 | 58.64% | 3,538 | 40.44% | 80 | 0.91% |
| 1944 | 5,380 | 48.44% | 5,709 | 51.40% | 18 | 0.16% |
| 1940 | 6,253 | 43.65% | 8,048 | 56.18% | 25 | 0.17% |
| 1936 | 6,387 | 44.06% | 7,925 | 54.67% | 183 | 1.26% |
| 1932 | 7,507 | 51.95% | 6,829 | 47.26% | 115 | 0.80% |
| 1928 | 8,531 | 73.30% | 3,073 | 26.40% | 35 | 0.30% |
| 1924 | 6,010 | 69.71% | 2,106 | 24.43% | 505 | 5.86% |
| 1920 | 6,768 | 68.57% | 2,997 | 30.36% | 105 | 1.06% |
| 1916 | 3,891 | 52.24% | 3,459 | 46.44% | 99 | 1.33% |
| 1912 | 1,862 | 26.40% | 3,178 | 45.07% | 2,012 | 28.53% |
| 1908 | 3,507 | 59.49% | 2,256 | 38.27% | 132 | 2.24% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Calais
* Eastport

### Towns

* Addison
* Alexander
* Baileyville
* Beals
* Beddington
* Charlotte
* Cherryfield
* Columbia
* Columbia Falls
* Cooper
* Crawford
* Cutler
* Danforth
* Deblois
* Dennysville
* East Machias
* Harrington
* Jonesboro
* Jonesport
* Lubec
* Machias (county seat)
* Machiasport
* Marshfield
* Meddybemps
* Milbridge
* Northfield
* Pembroke
* Perry
* Princeton
* Robbinston
* Roque Bluffs
* Steuben
* Talmadge
* Topsfield
* Vanceboro
* Waite
* Wesley
* Whiting
* Whitneyville

### Plantations

* Baring Plantation
* Codyville Plantation
* Grand Lake Stream Plantation

### Unorganized territories

* East Central Washington
* North Washington

### Indian reservations

* Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation
* Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation

### Census-designated places

* Danforth
* Jonesport
* Lubec
* Machias
* Milbridge
* Vanceboro
* Woodland

## Public transportation

Washington County does not have a comprehensive public transportation system, despite having a year-round population of around 32,000. West Bus Services, based in Milbridge, serves several communities in northern Maine. The daily Coastal Connection route serves: Calais, Perry, Pembroke, Dennysville, Whiting, Lubec, East Machias, Machias, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Beals, Addison, Cherryfield, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Deblois (seasonal), Township 18 (seasonal), Township 19 (seasonal), Centerville, Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor, Sullivan, Steuben, Hancock, Ellsworth, Lucern, Holden and Bangor. The route takes around 3.5 hours. On the first Wednesday of each month, a return service runs between Lubec and Machias.

## Education

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

## Notable people

* Jeremiah O'Brien, (1744-1818) Commander of the sloop Unity during the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War; Machias.
* Henry Plummer (1832–1864), Sheriff and outlaw leader of The Innocents, in Bannock, Montana, Idaho Territory, born and raised in Addison.
* Hiram Burnham (1814-1864), Civil War general; Cherryfield.
* Reuben L. Snowe (1866-1942), Maine state legislator; born in Danforth.
* Theodore Enslin (1925–2011), American poet; resident of Milbridge.
* Carl Willey (1931 - 2009), American professional baseball player; Cherryfield.
* Lyn Mikel Brown (b. 1956), American academic, author, feminist, and community activist; born in Vanceboro.
* Katie Aselton (b. 1978), American actress, film director and producer; born in Milbridge.