# Knox County, Maine

Knox County is a county located in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,607. Its county seat is Rockland. The county is named for Revolutionary War general and Secretary of War Henry Knox, who lived in the county from 1795 until his death in 1806. The county was established on April 1, 1860, and is the most recent county to be created in Maine. It was carved from parts of Waldo and Lincoln counties. The Union Fair, started in 1868, began as the efforts of the North Knox Agricultural and Horticultural Society.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,144 square miles (2,960 km$^2$), of which 365 square miles (950 km$^2$) is land and 779 square miles (2,020 km$^2$) (68%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Maine by land area. It was originally part of the Waldo Patent.

### Adjacent counties

* Lincoln County – west
* Waldo County – north
* Hancock County – northeast

### National protected areas

* Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge
* Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge

## Demographics
### 2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 39,618 people, 16,608 households, and 10,728 families living in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile (42 people/km$^2$). There were 21,612 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile (23/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.28% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.4% were of English, 12.2% Irish, 11.7% United States or American, 7.5% German and 5.7% French ancestry. 97.1% spoke English and 1.5% French as their first language. Of the 16,608 households 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 29.00% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.
The age distribution was 22.40% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The median household income was $36,774 and the median family income was $43,819. Males had a median income of $30,704 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,981. About 6.40% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 39,736 people, 17,258 households, and 10,662 families living in the county. The population density was 108.8 inhabitants per square mile (42.0/km$^2$). There were 23,744 housing units at an average density of 65.0 units per square mile (25.1 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.3% were English, 19.0% were Irish, 12.8% were German, 6.9% were Scottish, and 5.9% were American.
Of the 17,258 households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 31.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 46.2 years.
The median household income was $45,264 and the median family income was $55,830. Males had a median income of $40,712 versus $29,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,291. About 7.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

In 2012, Knox County voted 55% in favor of a measure to legalize same-sex marriage.

### Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024 :
| | Democratic | 12,139 | 40.22% |
| | Unenrolled | 8,436 | 27.95% |
| | Republican | 8,117 | 26.89% |
| | Green Independent | 1,065 | 3.53% |
| | No Labels | 343 | 1.14% |
| | Libertarian | 83 | 0.27% |
| Total | Total | 30,183 | 100% |
United States presidential election results for Knox County, Maine :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 10,262 | 39.63% | 15,076 | 58.22% | 555 | 2.14% |
| 2020 | 9,982 | 38.79% | 15,110 | 58.72% | 642 | 2.49% |
| 2016 | 9,148 | 39.52% | 12,443 | 53.76% | 1,556 | 6.72% |
| 2012 | 8,248 | 37.38% | 13,223 | 59.92% | 596 | 2.70% |
| 2008 | 8,816 | 38.36% | 13,728 | 59.74% | 436 | 1.90% |
| 2004 | 10,103 | 43.46% | 12,690 | 54.59% | 454 | 1.95% |
| 2000 | 8,968 | 43.74% | 9,453 | 46.11% | 2,080 | 10.15% |
| 1996 | 6,192 | 32.79% | 8,839 | 46.81% | 3,852 | 20.40% |
| 1992 | 6,310 | 31.03% | 7,631 | 37.52% | 6,397 | 31.45% |
| 1988 | 10,156 | 57.54% | 7,343 | 41.60% | 151 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 11,311 | 65.00% | 6,024 | 34.62% | 66 | 0.38% |
| 1980 | 7,631 | 48.98% | 5,732 | 36.79% | 2,218 | 14.24% |
| 1976 | 8,315 | 56.24% | 5,922 | 40.05% | 549 | 3.71% |
| 1972 | 8,478 | 70.19% | 3,601 | 29.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 6,585 | 55.25% | 5,119 | 42.95% | 214 | 1.80% |
| 1964 | 4,404 | 38.53% | 7,022 | 61.43% | 4 | 0.03% |
| 1960 | 9,083 | 70.41% | 3,816 | 29.58% | 1 | 0.01% |
| 1956 | 8,866 | 81.32% | 2,037 | 18.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 8,793 | 78.32% | 2,414 | 21.50% | 20 | 0.18% |
| 1948 | 5,374 | 72.67% | 1,924 | 26.02% | 97 | 1.31% |
| 1944 | 5,590 | 59.70% | 3,758 | 40.14% | 15 | 0.16% |
| 1940 | 6,530 | 60.76% | 4,197 | 39.05% | 20 | 0.19% |
| 1936 | 6,567 | 60.36% | 3,991 | 36.69% | 321 | 2.95% |
| 1932 | 6,169 | 55.28% | 4,765 | 42.70% | 225 | 2.02% |
| 1928 | 6,660 | 73.35% | 2,332 | 25.68% | 88 | 0.97% |
| 1924 | 4,919 | 69.99% | 1,770 | 25.18% | 339 | 4.82% |
| 1920 | 4,979 | 60.85% | 2,971 | 36.31% | 233 | 2.85% |
| 1916 | 2,211 | 37.82% | 3,434 | 58.74% | 201 | 3.44% |
| 1912 | 1,097 | 19.95% | 2,751 | 50.03% | 1,651 | 30.02% |
| 1908 | 2,228 | 50.04% | 1,932 | 43.40% | 292 | 6.56% |
| 1904 | 2,538 | 54.78% | 1,866 | 40.28% | 229 | 4.94% |
| 1900 | 2,762 | 48.76% | 2,765 | 48.81% | 138 | 2.44% |
| 1896 | 3,286 | 61.72% | 1,900 | 35.69% | 138 | 2.59% |
| 1892 | 2,321 | 46.23% | 2,136 | 42.54% | 564 | 11.23% |
| 1888 | 2,965 | 52.28% | 2,290 | 40.38% | 416 | 7.34% |
| 1884 | 2,819 | 46.50% | 2,364 | 39.00% | 879 | 14.50% |
| 1880 | 2,880 | 41.28% | 3,659 | 52.45% | 437 | 6.26% |

## Communities
### City

* Rockland (county seat)

### Towns

* Appleton
* Camden
* Cushing
* Friendship
* Hope
* Isle au Haut
* North Haven
* Owls Head
* Rockport
* Saint George
* South Thomaston
* Thomaston
* Union
* Vinalhaven
* Warren
* Washington

### Plantation

* Matinicus Isle

### Unorganized territories

* Criehaven
* Muscle Ridge Islands

### Census-designated places

* Camden
* Thomaston

### Other unincorporated villages

* Glen Cove
* Hibberts Corner
* Port Clyde
* West Rockport

## Public buildings

An addition to the Knox County Courthouse designed by Scott Simons Architects was completed in 2005. It is connected to an annex built in 1977 that is adjacent to the historic, original building that was finished in 1874.