Penobscot County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine, named for the Penobscot people in Wabanakik. As of the 2020 census, the population was 152,199, making it the third-most-populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Bangor. The county was established on February 15, 1816, from part of Hancock County when the area was still part of Massachusetts. Penobscot County is home to the University of Maine.
Penobscot County comprises the Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (4.5%) is water. The county highpoint is East Turner Mountain at next to Baxter State Park.
Adjacent counties
- Aroostook County – north
- Washington County – southeast
- Hancock County – south
- Waldo County – southwest
- Somerset County – west
- Piscataquis County – northwest
National protected area
- Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 152,199. Of the residents, 18.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males. 42.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 57.1% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.
!Pop 2010
!
!% 2000
!% 2010
!
|-
|White alone (NH)
|139,461
|145,700
|style='background: #ffffe6; |138,306
|96.23%
|94.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |90.87%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|684
|1,117
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,443
|0.47%
|0.72%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.94%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|1,423
|1,774
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,349
|0.98%
|1.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.88%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|1,003
|1,405
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,853
|0.69%
|0.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.21%
|-
|Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|44
|41
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37
|0.03%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|122
|88
|style='background: #ffffe6; |420
|0.08%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|1,300
|2,178
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,076
|0.89%
|1.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.99%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|882
|1,620
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,715
|0.60%
|1.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.78%
|-
|Total
|144,919
|153,923
|style='background: #ffffe6; |152,199
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 153,923 people, 62,966 households, and 38,917 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 73,860 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 95.4% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.
Of the 62,966 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 28.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 39.9 years.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 144,919 people, 58,096 households, and 37,820 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 66,847 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 96.60% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of English, 17.3% United States or American, 14.0% French, 13.0% Irish and 6.7% French Canadian ancestry. 95.8% spoke English and 2.3% French as their first language.
There were 58,096 households, of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 26.70% of households were one person and 10.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.
The age distribution was 22.80% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.
The median household income was $34,274 and the median family income was $42,206. Males had a median income of $32,824 versus $23,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,801. About 9.70% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
As the most populous county in Maine's 2nd congressional district, Penobscot County's support for Donald Trump in 2016 helped deliver him a split electoral vote from Maine. It was the first time since 1828 that Maine split its electoral votes. Republican strength in the county has increased in each subsequent election (2020 and 2024).
Voter registration
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024
|-
|
| Republican
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
|
| Democratic
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
|
| Unenrolled
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
|
| Green Independent
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
|
| No Labels
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
|
| Libertarian
| align = center |
| align = center |
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center |
! align = center |
|}
<!-- PresRow should be -->
Communities
Cities
- Bangor (county seat)
- Brewer
- Old Town
Towns
- Alton
- Bradford
- Bradley
- Burlington
- Carmel
- Charleston
- Chester
- Clifton
- Corinna
- Corinth
- Dexter
- Dixmont
- East Millinocket
- Eddington
- Edinburg
- Enfield
- Etna
- Exeter
- Garland
- Glenburn
- Greenbush
- Hampden
- Hermon
- Holden
- Howland
- Hudson
- Kenduskeag
- Lagrange
- Lakeville
- Lee
- Levant
- Lincoln
- Lowell
- Mattawamkeag
- Maxfield
- Medway
- Milford
- Millinocket
- Mount Chase
- Newburgh
- Newport
- Orono
- Orrington
- Passadumkeag
- Patten
- Plymouth
- Springfield
- Stacyville
- Stetson
- Veazie
- Winn
- Woodville
Plantations
- Carroll Plantation
- Drew Plantation
- Seboeis Plantation
- Webster Plantation
Census-designated places
- Bradley
- Corinna
- Dexter
- East Millinocket
- Hampden
- Howland
- Lincoln
- Mattawamkeag
- Milford
- Millinocket
- Newport
- Orono
- Patten
Unorganized territories
- Argyle
- East Central Penobscot
- Kingman
- North Penobscot
- Prentiss
- Twombly Ridge
- Whitney
Indian reservation
- Penobscot Indian Island Reservation
Education
K-12 education
School districts include:
- Bangor School District
- Brewer School District
- Burlington Public Schools
- Carroll Plantation School District
- Drew Plantation School District
- East Millinocket School District
- Glenburn School District
- Greenbush School District
- Indian Island School District
- Hermon School District
- Lakeville School District
- Lowell School District
- Medway School District
- Milford School District
- Millinocket School Department
- Orrington School District
- Regional School Unit 19
- Regional School Unit 22
- Regional School Unit 26
- Regional School Unit 34
- Regional School Unit 89
- School Administrative District 23
- School Administrative District 30
- School Administrative District 31
- School Administrative District 41
- School Administrative District 46
- School Administrative District 63
- School Administrative District 64
- School Administrative District 67
- School Administrative District 68
- Seboeis Plantation School District
- Veazie School District
- Woodville School District
Some portions are in the Penobscot Unorganized Territory, The Maine Department of Education takes responsibility for coordinating school assignments in the unorganized territory. The department operates one school, Kingman Elementary School, in Kingman.
Colleges and universities
University of Maine is in Orono.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Penobscot County, Maine