Presque Isle, Maine | |
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 Clockwise, from top: Crown of Maine Balloon Fest in Presque Isle, Downtown,University of Maine at Presque Isle,Aroostook Band of Micmac headquarters and museum, Nordic Heritage Center, Aroostook Centre Mall, UMPIwind turbine, Main Street | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: The Star City | |
| Motto: The Hub of Aroostook | |
 Location of Presque Isle, Maine | |
  Presque Isle Location Show map of Maine Presque Isle Presque Isle (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:46°40′46″N68°0′8″W / 46.67944°N 68.00222°W /46.67944; -68.00222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| County | Aroostook |
| Incorporated (town) | April 4, 1859 |
| Incorporated (city) | January 1, 1940 |
| Named places | Parkhurst Spragueville |
| Area | |
• Total | 77.60 sq mi (200.99 km2) |
| • Land | 75.78 sq mi (196.27 km2) |
| • Water | 1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2) |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,797 |
| • Density | 116.09/sq mi (44.82/km2) |
| Demonym | Presqueillian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04769 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-60825 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0573790 |
| Website | presqueislemaine.gov |
Presque Isle (/prɛsk/PRESK) is the commercial center and largest city inAroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 8,797 at the2020 Census.[2] The city is home to theUniversity of Maine at Presque Isle,Northern Maine Community College, Northern Maine Fairgrounds, theAroostook Centre Mall, and thePresque Isle International Airport.
Presque Isle is the headquarters of theAroostook Band of Micmac, afederally recognized tribe.[3]
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The first European settlers were BritishLoyalists who reached the area in 1819 hoping to obtain land for lumber. Border disputes between the United States and theUnited Kingdom over the area, however, made it impossible for pioneers to gain title to the land. In response, the government of the neighboring British colony ofNew Brunswick (now a Canadian province) gave out patents for pioneers to live on the land but not claim ownership or sell it. By 1825, surveyors traveling along theAroostook River noted that twenty families lived along it and noted that while agriculture was present, all of the families employed most of their time towards wood production.[4]
The boundary dispute slowed development in the area, but the government ofMassachusetts, which governed the territory at the time, saw the territory as theirs and encouraged the development of settlements in northern Maine by offering land grants and mill privileges in the 1820s. The first American to settle in the area wasDennis Fairbanks in 1828 who gained ownership over the land under the provisions set up by Massachusetts and later Maine, which gained statehood in 1820.[4]
Originally known as Fairbanks for its founder Dennis Fairbanks, Presque Isle was settled in 1828 on land that was unknown to be part ofBritish North America (Canada) or the United States. TheAroostook War broke out in 1838 because of boundary disputes between the two countries, which were resolved in 1842 by theWebster-Ashburton Treaty. The township was incorporated from Plantations F, G and H on April 4, 1859, as Presque Isle, derived from theFrench term forpeninsula (presqu'île), as the courses of theAroostook River and Presque Isle Stream form a peninsula. In 1864,Fairmount Cemetery was established in the south of Presque Isle to accommodate Union soldiers returning from the Civil War. In 1883, the town ofMaysville was annexed.
On January 1, 1940, Presque Isle was incorporated as a city.
The first industry to form in Presque Isle was the lumber industry. By the 1880s, industry included twolumbermills, agristmill, awoolcarding mill, afurniture factory, acarriage factory and atinware factory.
During the last 30 years of the 19th century, agriculture became important, and the entire county became noted for its production ofpotatoes. On October 9, 1851, the first Northern Maine Fair exhibition opened. A starch factory was opened in 1874, providing a ready market for local potatoes.[5] In 1914 theAroostook Farm was purchased as a Maine Agricultural Experiment Station.[6]
In 1881, theNew Brunswick Railway created the first rail connection in Presque Isle. TheBangor and Aroostook Railroad arrived in 1895.
A small airport was established in 1931. It was expanded within the decade and later assumed major military importance. ThePresque Isle Air Force Base, in operation between 1941 and 1961, was a major departure point for U.S. fighter planes duringWorld War II and theKorean War due to its relative proximity to Europe. When the base was sold, a piece of it became the Northern Maine Regional Airport. In June 2018, the Northern Maine Regional Airport was renamedPresque Isle International Airport.[7]
Beginning on July 2, 2018,United Airlines began service from the Presque Isle International Airport in Presque Isle, Maine toNewark Liberty International Airport inNewark, New Jersey.[8] These flights are federally subsidized through theEssential Air Service (EAS) program, and are operated by United Express carrier,GoJet Airlines.[9]
On 4 June 2024, the US Dept. of Transportation awarded Jet Blue its first ever essential air service contract to replace United Airlines at Presque Isle. The service will be less frequent, but offer more capacity to Boston Logan, than the previous service offered to Newark Liberty International.
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In 1903, the Aroostook StateNormal School began offering a two-year teacher preparation program. In 1968, it was renamed theUniversity of Maine at Presque Isle. Northern Maine Technical College was established in 1961, nowNorthern Maine Community College.[10] The first students entered the college in 1963. Today it serves about 2000 students.[10]
The first Presque Isle Hospital was established on April 8, 1912.[11] Four physicians were affiliated with the hospital, whose dual aims were to serve the community and to provide a training school for nurses.[11] The building was a white-frame structure, enlarged from a home under construction. The need and demand for the hospital increased so rapidly that in 1921 a new three-story brick hospital was dedicated.[11] This hospital was in operation for nearly four decades, when it, too, proved inadequate. A major fundraising campaign was launched in the late 1950s. After a large donation was given by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wildes, the daughter of the lateSenator Arthur Gould, the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital was constructed and opened in 1960.[11] The hospital has expanded and been modernized in recent years, and in 1981 became part ofThe Aroostook Medical Center.[11]
On August 11, 1978, theDouble Eagle II was launched from a Presque Isle field carrying three passengers. It made the first successfultransatlanticballoon crossing. In honor of theDouble Eagle II, the city holds an annual celebration called The Crown of Maine Balloon Festival. The popular event includes balloon rides, plane tours, amateur photo contests and children's fair rides. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations, it is held in late August. The field from which theDouble Eagle II lifted off now features a commemorative model balloon.[12]
Presque Isle was named anAll American City in 1966.
Presque Isle is located at46°40′46″N68°0′8″W / 46.67944°N 68.00222°W /46.67944; -68.00222 (46.679321, −68.002166).[13]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 77.60 square miles (200.98 km2), of which 75.76 square miles (196.22 km2) is land and 1.84 square miles (4.77 km2) is water.[14] Presque Isle is drained by theAroostook River and Presque Isle Stream (also called Prestile Stream).
Presque Isle has ahumid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) typified by long cold winters and short warm summers.
Presque Isle is the driest city in Maine, with an annual precipitation of 38.5 in (980 mm).[15]
| Climate data for Presque Isle, Maine (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) | 59 (15) | 76 (24) | 85 (29) | 94 (34) | 95 (35) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 91 (33) | 84 (29) | 70 (21) | 57 (14) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 44.0 (6.7) | 41.8 (5.4) | 51.4 (10.8) | 69.0 (20.6) | 81.9 (27.7) | 87.1 (30.6) | 88.6 (31.4) | 87.5 (30.8) | 82.7 (28.2) | 72.0 (22.2) | 59.7 (15.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 90.8 (32.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 35.7 (2.1) | 49.6 (9.8) | 65.2 (18.4) | 73.7 (23.2) | 78.5 (25.8) | 77.3 (25.2) | 69.1 (20.6) | 54.5 (12.5) | 40.0 (4.4) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 51.7 (10.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.8 (−10.7) | 15.6 (−9.1) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 39.5 (4.2) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.0 (16.7) | 67.4 (19.7) | 65.9 (18.8) | 58.0 (14.4) | 45.4 (7.4) | 33.0 (0.6) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 41.6 (5.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.3 (−15.9) | 5.3 (−14.8) | 16.0 (−8.9) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 41.3 (5.2) | 50.4 (10.2) | 56.3 (13.5) | 54.5 (12.5) | 46.8 (8.2) | 36.3 (2.4) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 12.5 (−10.8) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −21.2 (−29.6) | −17.0 (−27.2) | −9.3 (−22.9) | 13.5 (−10.3) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 36.5 (2.5) | 44.3 (6.8) | 40.7 (4.8) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 21.0 (−6.1) | 6.7 (−14.1) | −11.8 (−24.3) | −23.7 (−30.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −41 (−41) | −37 (−38) | −30 (−34) | −5 (−21) | 16 (−9) | 25 (−4) | 35 (2) | 29 (−2) | 15 (−9) | 8 (−13) | −15 (−26) | −35 (−37) | −41 (−41) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.53 (64) | 1.92 (49) | 2.35 (60) | 2.79 (71) | 3.29 (84) | 3.81 (97) | 3.66 (93) | 3.81 (97) | 3.51 (89) | 4.16 (106) | 3.06 (78) | 3.16 (80) | 38.05 (966) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 21.1 (54) | 21.7 (55) | 19.0 (48) | 6.3 (16) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 1.2 (3.0) | 6.1 (15) | 21.7 (55) | 97.5 (248) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 19.6 (50) | 25.2 (64) | 24.7 (63) | 10.0 (25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (1.5) | 3.8 (9.7) | 10.6 (27) | 25.6 (65) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 11.0 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 11.5 | 12.7 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 11.5 | 10.3 | 12.9 | 11.1 | 11.2 | 137.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 9.0 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 7.3 | 34.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 92 | 92 | 93 | 86 | 75 | 78 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 82 | 82 | 89 | 84 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 2.6 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 5.6 |
| Mean dailydaylight hours | 9.1 | 10.4 | 12.0 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 15.8 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 12.2 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Source 1:NOAA[16][17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV and humidity)[18] | |||||||||||||
The City of Presque Isle operates under thecouncil-manager form of government. The current city manager is Martin Puckett.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 723 | — | |
| 1870 | 970 | 34.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,305 | 34.5% | |
| 1890 | 3,046 | 133.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,804 | 24.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,179 | 36.1% | |
| 1920 | 5,581 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 6,965 | 24.8% | |
| 1940 | 7,939 | 14.0% | |
| 1950 | 9,954 | 25.4% | |
| 1960 | 12,886 | 29.5% | |
| 1970 | 11,452 | −11.1% | |
| 1980 | 11,172 | −2.4% | |
| 1990 | 10,550 | −5.6% | |
| 2000 | 9,511 | −9.8% | |
| 2010 | 9,692 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,797 | −9.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 9,692 people, 4,201 households, and 2,413 families residing in the city.[20] Thepopulation density was 127.9 inhabitants per square mile (49.4/km2). There were 4,608 housing units at an average density of 60.8 per square mile (23.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.5%White, 0.6%African American, 2.4%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0.2% fromother races, and 1.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 4,201 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% weremarried couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.78.
The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
As of thecensus[21] of 2000, there were 9,511 people, 3,963 households, and 2,464 families residing in the city. The population density was 125.6 inhabitants per square mile (48.5/km2). There were 4,405 housing units at an average density of 58.2 per square mile (22.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.13%White, 0.36%African American, 2.26%Native American, 0.84%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.17% fromother races, and 1.21% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 3,963 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% weremarried couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city, 21.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.1% was from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,325, and the median income for a family was $37,090. Males had a median income of $27,510 versus $19,785 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,712. About 9.2% of families and 14.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
Due to beingAroostook County's largest city, Presque Isle is the retail center for a large number of both American andCanadian towns. TheAroostook Centre Mall became a majorshopping center for residents during the 1990s.Agriculture remains a top industry of Presque Isle and the surrounding area, with potatoes being the top crop. During the winter months many local businesses rely on the snowmobiling industry as there is a highly regarded trail system connecting far away towns and cities with Presque Isle. Presque Isle is also home to a significantindustrial park near thePresque Isle International Airport.
The unemployment rate in Presque Isle is typically somewhat higher than the average across Maine.
Presque Isle is home to one of the smallest TV markets as defined byNielsen market research. It consists ofWAGM-TV channel 8 (aCBS/Fox/CW+ affiliate), sister stationWWPI-LD channel 16 (anNBC affiliate which launched on January 7, 2020), and WMEM-TV channel 10 (affiliated with theMaine Public Broadcasting Network ("Maine Public") andPBS). While not part of the Presque Isle TV market,WVII-TV, the ABC affiliate out of Bangor, Maine, airs in Presque Isle, as does NBC affiliateWLBZ.
Several radio stations have studios located in Presque Isle, includingWBPW,WOZI andWQHR, all owned byTownsquare Media. The city is also home toWUPI, the University of Maine Presque Isle'sstudent radio station which broadcasts on 92.1. WMEM 106.1 isMaine Public's radio outlet for the area, affiliated withNational Public Radio.
There are no daily newspapers in Aroostook County.ThePresque Isle Star-Herald is published Wednesdays, one of several weekly newspapers published in Aroostook County. Others include Caribou'sAroostook Republican, Madawaska'sSt. John Valley Times,The Fort Fairfield Journal and Houlton'sPioneer Times. TheBangor Daily News has an Aroostook County edition.
Presque Isle is the focal location for operations in the 1953 filmIsland in the Sky.
The city is also where Handy McKay retires to open a diner in theParker novel series byRichard Stark.
Media related toPresque Isle, Maine at Wikimedia Commons
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