Madawaska is atown inAroostook County,Maine, United States. The population was 3,867 at the2020 census.^[2] Madawaska is oppositeEdmundston,Madawaska County inNew Brunswick, Canada, to which it is connected by theEdmundston–Madawaska Bridge over theSaint John River. The majority of its residents speakFrench; 83.4% of the population speaks French at home.

Madawaska, Maine Ville de Madawaska (French)
Town
Flag Seal
Location of Madawaska, Maine
Madawaska Location within the United States
Coordinates:47°18′25.87″N68°14′29.69″W / 47.3071861°N 68.2415806°W /47.3071861; -68.2415806
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Aroostook
Incorporated	1869
Villages	Madawaska Cleveland Fournier Lavertue St. David
Area [1]
• Total	56.24 sq mi (145.66 km2)
• Land	55.56 sq mi (143.90 km2)
• Water	0.68 sq mi (1.76 km2)
Elevation	971 ft (296 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,867
• Density	70/sq mi (26.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	04756 (Madawaska) 04773 (St. David)
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-42520
GNIS feature ID	0582576
Website	www.townofmadawaska.com

During the early colonial period, Madawaska was a meeting place and hunting/fishing area for the Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik) nation. Later, it was at the center of the bloodlessAroostook War. The final border between the two countries was established with theWebster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which gave Maine most of the disputed area, and gave the British a militarily vital connection between the province ofQuebec and the province ofNew Brunswick.^[3] Many families were left divided after the settlement.^[4][5]

Madawaska is a rural town whose economy centers on the Saint John Riverpaper industry. The river historically provided water power for themills and was the route oflog drives bringingpulpwood from upstreamforests. The river still provides the water supply for paper manufacture, but environmental concerns encourage pulpwood delivery byhighway andrail.^[6] Canadian corporation Twin Rivers (originallyFraser Papers) has a large facility located in Madawaska which processes the pulp produced by the mill's other plant in Edmundston. The pulp is shipped across the border through a mile-long high pressurepipeline running between both facilities, and is made into paper in Madawaska. The Madawaska mill specializes in fine-grade papers. The town's economy is highly dependent upon cross-border trade, to the extent that Madawaska and its larger sister city of Edmundston are considered by residents under many aspects, a single economic entity.^[7]

Madawaska is also home to theSt. John Valley Times, a popular weekly newspaper circulated across Aroostook County.^[8]

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.24 square miles (145.66 km²), of which 55.56 square miles (143.90 km²) is land and 0.68 square miles (1.76 km²) is water.^[1] Madawaska is located beside theSaint John River, theCanada–United States border. Four Corners Park commemorates its location as themost northeastern town in the contiguous United States.^[9] The town is served byU.S. Route 1.

Thisclimatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Madawaska has ahumid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.^[10]

As of thecensus^[13] of 2010, there were 4,035 people, 1,983 households, and 1,128 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 72.6 inhabitants per square mile (28.0/km²). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 43.2 per square mile (16.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.4%White, 0.2%African American, 0.5%Native American, 0.2%Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 1,983 households, of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% weremarried couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.62.

The median age in the town was 51.2 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 34.1% were from 45 to 64; and 26.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

As of thecensus^[14] of 2000, there were 4,534 people, 1,993 households, and 1,301 families living in the town. The population density was 81.5 inhabitants per square mile (31.5/km²). There were 2,362 housing units at an average density of 42.4 per square mile (16.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08%White, 0.15%Black, 0.44%Native American, 0.68%Asian, 0.09% fromother races, and 0.55% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.20% of the population.

There were 1,993 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% weremarried couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,994, and the median income for a family was $42,269. Males had a median income of $46,117 versus $22,361 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $18,552. About 7.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over. The median home value is $102,935.

Madawaska's schools serve Madawaska, St. David, and Grand Isle. The Madawaska Elementary School has students frompre-kindergarten through the sixth grade. Madawaska Middle/High School contains grades seven through 12.

• Roger Albert, Maine state legislator^[15]
• Ashley Hebert,The Bachelorette Season 7
• Emilien Levesque, Maine state legislator
• Charles Theriault, Maine state legislator
• Roland White, bluegrass musician

• French language in the United States

• Town of Madawaska, Maine
• Madawaska Public Library
• Madawaska Historical Society
• Madawaska Acadian Festival
• Madawaska School Department
• Madawaska Four Corners Park

47°18′25.8696″N68°14′29.69″W / 47.307186000°N 68.2415806°W /47.307186000; -68.2415806