Monhegan, Maine | |
|---|---|
| Plantation of Monhegan Island | |
 Monhegan Harbor in 1909 | |
| Nickname: "The Artists' Island" | |
 Location inLincoln County and the state ofMaine. | |
| Coordinates:43°45′59″N69°19′5″W / 43.76639°N 69.31806°W /43.76639; -69.31806 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| County | Lincoln |
| First Settlement | 1623 |
| Incorporated | September 4, 1839 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Plantation |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2) |
| • Land | 0.85 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| • Water | 3.7 sq mi (9.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 64 |
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04852 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-46335 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582600 |
| U.S. NNL | Designated: 1966 |
| Website | monheganplantation |
Monhegan (/mɒnˈhiːɡən/mon-HEE-gən) is a historic islandplantation in theGulf of Maine, approximately 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) off the coast ofMaine. Part ofLincoln County, Maine, the island has been inhabited for over 400 years and is renowned as one of America's oldest and most influential artist colonies. With a year-round population of 64 as of the2020 census,[1] Monheganfishermen manage Maine's only lobster conservation area.
The island's dramatic landscape of towering cliffs, pristine forests, and rugged coastline has attracted artists, writers, and naturalists for more than a century. Notable artists includingEdward Hopper,George Bellows,Rockwell Kent,Jay Hall Connaway, andJamie Wyeth have found inspiration on its shores.[2] Designated as aNational Natural Landmark in 1966 for its exceptional coastal and island flora,[3] Monhegan represents one of the best-preserved island ecosystems in the North Atlantic.
The plantation comprises Monhegan Island proper and the smaller neighboringManana Island, together forming a unique maritime community that balances historical preservation, environmental conservation, and sustainable tourism. Access is limited to scheduled ferry service fromBoothbay Harbor,New Harbor, andPort Clyde, helping preserve the island's distinctive character and fragile ecosystem.[4] Visitors' cars are not permitted on the island, maintaining its historic character and environmental integrity.
The name Monhegan is a corruption ofMonchiggon, theAbenaki language term for "out-to-sea island"[5] used bySamoset, anAbenakisagamore and the firstNative American to make contact with thePilgrims ofPlymouth Colony, in his early contacts with the English.[6] European explorersMartin Pring visited in 1603,Samuel de Champlain in 1604,George Weymouth in 1605 andCaptain John Smith in 1614. The island got its start as a British fishing camp prior to settlement of the Plymouth Colony.Cod was harvested from the rich fishing grounds of theGulf of Maine, then dried onfish flakes before shipment to Europe. Atrading post was built to conduct business with theIndians, particularly in the lucrativefur trade.[7] It was Monhegan traders who taught English to Samoset, the chieftain who in 1621 startled the Pilgrims by boldly walking into their new village at Plymouth and saying: "Welcome, Englishmen."[8] On 28 January 1623 theCouncil for New England issued a commission for seizing the "Island of Mannahigan". Settlement by William Vengham and William Pomfret in 1623 causedWilliam Bradford to include Monhegan among places that experienced "scattered beginnings" that year.[9]
On April 29, 1717, Monhegan was visited by theAnne, a small square-riggedsnow crewed bypirates. She had originally been captured off theVirginia Capes in April by the pirateSamuel Bellamy in theWhydah, which wrecked in a storm on the night of April 26, 1717, off Cape Cod. TheAnne made it through the storm with another captured vessel, theFisher (which was soon abandoned and the pirates aboard her transferred to theAnne). The pirates, led byRichard Noland,[10] arrived at Monhegan on April 29, and waited for theWhydah, for the pirates had not seen or heard about theWhydah wrecking in the storm of the night of April 26. The pirates eventually realized theWhydah was lost, and proceeded to attack vessels atMatinicus Island andPemaquid (now Bristol). They outfitted for their own uses a small 25-tonsloop belonging to Colonel Stephen Minot they had captured off Matinicus. They abandoned all the other captured vessels (including theAnne) and most of their prisoners at Matinicus on or about May 9, 1717, on Minot's sloop.[11]
Despite success as a fishing and trade center, Monhegan would be caught in the conflict betweenNew England andNew France for control of the region. DuringKing Philip's War (1675-1678), dispossessed English settlers from the mainland sought refuge on the island before being relocated elsewhere along the coast. DuringKing William's War (1688-1697), the island was captured for theKingdom of France in 1689 byBaron de Saint-Castin. He destroyed the fishing fleet and burned the buildings, with many inhabitants escaping toMassachusetts. But even during periods when Monhegan was abandoned, its convenient offshore harbor remained a stopover destination for ships. The end of theFrench and Indian War in 1763 brought peace to the area, and on September 4, 1839, Mohegan—again under English Colonial control—was incorporated as an island plantation.[7]
In 1824, a conical stonelighthouse was built on the island by order ofCongress andPresident James Monroe. Damaged by storms, it was replaced in 1850 by the present 48 foot (14.6 m)granite tower, with afog bell station built in 1855 on nearby Manana Island. The island's 1,000 acres (400 ha) of good land encouragedagriculture, withpotatoes the chief crop. But fishing was always the most important industry, whether locally or at theGrand Banks. Today, it still dominates Monhegan's economy.[12]From October 1 through June, fishermen harvestlobsters from the only lobsterconservation area in the state of Maine.[13]
Henry Trefethen was one of the original purchasers of Monhegan Island. The Trefethen House, the oldest house on Monhegan Island, served as a hotel for island visitors, and remains standing today.[14]
The beginnings of theart colony on Monhegan date to the mid-19th century; by 1890, it was firmly established. Two of the early artists in residence from the 1890s, William Henry Singer (1868–1943) and Martin Borgord (1869–1935), left Monhegan to study at theAcadémie Julian in 1901. Among many early members who found inspiration on the island were summer visitors from theNew York School of Art and thePennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, such asRobert Henri,Frederick Judd Waugh,George Bellows,Edward Hopper andRockwell Kent.
Later members of the artist colony have includedJay Hall Connaway,Abraham Bogdanove,Andrew Winter,Joseph De Martini,Reuben Tam,Frances Kornbluth,Elena Jahn,Lynne Drexler,Edward Betts, andJamie Wyeth.[15] The 150-foot (50 m) northside cliffs at Blackhead have drawn the interest of Monhegan artists, including Kent,[16] Hopper,[17] and Kornbluth.[18]The Monhegan Museum celebrated more the continuing draw of the island for artists in a 2014 exhibit entitled, "The Famous and the Forgotten: Revisiting Monhegan's Celebrated 1914 Art Exhibition."[19]
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According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the island has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km2), of which 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (80.97%) is water. Monhegan is an island 1.75 miles (2.82 km) long and .75 of a mile (1.2 kilometers) wide, located in theGulf of Maine, part of theAtlantic Ocean. AdjacentManana Island helps form Monhegan Harbor.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 77 | — | |
| 1850 | 197 | 155.8% | |
| 1860 | 195 | −1.0% | |
| 1870 | 145 | −25.6% | |
| 1880 | 133 | −8.3% | |
| 1890 | 90 | −32.3% | |
| 1900 | 94 | 4.4% | |
| 1910 | 120 | 27.7% | |
| 1920 | 133 | 10.8% | |
| 1930 | 109 | −18.0% | |
| 1940 | 115 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 75 | −34.8% | |
| 1960 | 65 | −13.3% | |
| 1970 | 44 | −32.3% | |
| 1980 | 109 | 147.7% | |
| 1990 | 88 | −19.3% | |
| 2000 | 75 | −14.8% | |
| 2010 | 69 | −8.0% | |
| 2020 | 64 | −7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[20] | |||
As of thecensus[21] of 2000, there were 75 people, 46 households, and 21 families residing in the plantation. The population density was 87.5 inhabitants per square mile (33.8/km2). There were 177 housing units at an average density of 206.4 per square mile (79.7/km2). The racial makeup of the plantation was 97.33%White and 2.67%Asian.
There were 46 households, out of which 13.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% weremarried couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. Of all households 47.8% were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.63 and the average family size was 2.24.
In the plantation the population was spread out, with 10.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 37.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.
Themedian income for a household in the plantation was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $36,563 versus $13,333 for females. Theper capita income for the plantation was $20,568. There were 10.5% of families and 3.8% of the population living below thepoverty line, including 10.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Summer months bring artists and tourists on several daily ferries. Visitors arrive at the ferry landing or on a beach in the village precinct. The village includes a church, private homes, hotels, art studios, private homes for rent and a few small stores, including one that sells fresh fish/lobster. Much of Monhegan is uninhabited and open for exploration on 17 miles (27 km) of hiking trails,[22] which lead to high cliffs overlooking the sea. Inland paths lead through woods, including the Cathedral Woods.[23] A tradition of building miniature "fairy houses" from found materials in Cathedral Woods and other areas has brought controversy, guidance and even destruction of non-compliant constructions.[24]
The hill above the village is the site of theMonhegan Island Light, which offers a view of the village, the harbor, Manana Island, and across the sea to the west. Adjacent to the lighthouse is the Monhegan Museum,[25] which is open middays from late June through September; the museum houses artifacts, reflecting the island's history.[26]
The island is on theAtlantic flyway and is a stopover for migrating birds and the birdwatchers who come seasonally to observe them.[26]
Monhegan's library was founded as theJackie and Edward Library, named after two children who were lost to high waves on the island's shoreline, and specialized in children's literature.[27] It became theMonhegan Memorial Library and broadened its literary selection.[28]
In 2005, the Monhegan Island School had seven students, ages five through 12 (kindergarten through eighth grade), all taught by a single teacher;[29] high-school students must attend school on the mainland.[30] The schoolhouse reportedly also serves as a community center, which is site of the annual Christmas play and community dinner.[29]
The following are people who have either resided on Monhegan or regularly visited the island:
Year designated: 1966
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43°45′44″N69°19′13″W / 43.76222°N 69.32028°W /43.76222; -69.32028
Municipalities and communities ofLincoln County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Plantation | ||
| Unorganized territories | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
