Millinocket, Maine
Location of town of Millinocket in state of Maine
Millinocket, Maine Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 45°39′29″N 68°42′1″W / 45.65806, -68.70028
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Penobscot
Area
- Total	18.3 sq mi (47.4 km²)
- Land	15.9 sq mi (41.1 km²)
- Water	2.4 sq mi (6.2 km²)
Elevation	351 ft (107 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,203
- Density	327.5/sq mi (126.4/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	04462
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-45810
GNIS feature ID	0582596

Millinocket is a town with a mill in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,203 at the 2000 census. It is home to a hospital.

History

Millinocket & Mount Katahdin in c. 1910

It began with the selection of a site for the Great Northern Paper Company in 1899. Charles W. Mullen, an engineering graduate from the University of Maine, intended to build a hydroelectric dam on the Penobscot River. He contacted Garret Schenck, a recognized expert in the pulp and paper industry, about building a pulp and paper mill near the proposed new dam. Mr. Schenck agreed, and set about obtaining the necessary financial backing. Mr Schenck contracted "bonded" labor, especially stone masons from Italy. The term "bonded" in this case referred to the fact that the Italians owed for the passage to America and were in debt the minute they set foot in this country. One such "bonded" stone mason was a man by the name of Berandino DiMarco. His nickname was Chulkie and he had a large family. His sons and daughters were all successful, bearing names like Armando and Asperino. The Italian masons were largely responsible for the construction of the Mill in Millinocket.

After securing land rights, the chosen site was at the junction of the West Branch of the Penobscot River and Millinocket Stream, where it stands today. Things moved quickly, and by the spring of 1899, a new company was formed, to be called the Great Northern Paper Company. As the location of the mill was not near any existing towns, it became necessary to build a town to house the people employed at the mill. "Millinocket," meaning "the land of many islands" because of all the islands in the Penobscot River, and having nothing to do with the mill, would be incorporated in 1901.

Great Northern Paper Co. Mill in c. 1910

Throughout the 20th century, the community prospered. It developed a reputation as a small but successful rural town, mostly due to the paper industry, but also to its proximity to Mount Katahdin, Maine's tallest mountain, and Moosehead Lake, Maine's largest lake.

In early 2003, however, Great Northern Paper announced it had filed for bankruptcy protection for its Millinocket and East Millinocket mills. Ironically, this occurred on the same day that Governor John Baldacci took his oath of office. Since then, the town has struggled to reshape its economy, while receiving significant help from the state government and local economic development efforts. Shortly after closing the mills, a Canadian corporation purchased the bankrupt paper mills in both Millinocket and East Millinocket. Currently, the paper mill employs over 600 workers in the two towns. In additional to the traditional forest products industry, Millinocket has been growing a service economy, and has grown into a major four season tourist attraction. The region is also served by the Millinocket Municipal Airport, which sells both 100LL avgas and jet fuel.

Historic sites and museums

• Millinocket Antique Snowmobile Museum
• Millinocket Town Museum

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it (13.17%) is water. Millinocket Lake is drained by the West Branch Penobscot River and Millinocket Stream. Millinocket Lake and Mount Katahdin, elevation 5,270 feet (1,606 meters), are in the northwest. Mount Katahdin

Demographics

This article describes the town of Millinocket as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate numbers reported here. See: Millinocket (CDP), Maine.

Great Northern Hotel in c. 1910

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,203 people, 2,295 households, and 1,556 families residing in the town. The population density was 327.5 people per square mile (126.4/km²). There were 2,679 housing units at an average density of 168.6/sq mi (65.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.52% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 2,295 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% 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 2.69.

Log pile in 1911

In the town the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,318, and the median income for a family was $40,893. Males had a median income of $41,218 versus $23,289 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,130. About 11.8% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over. Students attend Stearns High School, mascot the Minutemen.

Stearns High School

Stearns High School is a small school in town. Its school colors are royal blue (or really any shade) and white. The principal is Brian Jones and the superintendent is Sara Alberts. The vice principal is Jedediah Petsinger. Extracurricular activities include Band, Jazz Band, Chorus, Show Choir, Jazz Choir, One Act, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Baseball, Tennis, Track and Field, and Softball.

School Song

Media

Millinocket has two newspapers that serve the area:

• The Katahdin Press, a weekly newspaper, was formed in 2005, through a merger of the Katahdin Times and the Community Press.

• The Magic City Morning Star, which has published since 2002, is owned by The Maine Free Press, LLC, a politically conservative publisher which also publishes All Maine Matters.

Regionally, the Bangor Daily News is also circulated throughout the area.

The area is served by several radio stations, mainly Millinocket licensed WSYY-FM (classic hits/adult contemporary) and WSYY (AM) (Fox Sports Radio). Stations from Bangor and the more powerful stations from Presque Isle are also heard. Cable television is provided by Beeline Cable, which provides most of the network affiliates from Bangor.

References

1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Town of Millinocket, Maine Official Website
  • Katahdin Regional Wiki: Millinocket
  • Home to Katahdin
  • Baxter State Park
  • Millinocket Train Wreck 1979
  • What Happened To Lieutenant Hare?
  • Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile, Cross Country Ski Club, and Antique Snowmobile Museum
  • Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Millinocket Area Growth & Investment Council
  • Katahdin Outfitters, Self Guided Canoe and Kayak Float Trips on the Allagash, Saint John and Penobscot Rivers
  • Feathers, Fins, and Fur Master Maine Guide Service
  • West Branch Aviation at the Millinocket Municipal Airport

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Coordinates: 45°39′26″N, 68°42′37″W