Presque Isle, Maine
Fort Street
Location of city of Presque Isle in state of Maine
Coordinates: 46°40′46″N 68°0′8″W / 46.67944, -68.00222
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Aroostook
Incorporated	1859
Area
- Total	77.5 sq mi (200.9 km²)
- Land	75.7 sq mi (196.2 km²)
- Water	1.8 sq mi (4.7 km²)
Elevation	456 ft (139 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	9,511
- Density	125.6/sq mi (48.5/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	04769
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-60825
GNIS feature ID	0573790

Presque Isle is a city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,511 at the 2000 census. The city is home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Northern Maine Community College and the Northern Maine Regional Airport.

History

Potatoeing in 1909

Originally known as Fairbanks for its founder Dennis Fairbanks, it was settled in 1828. The Aroostook War broke out in 1838 because of boundary disputes with Canada, which were resolved in 1842 by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. The township was incorporated from Plantations F, G and H on April 4, 1859 as Presque Isle, the French term for peninsula (presqu'île means "almost an island"), as the courses of the Aroostook River and Presque Isle Stream form a peninsula here.

Agriculture was important from the beginning, and the entire county became noted for its production of potatoes. On October 9, 1851, the first Northern Maine Fair exhibition opened. In 1883, the town of Maysville was annexed. The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad arrived in 1885, opening the area for development. Industries included 2 lumbermills, a gristmill, a wool carding mill, a furniture factory, a carriage factory and a tinware factory. The community became the trade, shipping and tourist center of the Aroostook valley. In 1903, the Aroostook State Normal School was founded, which in 1968 would be renamed the University of Maine at Presque Isle. On January 1, 1940, Presque Isle was incorporated as a city.

The Presque Isle Air Force Base, in operation between 1941 and 1961, was a major departure point for U.S. fighter planes during World War II and the Korean War. The former base is now the Northern Maine Regional Airport. On August 11, 1978, the Double Eagle II was launched from a Presque Isle field carrying three passengers. It made the first successful transatlantic balloon crossing. In honor of the Double 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 the Double Eagle II lifted off now features a memorial model balloon.

Notable residents

Aroostook State Normal School in 1908

• John Cariani, actor
• John Crowley, author
• Lynn Flewelling, author
• Arthur R. Gould, businessman and Senator
• James Chico Hernandez, wrestling champion
• Ellis Paul, musician
• Jack Sepkoski, paleontologist
• Ron Tingley, baseball player

Geography

Presque Isle is located at 46°40′46″N, 68°0′8″W (46.679321, -68.002166)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 77.6 square miles (200.9 km²), of which, 75.8 square miles (196.2 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it (2.32%) is water. Presque Isle is drained by the Aroostook River and Presque Isle Stream.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 9,511 people, 3,963 households, and 2,464 families residing in the city. The population density was 125.6 people per square mile (48.5/km²). There were 4,405 housing units at an average density of 58.2/sq mi (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% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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 the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 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. The per capita income for the city was $15,712. About 9.2% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Television

Presque Isle is home to one of the smallest TV market as defined by Nielsen market research. It consists of WAGM-TV a CBS affiliate, WAGM-TV2 a FOX affiliate and WMEM affiliated with PBS.

Radio

Several radio stations have studios located in Presque Isle, including WBPW, WOZI and WQHR, all owned by Citadel Broadcasting and talk radio station WEGP. The city is also home to WUPI, the University of Maine presque Isle's student radio station and Maine Public Broadcasting Network on 106.1.

Newspaper

While there are no daily newspapers in Aroostook County, the Bangor Daily News maintains an office in Presque Isle. The Star-Herald is published Wednesdays, one of several weekly newspapers published in Aroostook County. Others include Caribou's Aroostook Republican, Madawaska's St. John Valley Times, The Fort Fairfield Journal and Houlton's Pioneer Times.

Sites of interest

• Aroostook Farm -- Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station
• Aroostook State Park
• Northern Maine Fair
• Northern Maine Museum of Science
• Presque Isle Air Museum
• Presque Isle Historical Society & Museum

References

• History of Presque Isle, Maine

External links

• City of Presque Isle, Maine
• Turner Memorial Library
• Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce
• Presque Isle Webcam
• Presque Isle area schools - MSAD #1 in Presque Isle, Maine
• Northern Maine Community College
• University of Maine at Presque Isle

• Presque Isle, Maine is at coordinates 46°40′46″N 68°00′08″W / 46.679321, -68.002166 (Presque Isle, Maine)Coordinates: 46°40′46″N 68°00′08″W / 46.679321, -68.002166 (Presque Isle, Maine)

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