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Islesboro
Town
Pendleton Point
Location of Islesboro (in yellow) in Waldo County, and Waldo County (red) in the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°18′30″N 68°54′12″W / 44.30833°N 68.90333°W / 44.30833; -68.90333
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Waldo
Incorporated	1789
Area
• Total	68.88 sq mi (178.40 km)
• Land	14.29 sq mi (37.01 km)
• Water	54.59 sq mi (141.39 km)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population
• Total	583
• Density	41/sq mi (15.8/km)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	04848
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-35240
GNIS feature ID	0582531
Website	www.townofislesboro.com

Islesboro is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States, comprising Islesboro Island and several smaller islands. The population was 583 at the 2020 census. It has a summer colony accessible by state ferry service from Lincolnville Beach three miles to the west, by private boat, or by air taxi service. Home to Warren Island State Park, Islesboro includes the village of Dark Harbor.

History

The Penobscot people called it Pitaubegwimenahanuk, meaning "the island that lies between two channels", although André Thevet recorded the name Aiayascon in 1556. It was part of the Waldo Patent. First called Long Island Plantation, it was settled in 1769. It was incorporated as Islesborough on January 28, 1789, although over time the spelling was contracted to Islesboro.

With many harbors and coves, the island was home to the largest commercial shipping fleet in the bay during the 19th century. Following the Civil War, however, Islesboro developed as a resort community, and many large and luxurious summer homes were built. Their large yachts cruised and raced throughout the Gulf of Maine. The town remains an upper-class enclave and summer colony.

Geography

Islands and villages

Situated in upper Penobscot Bay, the island town separates East from West Penobscot Bay. Islesboro Island is narrow, mainly north-south and 14 miles long. Smaller islands include Job Island, Seven Hundred Acre Island, Spruce Island, Warren Island, Seal Island, Ram Island, Thrumcap, Middle Island, Minot Island, Ensign Island (#1 and #2), Lime Island, Flat Island, Hutchins Island, Little Island, Little Bermuda(?), Joe's Rock, and Birch Point. Semi-submerged features include Haskell Ledge, Minor Ledge, and Minot Island Ledge.

The main island consists of two wider landmasses separated by a narrow isthmus called The Narrows. Neighborhoods and villages (small clusters of buildings) are distributed across the two:

• Up Island, the northern landmass
  • Pripet, also known as Warren's Landing or Beckett's Landing – the historic site of a kiln and steamboat wharf
  • North Islesboro – historic village and current site of a general store
  • Ryder's Cove – historic summer vacation spot and steamboat destination
• Down Island, the southern landmass
  • Islesboro Village, also known as Guinea Village – near Islesboro Harbor
  • Hewes Point – historic summer vacation spot and steamboat destination
  • Town Center – town offices, community center, and post office
  • Grindle Point – current ferry landing, with historic lighthouse
  • Dark Harbor – historic summer vacation spot and steamboat destination

Size and features

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.88 square miles (178.40 km), of which 14.29 square miles (37.01 km) is land and 54.59 square miles (141.39 km) is water.

There is one large pond, called Meadow Pond, in the northern portion of the Island, the work of beavers that have dammed a narrow place. Ice was once harvested from this pond for export to places as far away as India. Hewes Point was named for Paola Hewes, an early pioneer settler.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Islesboro has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 566 people, 270 households, and 161 families living in the town. The population density was 39.6 inhabitants per square mile (15.3/km). There were 850 housing units at an average density of 59.5 per square mile (23.0/km). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 270 households, of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. Of all households 34.4% were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.57.

The median age in the town was 52.1 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.4% were from 25 to 44; 37.5% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 603 people, 280 households, and 176 families living in the town. The population density was 42.3 inhabitants per square mile (16.3/km). There were 741 housing units at an average density of 52.0 per square mile (20.1/km). The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 280 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. Of all households 30.7% were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,653. About 5.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Islesboro Central School is one of four island schools in Maine that cover all grades (K–12), the others being North Haven, Vinalhaven, and Mount Desert Island. It is also unique that it allows mainland students to pay tuition to attend from grades 5 through 12. The "magnet" students, and some teachers, who live on the mainland take the ferry across every morning where they are met with a school bus to take them to school. Students come from a range of midcoast towns to attend ICS. The number of the students in the school fluctuates, but is around 100 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The school is a member of the Busline League for middle school sports, and is in Class D, South, in the Maine Principals' Association. The competitive sports offered through the school include cross country running, sailing, soccer, basketball, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Notable people

• Winthrop Aldrich, banker and US Ambassador to Great Britain
• Kirstie Alley, actress
• John Judson Ames, editor and proprietor of the first newspaper in San Diego, California
• Honor Blackman, actress
• C. Douglas Dillon, diplomat and politician
• Joan Dillon, American born duchess and princess
• Ruth Draper, dramatist
• Charles Dana Gibson, illustrator
• Isabel Gillies, actress and author
• Ved Mehta, author
• Sister Parish, interior decorator
• Kelly Preston, actress
• George Stevens Jr., film director
• John Train, investment advisor and author
• John Travolta, actor
• Lily Tuck, writer

See also

• Up-island spider
• List of islands of Maine

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Islesboro town, Waldo County, Maine". Retrieved January 30, 2022.
3. "Islesboro, Maine". andrew.fi. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
4. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 162–163. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
5. Varney, George J. (1886). "Islesborough". Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Boston: Russell.
6. Town of Islesboro. "DRAFT Comprehensive Plan 2017, Section II: Islesboro 2030 Guiding Statement" (PDF).
7. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
8. "Islesboro, Maine Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "Mainland students pulled to island school". November 18, 2011.
13. "Watery Commute". February 9, 2015.
14. "Islesboro School's Island Magnetism". June 3, 2014.
15. "Kirstie Alley". Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
16. Activities, United States Congress Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign (1973). Presidential Campaign Activities of 1972, Senate Resolution 60: Watergate and Related Activities : Hearings, Ninety-third Congress, First-[second] Session ... U.S. Government Printing Office.
17. "Family tree of Joan Douglas DILLON". Geneanet.
18. "Ruth Draper". Archived from the original on June 1, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
19. "Charles Dana Gibson home, Islesboro, 1937". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
20. "Dark Harbor: Building House and Home on an Enchanted Is…". Goodreads.
21. ^ Tour John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Shingle Style Home in Maine | Architectural Digest Retrieved 2017-04-27.
22. "The week at glance" (PDF). islesborocommunitycenter.org. August 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
23. Train, Frances (2019). Edd Tide. Bloominton, IN: iUniverse. p. 184. ISBN 9781532069567.
24. "Main(e) Point Books to Open This Summer". the American Booksellers Association. May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2022.

External links

• Official Web Page
• About Islesboro
• The Alice L. Pendleton Library Archived 2006-12-25 at the Wayback Machine
• Islesboro Community Center
• Islesboro Island Trust
• Islesboro Comprehensive Plan
• Islesboro Central School District
• Maine Genealogy: Islesboro, Waldo County, Maine
• Islesboro Maine overview Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine

v t e Municipalities and communities of Waldo County, Maine, United States
County seat: Belfast
City	Belfast
Towns	Belmont Brooks Burnham Frankfort Freedom Islesboro Jackson Knox Liberty Lincolnville Monroe Montville Morrill Northport Palermo Prospect Searsmont Searsport Stockton Springs Swanville Thorndike Troy Unity Waldo Winterport
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Other villages	East Thorndike East Troy Sandy Point
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• Towns in Waldo County, Maine
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