Aroostook County, Maine
Aroostook County | |
|---|---|
Aroostook County Courthouse | |
Location within the U.S. state of Maine | |
Maine's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 46°39′N 68°35′W / 46.65°N 68.59°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| Founded | May 1, 1839 |
| Named after | Miꞌkmaq word meaning "beautiful water" |
| Seat | Houlton |
| Largest city | Presque Isle |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,828 sq mi (17,680 km2) |
| • Land | 6,671 sq mi (17,280 km2) |
| • Water | 156 sq mi (400 km2) 2.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 67,105 |
| • Density | 9.8/sq mi (3.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | aroostook |
Aroostook County (/əˈruːstək, -ˈrʊs-/ ə-ROOSS-tək, -RUUSS-; French: Comté d'Aroostook) is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of Maine. It is located along the Canada–United States border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,105. The county seat is Houlton, with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent.
Known in Maine as "The County", it is the largest county in Maine by total area, the second-largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River by total area (behind St. Louis County, Minnesota), and the 31st-largest county in the entire contiguous U.S. With over 6,800 square miles (18,000 km2) of land, it is larger than three of the smaller U.S. states. The state's northernmost village, Estcourt Station, is also the northernmost community in the New England region and in the contiguous United States east of the Great Lakes.
Aroostook County is known for its potato cultivation, and it is an emerging hub for wind power. Historically, Acadian culture and heritage is well-represented in the county. In the Saint John Valley (northern Aroostook county), which borders Madawaska County, New Brunswick, many of the residents are bilingual in English and Acadian French. Elsewhere in Maine, New England French is the predominant form of French spoken. As well, the original inhabitants of the area, the Wolastoqiyik still remain in their country (Wolastokuk) as the Houlton Band of Metaksonekiyak Wolastoqewiyik.
Aroostook County forms the entirety of the Presque Isle media market, according to Nielsen Media Research.