Editing Presque Isle, Maine (section)

==History==
[[File:Maine - Presque Isle - NARA - 23940757 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Presque Isle in 1944]]
The first European settlers were British [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] who reached the area in 1819 hoping to obtain land for lumber. Border disputes between the United States and the [[United Kingdom]] over the area, however, made it impossible for pioneers to gain title to the land. In response, the government of the neighboring British colony of [[New Brunswick]] (now a Canadian province) gave out patents for pioneers to live on the land but not claim ownership or sell it. By 1825, surveyors traveling along the [[Aroostook River]] noted that twenty families lived along it and noted that while agriculture was present, all of the families employed most of their time towards wood production.<ref name="History of Presque Isle">{{Cite web |last=Sebold |first=Kimberly |title=History of Presque Isle |url=http://presqueisle.mainememory.net/page/301/display.html |access-date=May 14, 2015 |website=Presque Isle Maine Memory |publisher=Presque Isle Historical Society}}</ref>

The boundary dispute slowed development in the area, but the government of [[Massachusetts]], which governed the territory at the time, saw the territory as theirs and encouraged the development of settlements in northern Maine by offering land grants and mill privileges in the 1820s. The first American to settle in the area was [[Dennis Fairbanks]] in 1828 who gained ownership over the land under the provisions set up by Massachusetts and later Maine, which gained statehood in 1820.<ref name="History of Presque Isle" />

=== Name and incorporation ===
Originally known as Fairbanks for its founder Dennis Fairbanks, Presque Isle was settled in 1828 on land that was unknown to be part of [[British North America]] (Canada) or the United States. The [[Aroostook War]] broke out in 1838 because of boundary disputes between the two countries, 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, derived from the [[French language|French]] term for [[peninsula]] (''presqu'île''), as the courses of the [[Aroostook River]] and Presque Isle Stream form a peninsula. In 1864, [[Fairmount Cemetery (Presque Isle, Maine)|Fairmount Cemetery]] was established in the south of Presque Isle to accommodate Union soldiers returning from the Civil War. In 1883, the town of [[Maysville, Maine|Maysville]] was annexed.

On January 1, 1940, Presque Isle was incorporated as a city.

=== Industry, agriculture and transportation ===

====Lumbering and early industries====
The first industry to form in Presque Isle was the lumber industry. By the 1880s, industry included two [[lumbermill]]s, a [[gristmill]], a [[wool]] [[carding]] mill, a [[furniture]] factory, a [[carriage]] factory and a [[tinware]] factory.

====Agriculture====
During the last 30 years of the 19th century, agriculture became important, and the entire county became noted for its production of [[potato]]es. On October 9, 1851, the first Northern Maine Fair exhibition opened. A starch factory was opened in 1874, providing a ready market for local potatoes.<ref name="Sebold">{{Cite web |last=Sebold |first=Kim |title=History of Presque Isle |url=http://presqueisle.mainememory.net/page/301/display.html |access-date=May 28, 2014 |website=Maine Memory Network}}</ref> In 1914 the [[Aroostook Farm]] was purchased as a Maine Agricultural Experiment Station.<ref name="Smith 1980">{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=David C. |title=A History of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station 1885-1978 |date=1980 |publisher=University of Maine |location=Orono, ME |pages=196–197}}</ref>

====Railroad====
In 1881, the [[New Brunswick Railway]] created the first rail connection in Presque Isle. The [[Bangor and Aroostook Railroad]] arrived in 1895.

====Airport====
A small airport was established in 1931. It was expanded within the decade and later assumed major military importance. 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]] due to its relative proximity to Europe. When the base was sold, a piece of it became the Northern Maine Regional Airport. In June 2018, the Northern Maine Regional Airport was renamed [[Presque Isle International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Name of Northern Maine Regional Airport changing |url=http://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/Name-of-Northern-Maine-Regional-Airport-changing-486745141.html |access-date=September 3, 2018 |website=WAGM|date=June 27, 2018 }}</ref>

Beginning on July 2, 2018, [[United Airlines]] began service from the Presque Isle International Airport in Presque Isle, Maine to [[Newark Liberty International Airport]] in [[Newark, New Jersey]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wabi.tv/content/news/United-Airlines-open-for-business-in--487144081.html | title=United Airlines open for business in Presque Isle | date=July 2, 2018 }}</ref> These flights are federally subsidized through the [[Essential Air Service]] (EAS) program, and are operated by United Express carrier, [[GoJet Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gojetairlines.com/ |title=Home |website=gojetairlines.com}}</ref>

On 4 June 2024, the US Dept. of Transportation awarded Jet Blue its first ever essential air service contract to replace United Airlines at Presque Isle.  The service will be less frequent, but offer more capacity to Boston Logan, than the previous service offered to Newark Liberty International.

=== Colleges and universities ===
[[File:Maine - Presque Isle - NARA - 23940755 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|State Normal School in 1933]]
In 1903, the Aroostook State [[Normal School]] began offering a two-year teacher preparation program. In 1968, it was renamed the [[University of Maine at Presque Isle]]. Northern Maine Technical College was established in 1961, now [[Northern Maine Community College]].<ref name="NMCC">{{Cite web |title=About NMCC |url=http://www.nmcc.edu/pages/nmcc/about-nmcc.php |access-date=February 21, 2013 |website=Northern Maine Community College |publisher=NMCC}}</ref> The first students entered the college in 1963. Today it serves about 2000 students.<ref name=NMCC />

=== Hospitals ===
The first Presque Isle Hospital was established on April 8, 1912.<ref name="Hospital 1984">{{Cite book |last=Dean |first=Marilyn |title=A History of Presque Isle's Hospital |publisher=The Aroostook Medical Center |year=1984 |location=Presque Isle, ME}}</ref> Four physicians were affiliated with the hospital, whose dual aims were to serve the community and to provide a training school for nurses.<ref name="Hospital 1984" /> The building was a white-frame structure, enlarged from a home under construction. The need and demand for the hospital increased so rapidly that in 1921 a new three-story brick hospital was dedicated.<ref name="Hospital 1984" /> This hospital was in operation for nearly four decades, when it, too, proved inadequate. A major fundraising campaign was launched in the late 1950s. After a large donation was given by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wildes, the daughter of the late [[Arthur R. Gould|Senator Arthur Gould]], the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital was constructed and opened in 1960.<ref name="Hospital 1984" /> The hospital has expanded and been modernized in recent years, and in 1981 became part of [[The Aroostook Medical Center]].<ref name="Hospital 1984" />

=== The Double Eagle II ===
[[File:Presqueisleballoon.jpg|thumb|right|Commemorative model of ''Double Eagle II'']]

On August 11, 1978, the ''[[Double Eagle II]]'' was launched from a Presque Isle field carrying three passengers. It made the first successful [[Transatlantic flight|transatlantic]] [[balloon (aircraft)|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 commemorative model balloon.<ref>[http://www.visitmaine.com/region/aroostook/presque_isle/ ''Double Eagle II'' – Maine Office of Tourism] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101184040/http://www.visitmaine.com/region/aroostook/presque_isle/ |date=January 1, 2011 }}</ref>

=== All American City ===
Presque Isle was named an [[All-America City Award|All American City]] in 1966.

=== Historic images ===

<gallery>
File:Potatoeing, Presque Isle, ME.jpg|Potato harvesting in 1909
File:Greenlaw Block, Presque Isle, ME.jpg|Greenlaw Block {{circa|1912}}
File:Perry Building, Presque Isle, ME.jpg|Old opera house {{circa|1912}}
File:Presque Isle Hospital. Maine mid 1910s.jpg|Presque Isle General Hospital, mid-1910s
File:House of Seven Gables Presque Isle Maine.jpg|
</gallery>