Editing Knox County, Maine

{{short description|County in Maine, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Knox, Maine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Knox County
 | state                = Maine
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = April 1
 | founded year         = 1860
 | seat wl              = Rockland
 | largest city wl      = Rockland
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1144
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 365
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 779
 | area percentage      = 68%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 40607
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | named for            = [[Henry Knox]]
 | web                  = knoxcountymaine.gov
 | ex image             = Knox County Courthouse, Rockland, Maine.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Knox County Courthouse
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Eastern
}}

'''Knox County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Maine]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 40,607.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Knox County, Maine|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US23013|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 21, 2021}}</ref>  Its [[county seat]] is [[Rockland, Maine|Rockland]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>  The county is named for [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] general and [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] [[Henry Knox]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n176 177]}}</ref> who lived in the county from 1795 until his death in 1806. The county was established on April 1, 1860, and is the most recent county to be created in Maine. It was carved from parts of [[Waldo County, Maine|Waldo]] and [[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln]] counties. The [[Union Fair]], started in 1868, began as the efforts of the North Knox Agricultural and Horticultural Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unionfair.org/history.cfm|title=The Birth of the Union Fair: Its History, Its Promise|access-date=October 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002153139/http://www.unionfair.org/history.cfm|archive-date=October 2, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1144|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|365|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|779|sqmi}} (68%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_23.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909034104/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_23.txt|archive-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> It is the second-smallest county in Maine by land area. It was originally part of the [[Waldo Patent]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln County]] – west
*[[Waldo County, Maine|Waldo County]] – north
*[[Hancock County, Maine|Hancock County]] – northeast

===National protected areas===
* [[Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 32716
|1870= 30823
|1880= 32863
|1890= 31473
|1900= 30406
|1910= 28981
|1920= 26245
|1930= 27693
|1940= 27191
|1950= 28121
|1960= 28575
|1970= 29013
|1980= 32941
|1990= 36310
|2000= 39618
|2010= 39736
|2020= 40607
|estyear=2023
|estimate=40977
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/me190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2016<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23013.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 19, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606152032/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23013.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 39,618 people, 16,608 households, and 10,728 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|108|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 21,612 housing units at an average density of {{convert|59|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 98.28% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.4% were of [[English people|English]], 12.2% [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.7% [[United States]] or American, 7.5% [[German people|German]] and 5.7% [[French people|French]] ancestry. 97.1% spoke [[English language|English]] and 1.5% [[French language|French]] as their first language.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
Of the 16,608 households 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 29.00% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The age distribution was 22.40% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median household income was $36,774 and the median family income was $43,819. Males had a median income of $30,704 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,981. About 6.40% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 39,736&nbsp;people, 17,258&nbsp;households, and 10,662&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23013
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030912/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|108.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 23,744 housing units at an average density of {{convert|65.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23013
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192948/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 97.1% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 31.3% were [[English people|English]], 19.0% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 12.8% were [[Germans|German]], 6.9% were [[Scottish people|Scottish]], and 5.9% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23013
  |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014344/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 17,258&nbsp;households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 31.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 46.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median household income was $45,264 and the median family income was $55,830. Males had a median income of $40,712 versus $29,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,291. About 7.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23013
  |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012352/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Politics==
Knox County is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold in presidential elections. Originally it favored the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], like most of the rest of Maine, but it began to trend Democratic starting in the 1990s. In 2004, [[John Kerry]] won the county with a decisive 11-point majority, and in every election since then Democrats have carried the county by double-digit margins.

In 2012, Knox County voted 55% in favor of a measure to legalize same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/Measures/2012/ME|title=2016 Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates|website=[[Politico]]|date=November 8, 2016 }}</ref>

===Voter registration===
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="Maine SOS">{{cite web |author1=Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions |title=Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide |url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/data/data-pdf/r-e-active.pdf |website=Maine SOS |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 12139}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |12139 |30183 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unenrolled
| align = center | {{formatnum: 8436}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |8436 |30183 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 8117}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |8117 |30183 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Green Party (United States)}}
| [[Maine Green Independent Party|Green Independent]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 1065}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |1065 |30183 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|No Labels}}
| [[No Labels]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 343}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |343 |30183 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 83}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |83 |30183 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 30183}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}
{{clear}}

{{PresHead|place=Knox County, Maine|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|10,262|15,076|555|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|9,982|15,110|642|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|9,148|12,443|1,556|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|8,248|13,223|596|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|8,816|13,728|436|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|10,103|12,690|454|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|8,968|9,453|2,080|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,192|8,839|3,852|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|6,310|7,631|6,397|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,156|7,343|151|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,311|6,024|66|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,631|5,732|2,218|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|8,315|5,922|549|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,478|3,601|0|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,585|5,119|214|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,404|7,022|4|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|9,083|3,816|1|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|8,866|2,037|0|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,793|2,414|20|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,374|1,924|97|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,590|3,758|15|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|6,530|4,197|20|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|6,567|3,991|321|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|6,169|4,765|225|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,660|2,332|88|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,919|1,770|339|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,979|2,971|233|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,211|3,434|201|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,097|2,751|1,651|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,228|1,932|292|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,538|1,866|229|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,762|2,765|138|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,286|1,900|138|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,321|2,136|564|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,965|2,290|416|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,819|2,364|879|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|2,880|3,659|437|Maine}}
|}

==Communities==
===City===
*[[Rockland, Maine|Rockland]] (county seat)

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Appleton, Maine|Appleton]]
*[[Camden, Maine|Camden]]
*[[Cushing, Maine|Cushing]]
*[[Friendship, Maine|Friendship]]
*[[Hope, Maine|Hope]]
*[[Isle au Haut, Maine|Isle au Haut]]
*[[North Haven, Maine|North Haven]]
*[[Owls Head, Maine|Owls Head]]
*[[Rockport, Maine|Rockport]]
*[[Saint George, Maine|Saint George]]
*[[South Thomaston, Maine|South Thomaston]]
*[[Thomaston, Maine|Thomaston]]
*[[Union, Maine|Union]]
*[[Vinalhaven, Maine|Vinalhaven]]
*[[Warren, Maine|Warren]]
*[[Washington, Maine|Washington]]
{{div col end}}

===Plantation===
*[[Matinicus Isle, Maine|Matinicus Isle]]

===Unorganized territories===
*[[Criehaven, Maine|Criehaven]]
*[[Muscle Ridge Islands, Maine|Muscle Ridge Islands]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Camden (CDP), Maine|Camden]]
*[[Thomaston (CDP), Maine|Thomaston]]

===Other unincorporated villages===
*[[Glen Cove, Maine|Glen Cove]]
*[[Hibberts Corner, Maine|Hibberts Corner]]
*[[Port Clyde, Maine|Port Clyde]]
*[[West Rockport, Maine|West Rockport]]

==Public buildings==
An addition to the Knox County Courthouse designed by Scott Simons Architects was completed in 2005. It is connected to an annex built in 1977 that is adjacent to the historic, original building that was finished in 1874.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wright-ryan.com/blog/portfolio/knox-county-courthouse/|title=Knox County Courthouse|website=Maine Commercial Construction Company {{!}} Wright-Ryan Construction|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox County, Maine]]
*[[Historical United States Census totals for Knox County, Maine]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.knoxcountymaine.gov/ Official site of Knox County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090326165038/http://knoxcounty.midcoast.com/pdfs/commission/charter.pdf Knox County Charter]
* [http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=knox_county Maine Genealogy: Knox County, Maine]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Knox County, Maine
| North     = [[Waldo County, Maine|Waldo County]]
| Northeast = 
| East      = ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
| Southeast = 
| South     = ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln County]]
| Northwest = 
}} 
{{Knox County, Maine}}
{{Maine}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|44.03|-69.03|type:adm2nd_region:US-ME_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}

[[Category:Knox County, Maine| ]]
[[Category:Maine counties]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Maine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1860]]