Hancock County, Maine

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

John Hancock of Massachusetts, the namesake of Hancock County

File:High tide near Thunder Hole, ME IMG 2439.JPG

High tide near Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park; Hancock County, Maine, is a major tourist destination in the United States.

File:Ocean waves at Sand Beach, Acadia N.P. IMG 2432.JPG

Ocean waves at Sand Beach in Acadia National Park

File:Jordan Pond (July 4, 2014) IMG 2462.JPG

Jordan Pond (July 4, 2014)

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,478.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Ellsworth.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was incorporated on June 25, 1789, and named for John Hancock,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (32%) is water. The county high point is Cadillac Mountain, 1527 feet, the highest summit on the U.S. Atlantic seaboard.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

The county is home to Acadia National Park, the only national park in New England, which is centered on Mount Desert Island, Maine's largest island and surrounded by several large bays. The county also lies on the eastern side of both Penobscot Bay and the mouth of the Penobscot River, which can be crossed via the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The county extends inland from the coast, making it one of Maine's eight coastal counties.

Adjacent counties

Penobscot County — north
Washington County — northeast
Waldo County — west
Knox County — southwest

Major highways

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 51,791 people, 21,864 households, and 14,233 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 33,945 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.61% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Hancock County, Maine according to the 2000 census are:

24.6% English
16.6% American
11.9% Irish
6.6% French
6.1% German

96.8% spoke English, 1.5% French and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 21,864 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,811, and the median income for a family was $43,216. Males had a median income of $30,461 versus $22,647 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,809. About 7.00% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

The 1990 Census counted 46,948, though the 1998 population estimate is 49,932.1 The gender division was 22,996 males, 23,952 females in 1989. Ninety-nine percent of the population was white (46,446), 121 American Indians, 249 Asians, 79 Blacks and 52 "other"

Sixty-six percent of the population of Hancock County are Mainers by birth. Three percent were born outside the US.

Of the 31,475 persons over 25 years old, 83% (26,214) had a high school degree or higher. Twenty-one percent had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 54,418 people, 24,221 households, and 14,834 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 40,184 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 24.0% were English, 19.8% were American, 15.2% were Irish, 9.0% were German, and 7.2% were Scottish.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 24,221 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.8% were non-families, and 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.71. The median age was 46.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,533 and the median income for a family was $60,092. Males had a median income of $41,046 versus $32,444 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,876. About 6.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Of employed persons 16 years and over in 1990, 1,108 indicated involvement in the "agriculture, forestry and fisheries" industry, though 1,206 indicated "farming, forestry and fishing occupations." The U.S. Census data are not dependable for determining the numbers of individuals involved in the fishing industry. Only firms with 10 or more employees must report their numbers, as well as firms paying workmen's compensation insurance. Because the majority of fishermen in Maine are considered self-employed, the statistics underreport fishing employment.

Cranberry Isles, Deer Isle, Frenchboro, Gouldsboro, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swans Island and Tremont (Bass Harbor) were identified by a key respondent as fisheries dependent. Bar Harbor, Brooklin, Brooksville, Hancock, Lamoine, Mount Desert, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Sorrento and Sullivan were also noted as having either significant fishing activity or a significant number of people who fish. Winter Harbor's fishing activities were once dwarfed by the economic activity associated with a naval base, but now that the naval base has closed, fishing activity will most likely be the dominant economic activity in the community. Salmon farming is also popular in the area and Maine Salmon is an important export.

Hancock County has the longest coastline of any Maine county. Commercial fishing and tourism are the county's most important industries. Hancock County is home to Acadia National Park (the only national park in Maine or the New England region, excluding the national sea shore on Cape Cod) and Cadillac Mountain (the highest point in Maine's coastal region). Jackson Laboratory, noted for cancer research, is located in Bar Harbor. Two institutions of higher education are located in Hancock County: Maine Maritime Academy at Castine and the College of the Atlantic at Bar Harbor.

Air pollution

The American Lung Association issues annual State of the Air reports. Their current score card gives Hancock county an "F" for ozone pollution, the only Maine county to receive an F score.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government and politics

The county's Commissioners are William F. Clark, John Wombacher and Paul Paradis.

From 1856 to 1988, Hancock County was a Republican stronghold, with Democrats only carrying the county in three of the 34 presidential elections. Since then, Democrats carried the county every time, although George W. Bush came within one percent of taking the county in 2000.

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="Maine SOS">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Party color cell	Democratic	15,384	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Republican	12,806	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Unenrolled	11,405	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Green Independent	1,611	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	No Labels	454	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Libertarian	109	Template:Percentage
Total		41,769	Template:Percentage