Fort Kent, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Kent, Maine
Fort-Kent
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| Ville de Fort-Kent (French) | |
The Fort Kent Railroad Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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| Motto(s):
The Little Town That Could
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Location of Fort Kent, Maine
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 Fort Kent, Maine
Location in Maine
Fort Kent, Maine
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Aroostook |
| Incorporated | February 23, 1869 |
| Villages | Fort Kent Fort Kent Mills Bradburys |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55.15 sq mi (142.84 km2) |
| • Land | 54.17 sq mi (140.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.98 sq mi (2.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 610 ft (186 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,067 |
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
04743 (Fort Kent)
04744 (Fort Kent Mills) |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-25755 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582477 |
Fort Kent (in French: Fort-Kent) is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. It sits where the Fish River meets the Saint John River. This location is right on the border with New Brunswick, Canada. In 2020, about 4,067 people lived here.
Fort Kent is famous for a few things. It has an Olympic training center for biathletes, who combine cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It also hosts a yearly CAN-AM dogsled race. You can visit the Fort Kent Blockhouse, a historic building from a past conflict. The town's main jobs are in farming (especially potatoes), forestry, and making textiles. Fort Kent is also the very start of U.S. Route 1, a highway that goes all the way to Florida! It's also the end point of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Contents
Fort Kent's Past: A Look Back
The Aroostook War and the Blockhouse
Fort Kent was built in the summer of 1839. It was an American outpost during a time called the Aroostook War. This was a conflict over the border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. It was called an "undeclared" war because no official fighting happened. The first building in Fort Kent was the blockhouse. It was named after the governor of Maine at the time, Edward Kent.
The Saint John River was once a busy route for floating logs from forests to sawmills. Later, trains and trucks took over this job.
The Great Flood of 2008
In 2008, Fort Kent experienced a big flood. After a winter with almost 200 inches (508 cm) of snow, the Saint John River began to flood on April 29. Two days of heavy rain also made the problem worse. The river overflowed into the downtown area. More than 600 of Fort Kent's residents had to leave their homes. The river's water level rose to nearly 31 feet (9.4 meters), which was 6 feet (1.8 meters) above the normal flood level.
The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, declared a state of emergency. He came to see the damage himself. The Fish River also caused a lot of damage, flooding a church and an apartment building.
Fort Kent's French Connection
Fort Kent has strong ties to the Canadian towns of Clair and Saint-François-de-Madawaska. These towns are in Madawaska County, New Brunswick, just across the Saint John River. The people in Fort Kent and these Canadian towns share a lot of culture and business.
Most children on the Canadian side of the border go to French-speaking schools. In Fort Kent, most students are taught in English. However, many people in Fort Kent speak French regularly. The French spoken here is similar to the French spoken in Quebec and New Brunswick. It's sometimes called "New England French" or "Valley French." Many residents of Fort Kent have dual citizenship, meaning they are citizens of both America and Canada.
Where is Fort Kent?
Fort Kent covers an area of about 55.15 square miles (142.84 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Fort Kent's Weather
Fort Kent has four different seasons. Winter is the longest, usually starting in November and lasting until April. Summers are very nice, with warm days and cool nights. Fort Kent gets a lot of snow each year, averaging about 97 inches (246 cm). The most snow ever recorded in one day was 20.4 inches (52 cm) on January 30, 1945. The deepest snow on the ground was 63 inches (160 cm) on January 20, 1955.
Temperatures in Fort Kent can vary a lot. The coldest it has ever been was -42°F (-41°C) in 1957 and 1966. The hottest it has ever been was 98°F (37°C) in 1893. On average, the last frost of spring is around May 25, and the first frost of fall is around September 21. This gives Fort Kent about 119 days for plants to grow.
Who Lives in Fort Kent?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,034 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,512 | 46.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,826 | 20.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,528 | 38.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,710 | 46.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,237 | 14.2% | |
| 1930 | 4,726 | 11.5% | |
| 1940 | 5,363 | 13.5% | |
| 1950 | 5,343 | −0.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,761 | −10.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,575 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,826 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 4,268 | −11.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,233 | −0.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,097 | −3.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,067 | −0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 4,097 people living in Fort Kent. The town had 1,747 households. The average age of people in Fort Kent was about 42.7 years old.
Fun Things to Do in Fort Kent
International Muskie Derby
Fort Kent hosts the International Muskie Fishing Derby. This event started in 2003 to show off the great fishing for muskie fish in the area. It helps bring attention to the fishery and attracts tourists.
Ploye Festival: A Giant Pancake!
Another fun event is the Fort Kent Ploye Festival. A ploye is a type of pancake. A main event at the festival is making the world's largest ploye! This huge ploye can be 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide. It takes many people and a lot of effort to cook it perfectly. Once it's ready, pieces of the giant ploye are shared with the excited crowd.
World Cup Biathlon Events
The Fort Kent Outdoor Center has hosted many World Cup biathlon events. Biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. In 2004 and 2011, athletes from all over the world came to Fort Kent to compete. Even famous basketball player Scottie Pippen visited during the 2011 World Cup Biathlon!
World Acadian Congress
In 2014, northern Maine and parts of New Brunswick and Quebec held the World Acadian Congress. This event celebrated the rich history of the Acadians in the area. Many family reunions, concerts, parades, and festivals took place during this special time.
Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race
The Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race started in 1993. Teams from Maine, Canada, and other places compete. There are three different races: a 30-mile, a 60-mile, and a 250-mile race. The 250-mile race is a qualifying event for the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race starts on Main Street in Fort Kent, goes under the international bridge to Canada, and then into the wilderness before finishing back in Fort Kent.
Learning in Fort Kent
Fort Kent is part of Maine School Administrative District 27. The schools in town include Fort Kent Elementary School, Valley Rivers Middle School, and Fort Kent Community High School.
The town is also home to the University of Maine at Fort Kent. This is a college where students can continue their education after high school.
Getting Around Fort Kent
Transportation
U.S. Route 1 starts in Fort Kent, near the Clair–Fort Kent Bridge. This highway then travels for 2,369 miles (3,813 km) and ends in Key West, Florida.
Fort Kent also has a local airport. In 2011, the town made an agreement with the Fish River Flying Club to fix, maintain, and operate the airport, which had been closed since the 1980s.
Famous People from Fort Kent
Many interesting people were born in Fort Kent, including:
- Benjamin Collings (born 1976), a politician
- Mike Daisey (born 1976), a storyteller
- Clair Goodblood (1929–1951), who received the Medal of Honor for bravery
- Helen Hamlin (1917–2004), an author
- Troy Dale Jackson (born 1968), a politician
- Ellis Paul (born 1965), a singer-songwriter
- Austin Theriault (born 1994), a NASCAR driver and politician
- Don Voisine (born 1952), an abstract artist
