Frankfort, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frankfort, Maine
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Location of Frankfort (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Waldo |
| Incorporated | June 25, 1789 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Meeting-Select Board |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.91 sq mi (67.11 km2) |
| • Land | 24.61 sq mi (63.74 km2) |
| • Water | 1.30 sq mi (3.37 km2) |
| Elevation | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,231 |
| • Density | 50/sq mi (19.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04438
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-26280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582478 |
| Website | Town of Frankfort, Maine |
Frankfort is a small town located in Waldo County, Maine, United States. It sits right on the Penobscot River where the river meets the sea, which is called an estuary. In 2020, about 1,231 people lived there.
Contents
History of Frankfort
Frankfort is the oldest town along the Penobscot River. People first started settling here in the 1760s. These early settlers were soldiers from Massachusetts who had been stationed at nearby Fort Pownall.
Early Settlements and Native Lands
After the French and Indian War ended, the Penobscot Valley became part of New England, specifically Massachusetts. This led to English-speaking settlers slowly moving onto the lands of the Penobscot Indians. This movement began in Frankfort.
Over time, more towns like Bangor, Brewer, Orono, and Old Town were founded further inland. Eventually, the Penobscot people were limited to their main village, which is now the Penobscot Indian Reservation.
Frankfort's Original Size
The Frankfort you see today is much smaller than it used to be. The original town included what are now the towns of Winterport, Stockton Springs, and Prospect.
Fort Pownall was actually located within the original Frankfort. The main village of Frankfort was what we now call Winterport. This area was a good place to settle because Verona Island controlled access up the river. Also, the river above this point would freeze in winter, making Frankfort the last ice-free port as you traveled upstream. This is why the name "Winterport" makes sense!
One of the first settlers was Lieutenant Joshua Treat (1729–1802). He was the armorer at Fort Pownall. His brother was also one of the first people to settle in Bangor.
War of 1812 Impact
In 1814, during the War of 1812, a British fleet sailed past Frankfort. They were on their way to attack Bangor and Hampden. The British took supplies from Frankfort and captured one ship.
The town faced hard times during this war. The British set up a blockade, which stopped ships from coming and going. This greatly hurt the local trade that Frankfort depended on.
Growth and New Industries
In the 1800s, an important granite quarry opened in Frankfort. The business of ship-building also grew and became very successful.
Eventually, the village of Winterport became large enough to separate and form its own town.
Geography of Frankfort
Frankfort covers about 25.91 square miles (67.11 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 24.61 square miles (63.74 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.30 square miles (3.37 square kilometers), is water.
Water Features and Borders
Frankfort touches Swan Lake on its southwest side. The Marsh Stream flows along its northern border, helping to drain the land.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 1A. It shares borders with several other towns:
- To the north: Winterport
- To the east: The Penobscot River (and across the river, Bucksport)
- To the south: Prospect and Searsport
- To the southwest: Swanville
- To the west: Monroe
Highest Points
Frankfort has two main high points: Mt. Waldo and Mosquito Mountain. Mt. Waldo got its name around 1815. Before that, people called it "Mt. Misery." This was because two young local men tried to climb it but got caught in a blizzard and sadly died.
Population Information
Frankfort's population has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 891 | — | |
| 1800 | 867 | −2.7% | |
| 1810 | 1,493 | 72.2% | |
| 1820 | 2,129 | 42.6% | |
| 1830 | 2,487 | 16.8% | |
| 1840 | 3,603 | 44.9% | |
| 1850 | 4,233 | 17.5% | |
| 1860 | 2,143 | −49.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,152 | −46.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,157 | 0.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,099 | −5.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,211 | 10.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,157 | −4.5% | |
| 1920 | 624 | −46.1% | |
| 1930 | 468 | −25.0% | |
| 1940 | 562 | 20.1% | |
| 1950 | 578 | 2.8% | |
| 1960 | 692 | 19.7% | |
| 1970 | 620 | −10.4% | |
| 1980 | 783 | 26.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,020 | 30.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,041 | 2.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,124 | 8.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,231 | 9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 1,124 people living in Frankfort. These people lived in 452 households, with 323 of them being families.
The town had about 45.7 people per square mile (17.6 people per square kilometer). There were 537 homes, with about 21.8 homes per square mile (8.4 homes per square kilometer).
The average age of people in Frankfort was 41.6 years. About 21.3% of the residents were under 18 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Frankfort (Maine) para niños
