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Prospect, Maine
Town
Fort Knox c. 1910
Fort Knox c. 1910
Location of Prospect (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
Location of Prospect (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Waldo
Incorporated 1794
Area
 • Total 20.20 sq mi (52.32 km2)
 • Land 18.09 sq mi (46.85 km2)
 • Water 2.11 sq mi (5.46 km2)
Elevation
115 ft (35 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 698
 • Density 39/sq mi (14.9/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04981
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-61210
GNIS feature ID 0582688
Website http://www.prospectmaine.org/

Prospect is a small town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 698 people lived there.

The most famous places in Prospect are Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. Fort Knox is a large fort built in the 1800s. Both are popular spots for visitors.

History of Prospect

Prospect was first settled in 1759. It was originally part of a larger area called Frankfort. The settlement began when Fort Pownall was finished at Fort Point.

Prospect became its own official town in 1794. Over the years, parts of Prospect were used to form other towns. For example, some land became part of Searsport in 1845. Later, Stockton (which is now Stockton Springs) also became a separate town in 1857.

In the early days, shipbuilding was an important business in Prospect. By 1859, the town had mills that processed grain, cut wood, and made shingles.

Building Fort Knox

Construction on Fort Knox started in 1844. This huge fort was built using granite from Mount Waldo. Its main purpose was to protect the Penobscot River and the important lumber port of Bangor. This was during a time of tension called the Aroostook War. Even though the fort was never fully completed, work on it stopped in 1869.

Geography of Prospect

Prospect is located on the west side of the Penobscot River. A smaller river, the Marsh River, also flows through the town.

The town covers about 20.20 square miles (52.32 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a smaller part being water.

Several main roads pass through Prospect. These include U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 1A, Maine State Route 3, and Maine State Route 174.

Population Changes in Prospect

The number of people living in Prospect has changed a lot over time.

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1800 770 —
1810 1,300 68.8%
1820 1,771 36.2%
1830 2,383 34.6%
1840 3,492 46.5%
1850 2,467 −29.4%
1860 1,005 −59.3%
1870 886 −11.8%
1880 770 −13.1%
1890 697 −9.5%
1900 648 −7.0%
1910 597 −7.9%
1920 431 −27.8%
1930 288 −33.2%
1940 430 49.3%
1950 392 −8.8%
1960 412 5.1%
1970 358 −13.1%
1980 511 42.7%
1990 542 6.1%
2000 642 18.5%
2010 709 10.4%
2020 698 −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Prospect's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 709 people living in Prospect. These people lived in 291 households, and 197 of these were families.

Most of the people in town (98.4%) were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Prospect was about 44 years old. About 21.7% of residents were under 18. About 12.8% were 65 years old or older. The town had slightly more males (51.6%) than females (48.4%).

Famous People from Prospect

  • Joseph Plumb Martin: A soldier during the American Revolutionary War. He wrote important stories about his time in the military.
  • Freeman McGilvery: An officer who served in the artillery during the American Civil War.
  • Ephraim K. Smart: A person who served as a US congressman.

Places to Visit in Prospect

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