Waldo County, Maine

"Waldo County" redirects here. For the U.S. Navy ship, see USS Waldo County (LST-1163).

Waldo County
County
Grindel Point Light
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°28′29″N69°07′05″W / 44.474743°N 69.117981°W / 44.474743; -69.117981
Country	United States
State	Maine
Founded	1827
Named for	Samuel Waldo
Seat	Belfast
Largest city	Belfast
Area
• Total	853 sq mi (2,210 km2)
• Land	730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
• Water	123 sq mi (320 km2)  14%
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,607
• Density	46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	waldocountyme.gov

Waldo County is a county in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,607. ^[1] Its county seat is Belfast. ^[2] The county was founded on February 7, 1827, from a portion of Hancock County and named after Brigadier-General Samuel Waldo, proprietor of the Waldo Patent. ^{[3] [4]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 853 square miles (2,210 km²), of which 730 square miles (1,900 km²) is land and 123 square miles (320 km²) (14%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Penobscot County – northeast
• Hancock County – east
• Knox County – south
• Lincoln County – southwest
• Kennebec County – west
• Somerset County – northwest

National protected area

• Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	29,788		—
1840	41,509		39.3%
1850	47,230		13.8%
1860	38,447		−18.6%
1870	34,522		−10.2%
1880	32,463		−6.0%
1890	27,759		−14.5%
1900	24,185		−12.9%
1910	23,383		−3.3%
1920	21,328		−8.8%
1930	20,286		−4.9%
1940	21,159		4.3%
1950	21,687		2.5%
1960	22,632		4.4%
1970	23,328		3.1%
1980	28,414		21.8%
1990	33,018		16.2%
2000	36,280		9.9%
2010	38,786		6.9%
2020	39,607		2.1%
2023 (est.)	40,620	[6]	2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2016 [11] 2018 [12]

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 36,280 people, 14,726 households, and 10,057 families living in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 18,904 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.89% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.8% were of English, 14.7% United States or American, 12.7% Irish, 8.5% French and 5.6% German ancestry. 97.1% spoke English and 1.5% French as their first language.

There were 14,726 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,986, and the median income for a family was $40,402. Males had a median income of $29,644 versus $23,816 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,438. About 10.90% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 38,786 people, 16,431 households, and 10,627 families living in the county. ^[14] The population density was 53.1 inhabitants per square mile (20.5 inhabitants/km²). There were 21,566 housing units at an average density of 29.5 units per square mile (11.4 units/km²). ^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. ^[14] In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were English, 21.0% were Irish, 19.0% were French, 9.2% American, 7.0% Scottish, 6.6% Italian, 2.7% Polish, and 2.2% Scotch-Irish. ^[16]

Of the 16,431 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.3% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 44.1 years. ^[14]

The county's median household income was $41,312 and the median family income was $50,222. Males had a median income of $38,960 versus $30,321 for females. The county's per capita income was $22,213. About 10.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over. ^[17]

Politics

Prior to the late 20th century, Waldo County was a solidly Republican county, going for the Democratic nominee only once between 1920 and 1988 — the one Democratic victory was Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide victory in 1964.

Waldo was one of a handful of counties nationwide that voted for independent Ross Perot in 1992. In each election since 2004, Waldo County has been won by a Democrat, but never with more than 55% of the vote.

It is the only one of the three Maine counties that voted Perot for president in 1992 that did not vote for Donald Trump in either of his presidential runs, supporting Democrats since the early 21st century. Trump only lost the county by 62 votes in 2016, but lost it by larger margin in 2020.

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024 [18]
	Democratic	9,845	34%
	Republican	9,095	31.41%
	Unenrolled	8,189	28.28%
	Green Independent	1,328	4.59%
	No Labels	395	1.36%
	Libertarian	100	0.35%
Total		28,952	100%

United States presidential election results for Waldo County, Maine ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	11,815	47.02%	12,661	50.38%	654	2.60%
2020	11,196	46.03%	12,345	50.76%	781	3.21%
2016	10,378	45.70%	10,440	45.98%	1,889	8.32%
2012	9,058	43.01%	11,296	53.63%	707	3.36%
2008	9,423	43.13%	11,967	54.77%	460	2.11%
2004	10,309	46.19%	11,555	51.77%	454	2.03%
2000	8,689	45.40%	8,477	44.29%	1,972	10.30%
1996	5,318	30.78%	8,012	46.37%	3,949	22.85%
1992	5,241	28.29%	6,472	34.93%	6,816	36.79%
1988	8,236	55.73%	6,402	43.32%	140	0.95%
1984	8,814	62.22%	5,289	37.34%	63	0.44%
1980	6,514	49.57%	4,883	37.16%	1,743	13.26%
1976	6,289	54.06%	4,853	41.72%	491	4.22%
1972	6,480	68.78%	2,941	31.21%	1	0.01%
1968	4,821	56.19%	3,525	41.08%	234	2.73%
1964	3,324	38.11%	5,397	61.87%	2	0.02%
1960	6,844	70.64%	2,845	29.36%	0	0.00%
1956	6,590	82.64%	1,384	17.36%	0	0.00%
1952	6,363	80.29%	1,545	19.50%	17	0.21%
1948	4,371	74.21%	1,469	24.94%	50	0.85%
1944	4,291	70.30%	1,807	29.60%	6	0.10%
1940	5,170	61.56%	3,214	38.27%	14	0.17%
1936	5,309	64.97%	2,678	32.77%	185	2.26%
1932	4,505	53.21%	3,907	46.14%	55	0.65%
1928	4,851	77.07%	1,402	22.28%	41	0.65%
1924	4,003	75.80%	1,125	21.30%	153	2.90%
1920	4,383	71.52%	1,666	27.19%	79	1.29%
1916	2,418	47.58%	2,539	49.96%	125	2.46%
1912	881	18.20%	2,145	44.31%	1,815	37.49%
1908	2,491	63.22%	1,335	33.88%	114	2.89%

Communities

City

• Belfast (county seat)

Towns

• Belmont
• Brooks
• Burnham
• Frankfort
• Freedom
• Islesboro
• Jackson
• Knox
• Liberty
• Lincolnville
• Monroe
• Montville
• Morrill
• Northport
• Palermo
• Prospect
• Searsmont
• Searsport
• Stockton Springs
• Swanville
• Thorndike
• Troy
• Unity
• Waldo
• Winterport

^[1]

Census-designated places

• Searsport
• Unity
• Winterport

Other unincorporated villages

• East Thorndike
• East Troy
• Sandy Point

Cultural references

Waldo County features in Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel The House of the Seven Gables as the site of extensive landholdings once claimed by the formerly aristocratic Pyncheon family. ^[20]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Waldo County, Maine

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Waldo County, Maine". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp.  337–338. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
4. History of Waldo County, Maine. From A Gazetteer of the State of Maine. By George J. Varney. Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill, Boston 1886. Accessed April 24, 2019, via Ray's Place website.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
12. "QuickFacts. Waldo County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
16. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
17. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
18. Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide" (PDF). Maine SOS. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
20. Griffiths, Thomas Morgan (1943). ""Montpelier" and "Seven Gables" Knox's Estate and Hawthorne's Novel" . The New England Quarterly. 16 (3): 432–443. doi:10.2307/361028. ISSN   0028-4866. JSTOR   361028.

External links

• Official Website of Waldo County
• Maine Genealogy: Waldo County, Maine

44°29′N69°07′W / 44.48°N 69.12°W / 44.48; -69.12