Knox County

The county was established on April 1, 1860, and is the most recent county to be created in Maine. It was carved from parts of Waldo and Lincoln counties. The Union Fair, started in 1868, began as the efforts of the North Knox Agricultural and Horticultural Society.

• County — Knox County • State — Maine • Founded — April 1, 1860 • Seat Wl — Rockland • Largest City Wl — Rockland • Area Total Sq Mi — 1144 • Area Land Sq Mi — 365 • Area Water Sq Mi — 779 • Area Water Percent — 68% • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 40607 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 41117 • Population Density Sq Mi — auto • Named For — Henry Knox • Website — knoxcountymaine.gov • District — 1st • Time Zone — Eastern

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1144 sqmi, of which 365 sqmi is land and 779 sqmi (68%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Maine by land area while Androscoggin County is second-smallest by total area. It was originally part of the Waldo Patent. At an elevation of 1,381 feet above sea level, Mount Megunticook, located in Camden Hills State Park, is the highest point in the county. It ranks 10th in elevation out of Maine's 16 county high points. It is a popular hiking destination in the region.

• Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge • Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,607, with 17.0% of residents under the age of 18, 26.9% aged 65 or older, and a median age of 49.6 years; for every 100 females there were 99.3 males and 97.4 males for every 100 females age 18 and over. 35.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 64.2% in rural areas. The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.7% of the population. There were 17,883 households in the county, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 24,255 housing units, of which 26.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.5% were owner-occupied and 25.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%. Knox County, Maine – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. • Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) — Pop 2000 — Pop 2010 — % 2000 — % 2010 • White alone (NH) — 38,777 — 38,337 — 37,533 — 97.87% — 96.47% — 92.42% • Black or African American alone (NH) — 78 — 192 — 256 — 0.19% — 0.48% — 0.63% • Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) — 86 — 136 — 139 — 0.21% — 0.34% — 0.34% • Asian alone (NH) — 141 — 184 — 250 — 0.35% — 0.46% — 0.61% • Pacific Islander alone (NH) — 3 — 5 — 18 — 0.00% — 0.01% — 0.04% • Other race alone (NH) — 15 — 23 — 144 — 0.03% — 0.05% — 0.35% • Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) — 293 — 522 — 1,595 — 0.73% — 1.31% — 3.92% • Hispanic or Latino (any race) — 225 — 337 — 672 — 0.56% — 0.84% — 1.65% • Total — 39,618 — 39,736 — 40,607 — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00%

At the 2010 census, there were 39,736 people, 17,258 households, and 10,662 families living in the county. The population density was 108.8 PD/sqmi. There were 23,744 housing units at an average density of 65.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.3% were English, 19.0% were Irish, 12.8% were German, 6.9% were Scottish, and 5.9% were American. Of the 17,258 households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 31.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 46.2 years. The median household income was $45,264 and the median family income was $55,830. Males had a median income of $40,712 versus $29,732 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,291. About 7.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

At the 2000 census there were 39,618 people, 16,608 households, and 10,728 families living in the county. The population density was 108 /mi2. There were 21,612 housing units at an average density of 59 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.28% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.4% were of English, 12.2% Irish, 11.7% United States or American, 7.5% German and 5.7% French ancestry. 97.1% spoke English and 1.5% French as their first language. Of the 16,608 households 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 29.00% of households were one person and 12.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83. The age distribution was 22.40% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males. The median household income was $36,774 and the median family income was $43,819. Males had a median income of $30,704 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,981. About 6.40% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Knox County is a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. Originally it favored the Republican Party, like most of the rest of Maine, but it began to trend Democratic starting in the 1990s, voting for every Democratic presidential candidate since 1992. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry won the county with a decisive 11-point majority, and in every election since then Democrats have carried the county by double-digit margins. In 2012, Knox County voted 55% in favor of a measure to legalize same-sex marriage. It was one of two counties to vote for Democrat Sara Gideon in the 2020 Senate election.

• Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024 • Democratic Party (United States) — Democratic • Independent Party (United States) — Unenrolled • Republican Party (United States) — Republican • Green Party (United States) — Green Independent • No Labels — No Labels • Libertarian Party (United States) — Libertarian • Total

• Rockland (county seat)

• Appleton • Camden • Cushing • Friendship • Hope • Isle au Haut • North Haven • Owls Head • Rockport • Saint George • South Thomaston • Thomaston • Union • Vinalhaven • Warren • Washington

• Matinicus Isle

• Criehaven • Muscle Ridge Islands

• Camden • Thomaston

• Glen Cove • Hibberts Corner • Port Clyde • West Rockport

An addition to the Knox County Courthouse designed by Scott Simons Architects was completed in 2005. It is connected to an annex built in 1977 that is adjacent to the historic, original building that was finished in 1874.

K-12 school districts include: • St. George Public Schools • Regional School Unit 13 • School Administrative District 07 • School Administrative District 08 • Regional School Unit 40 • School Administrative District 65 There is also one secondary school district, Five Town Community School District, and the following elementary school districts: • Appleton School District • Hope School District • School Administrative District 28 There is also the Knox Unorganized Territory. Unorganized territory is not in any municipality. The Maine Department of Education takes responsibility for coordinating school assignments in the unorganized territory.