Loading

  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Knox County, Maine
Knox County is a county located in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,607. Its county seat is Rockland. The county is named for Revolutionary War general and Secretary of War Henry Knox, who lived in the county from 1795 until his death in 1806. 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,144 square miles (2,960 km), of which 365 square miles (950 km) is land and 779 square miles (2,020 km) (68%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Maine by land area. It was originally part of the Waldo Patent.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186032,716—
187030,823−5.8%
188032,8636.6%
189031,473−4.2%
190030,406−3.4%
191028,981−4.7%
192026,245−9.4%
193027,6935.5%
194027,191−1.8%
195028,1213.4%
196028,5751.6%
197029,0131.5%
198032,94113.5%
199036,31010.2%
200039,6189.1%
201039,7360.3%
202040,6072.2%
2023 (est.)40,9770.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2016

2000 census

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 people per square mile (42 people/km). There were 21,612 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile (23/km). 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.

2010 census

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 inhabitants per square mile (42.0/km). There were 23,744 housing units at an average density of 65.0 units per square mile (25.1 units/km). 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.

Politics

In 2012, Knox County voted 55% in favor of a measure to legalize same-sex marriage.

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024
Democratic 12,139 40.22%
Unenrolled 8,436 27.95%
Republican 8,117 26.89%
Green Independent 1,065 3.53%
No Labels 343 1.14%
Libertarian 83 0.27%
Total 30,183 100%
United States presidential election results for Knox County, Maine
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,982 38.79% 15,110 58.72% 642 2.49%
2016 9,148 39.52% 12,443 53.76% 1,556 6.72%
2012 8,248 37.38% 13,223 59.92% 596 2.70%
2008 8,816 38.36% 13,728 59.74% 436 1.90%
2004 10,103 43.46% 12,690 54.59% 454 1.95%
2000 8,968 43.74% 9,453 46.11% 2,080 10.15%
1996 6,192 32.79% 8,839 46.81% 3,852 20.40%
1992 6,310 31.03% 7,631 37.52% 6,397 31.45%
1988 10,156 57.54% 7,343 41.60% 151 0.86%
1984 11,311 65.00% 6,024 34.62% 66 0.38%
1980 7,631 48.98% 5,732 36.79% 2,218 14.24%
1976 8,315 56.24% 5,922 40.05% 549 3.71%
1972 8,478 70.19% 3,601 29.81% 0 0.00%
1968 6,585 55.25% 5,119 42.95% 214 1.80%
1964 4,404 38.53% 7,022 61.43% 4 0.03%
1960 9,083 70.41% 3,816 29.58% 1 0.01%
1956 8,866 81.32% 2,037 18.68% 0 0.00%
1952 8,793 78.32% 2,414 21.50% 20 0.18%
1948 5,374 72.67% 1,924 26.02% 97 1.31%
1944 5,590 59.70% 3,758 40.14% 15 0.16%
1940 6,530 60.76% 4,197 39.05% 20 0.19%
1936 6,567 60.36% 3,991 36.69% 321 2.95%
1932 6,169 55.28% 4,765 42.70% 225 2.02%
1928 6,660 73.35% 2,332 25.68% 88 0.97%
1924 4,919 69.99% 1,770 25.18% 339 4.82%
1920 4,979 60.85% 2,971 36.31% 233 2.85%
1916 2,211 37.82% 3,434 58.74% 201 3.44%
1912 1,097 19.95% 2,751 50.03% 1,651 30.02%
1908 2,228 50.04% 1,932 43.40% 292 6.56%
1904 2,538 54.78% 1,866 40.28% 229 4.94%
1900 2,762 48.76% 2,765 48.81% 138 2.44%
1896 3,286 61.72% 1,900 35.69% 138 2.59%
1892 2,321 46.23% 2,136 42.54% 564 11.23%
1888 2,965 52.28% 2,290 40.38% 416 7.34%
1884 2,819 46.50% 2,364 39.00% 879 14.50%
1880 2,880 41.28% 3,659 52.45% 437 6.26%

Communities

City

Towns

Plantation

Unorganized territories

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated villages

Public buildings

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.

See also