Piscataquis County, Maine

Piscataquis County is a county in Maine, United States, home to Mount Katahdin and Moosehead Lake in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 16,800 at the 2020 census, making it Maine’s least-populated county, and covers 3,961 square miles (10,260 km2) of land centred near 45°11′N 69°13′W.

Dover-Foxcroft is the county seat; its postal code is 04426. The county has 16 towns, 2 plantations, and several unorganized territories, all in the Eastern time zone. Its FIPS code is 23017.

Towns & Villages in Piscataquis County

Piscataquis County has no cities — every incorporated place is a town, plus two plantations and a scatter of unincorporated villages and hamlets inside the county’s large unorganized territory. The table below lists the incorporated towns and plantations first, then notable unincorporated communities (Unincorp.).

The county’s largest incorporated place, Dover-Foxcroft, is also its seat, while Brownville Junction and Greenville Junction are older railroad villages that grew up alongside the Bangor and Aroostook line and keep their own ZIP codes even though they lie inside their parent towns.

ZIP Codes

• 04426 — Dover-Foxcroft
• 04463 — Milo
• 04441 — Greenville (also serves Beaver Cove, Kingsbury Plantation)
• 04442 — Greenville Junction
• 04443 — Guilford (also serves North Guilford, Guilford Center)
• 04479 — Sangerville (also serves East Sangerville)
• 04414 — Brownville
• 04415 — Brownville Junction
• 04481 — Sebec (also serves South Sebec)
• 04406 — Abbot (also serves Abbot Village)
• 04464 — Monson
• 04485 — Shirley Mills (also serves the town of Shirley)

Smaller towns without their own post office — Parkman, Medford, Wellington, Willimantic, Lake View Plantation and Kingsbury Plantation — are served by a neighbouring town’s ZIP code.

Geography

Piscataquis County is Maine’s second-largest county by area and one of its least densely settled, stretching from farmland around Dover-Foxcroft in the south to the vast North Woods around Moosehead Lake and Mount Katahdin in the north. Moosehead Lake, the state’s largest at roughly 120 square miles, sits mostly within the county, and Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak at 5,271 feet, rises near its northern edge. It borders Aroostook County to the north, Penobscot County to the southeast, and Somerset County to the west.

Demographics

The county’s population was 16,800 at the 2020 census, spread thinly enough to meet the historic “frontier” density threshold of fewer than six people per square mile. Dover-Foxcroft (4,422) and Milo (2,251) are its two largest towns. Household income in the county runs well below the Maine median of $73,733, reflecting a rural, resource-based economy with a smaller working-age population than the state as a whole.

Economy & Local Life

Forestry, sawmills, and outdoor recreation anchor the county’s economy. Greenville, at the foot of Moosehead Lake, is the gateway to the North Woods for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and float-plane trips, and hosts the region’s seaplane fly-in each September. Milo and Brownville grew up around the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad’s shops and yards, while Dover-Foxcroft, the seat, holds the county’s main retail and medical services, including Mayo Regional Hospital.

History

Piscataquis County was organized on March 23, 1838, carved from the western half of Penobscot County and the eastern half of Somerset County. Its name comes from an Abenaki word usually translated as “branch of the river” or “at the river branch,” describing the Piscataquis River that runs through the southern towns. Logging and river-driving shaped the county through the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the railroad’s arrival at Greenville and Brownville Junction later opened the North Woods to sporting camps and tourism that continue today.

Getting There

• Bangor — 35 miles southeast
• Waterville — 55 miles south
• Millinocket — 30 miles northeast
• Augusta — 75 miles south

Route 6/15/16 and Route 7 are the main highways through the county, connecting Dover-Foxcroft, Milo, and Greenville. The closest commercial airport is Bangor International Airport, about 35 miles from Dover-Foxcroft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Piscataquis County, Maine?
It sits in north-central Maine, bordering Aroostook County to the north, Penobscot County to the southeast, and Somerset County to the west.

What is the population of Piscataquis County?
16,800 at the 2020 census, the smallest of any Maine county.

How big is Piscataquis County?
3,961 square miles (10,260 km2) of land, making it Maine’s second-largest county by area.

What is the county seat of Piscataquis County?
Dover-Foxcroft is the county seat.

How many towns are in Piscataquis County?
16 towns and 2 plantations, plus a large unorganized territory holding hamlets like Kokadjo and Chesuncook.

What ZIP codes are in Piscataquis County?
Twelve, led by 04426 (Dover-Foxcroft), 04463 (Milo), and 04441 (Greenville).

What is Piscataquis County known for?
Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest lake, and the North Woods gateway town of Greenville, along with Mount Katahdin near its northern border.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Maine.