Maine

Penobscot

152,199
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Penobscot

Penobscot, Maine, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 13,870. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 152,199.

Its recorded population peaked at 153,923 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Penobscot River Archaic Conflict, Destruction of USS Adams at Hampden, Battle of Hampden ME, and 113 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020152,199
2010153,923
2000144,919
1990146,601
1980137,015
1970125,393
1960126,346
1950108,198
194097,104
193092,379
192087,684
191085,285
190076,246
189072,865
188070,476
187075,150
186072,731
185063,089
184045,705
183031,530
182013,870
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Penobscot

Military engagements that took place in Penobscot, Maine.

Penobscot River Archaic Conflict
1000
Destruction of USS Adams at Hampden
1814
Battle of Hampden ME
1814
Battle of Hampden Maine (Sep 3 1814)
1814
Battle of Hampden, Maine (Sept 1814)
1814

Historic places in Penobscot

National Register of Historic Places listings in Penobscot, Maine.

Mallett Hall
Lee
Knowlton, Jabez, Store
Newburgh
Maine Experiment Station Barn
Orono
Corinth Town Hall and Corinthian Lodge #59, I.O.O.F.
Corinth
Zions Hill
Dexter
Williams, Gen. John, House
Bangor
Dexter Universalist Church
Dexter
Great Fire of 1911 Historic District
Bangor
Old Fire Engine House
Orono
St. Anne's Church and Mission Site
Old Town
Bradford Farm Historic District
Patten
Building at 84-96 Hammond Street
Bangor
Old Tavern
Burlington
US Post Office-Orono Main
Orono
Patch, Edith Marion, House
Old Town
Veazie, Jones P., House
Bangor
Mount Hope Cemetery District
Bangor
Bangor Fire Engine House No. 6
Bangor
St. James Episcopal Church
Old Town
Eddington Bend (Site 74-8)
Eddington
Penobscot Expedition Site
Bangor-Brewer
Battleship Maine Monument
Bangor
Bangor Standpipe
Bangor
Bangor Children's Home
Bangor
Browse all Mainehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Maine

Explore census history and historic records for more Maine counties.

LincolnOxfordPiscataquisSagadahocSomersetWaldoWashingtonYorkAndroscogginAroostookCumberlandFranklinHancockKennebecKnox
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Everything a full report reveals about Penobscot County, Maine

This page charts the census history of Penobscot County, Maine. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Penobscot

When does Penobscot first appear in the US census?
Penobscot, Maine first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 13,870.
What is the population of Penobscot?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Penobscot had a recorded population of 152,199.
When did Penobscot's population peak?
Penobscot's recorded population peaked at 153,923 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Penobscot?
5 documented military engagements took place in Penobscot, including Penobscot River Archaic Conflict, Destruction of USS Adams at Hampden, Battle of Hampden ME.
How many historic places are in Penobscot?
113 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Penobscot, Maine.
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