Population31,334 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Eastern Borderlands With Working Waterway Stories
Washington County, MaineWashington County occupies Maine’s eastern border region, with Machias as its county seat. Blueberries and lobsters are part of its regional identity, while communities such as East Machias preserve evidence of earlier lumber and shipbuilding activity along the area’s waterways and town streets. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 31,334 residents in Washington County, Maine, on July 1, 2025.
Washington County at a Glance
Population31,334 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatMachias
Largest MunicipalityCalais
Established1789 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
Total Area, Including Water3,257.666 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesU.S. 1 · ME 9 · ME 190
Area Codes207
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Meet Local Businesses
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Discover Washington County
Washington County
Washington County was established in 1789 and named for George Washington. In nearby East Machias, settlement dating to 1763 and an early sawmill point to the importance of water-powered industry. Lumber and shipbuilding helped shape that community, whose historic district includes parts of Bridge, High and Water streets. These details connect the county's broader identity with specific places, showing how production, transportation and neighborhood development became intertwined in one eastern Maine town.
Start with Machias for the county's civic setting, then consider East Machias for a closer look at the area's historic streets. The two names refer to distinct communities and should be kept separate when planning a route. A visit informed by the historic district can focus on how waterways supported local work and growth. The county's blueberry and lobster associations offer additional context for understanding its connection to land and sea. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge protects a varied landscape of forests and wetlands in eastern Maine. Its Baring and Edmunds areas give visitors different starting points for exploring habitat and watching for birds and other wildlife. Choose a route from refuge information and keep expectations flexible: observing wildlife takes patience and sightings are never assured. The refuge's visitor guidance helps distinguish permitted recreation from areas managed primarily for habitat. Quoddy Head State Park combines the red-and-white-striped West Quoddy Head Light with coastal trails and a bog landscape. The lighthouse is a landmark, but the surrounding paths reveal different aspects of this eastern Maine setting. Plan your route around conditions and the time available, rather than stopping only for the familiar lighthouse view. Check park guidance for trail access and any seasonal limits on visitor facilities. The refuge and Quoddy Head introduce different eastern Maine habitats. Choose the specific refuge division or coastal trail before travelling, and leave time for quiet observation along the way.
What Shapes Us
Place And Character
Blueberries and lobsters are part of its regional identity, while communities such as East Machias preserve evidence of earlier lumber and shipbuilding activity along the area's waterways and town streets.
The Local Story
Washington County was established in 1789 and named for George Washington. In nearby East Machias, settlement dating to 1763 and an early sawmill point to the importance of water-powered industry.
Explore The County
Start with Machias for the county's civic setting, then consider East Machias for a closer look at the area's historic streets.
Discover eastern communities through their land and water stories.
A Closer Look
Washington County
Places and perspectives from Washington County
Bangor Daily News
Public comment period on federal permit for proposed Eastport data center ends Monday
As the federal deadline arrives, opponents gather signatures for a revised petition giving residents final vote on large…
Read the Story Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Washington County
Stories from every corner of Washington County.
Public comment period on federal permit for proposed Eastport data center ends Monday
As the federal deadline arrives, opponents gather signatures for a revised petition giving residents final vote on large…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Body found in vehicle off Washington County logging road
The deceased person appeared to have been in the vehicle for several weeks, Chief Deputy Mike Crabtree said.…
Oct 15, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Additional Maine and national services
Maine local government finder — Find the municipal office responsible for local services.
Maine state agencies — Identify the state department responsible for an issue.
Maine Legislature — Find legislators, bills and legislative schedules.
Secretary of State — Access elections, records and business services.
Maine Revenue Services — Find state tax forms and taxpayer contacts.
Maine Ethics Commission — Find campaign-finance reporting and ethics information.
Maine Attorney General — Find consumer assistance and state legal office contacts.
Maine State Archives — Research historical government records and archival holdings.
Maine open government — Find the public-records request process and agency contacts.
Maine Governor — Find executive office contact information and announcements.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Schools
Local services for Washington County
UMaine Cooperative Extension — Washington County — Local education, youth programs and resources for farms, gardens and families. Browse the county office’s current offerings.
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Alexander Elementary – Elementary; grades PK-08. 1430 Airline Road, Alexander, ME 04694. 207-454-2623.
Woodland Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-06. 23 Fourth Avenue, Baileyville, ME 04694. 207-427-3882.
Beals Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 24 Mill Pond Rd, Beals, ME 04611. 207-497-5449.
Calais Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-06. 53 Garfield Street, Calais, ME 04619. 207-454-2000.
Cherryfield Elementary – Elementary; grades PK-08. 85 School Street, Cherryfield, ME 04622. 207-546-7949.
Bay Ridge Elementary – Elementary; grades PK-08. 2066 Cutler Rd, Cutler, ME 04626. 207-259-3347.
Elm Street School-East Machias – Elementary; grades PK-08. 38 Jacksonville Road, East Machias, ME 04630. 207-255-8692.
Additional Maine and national services
Maine Department of Education — Find public education programs and state guidance.
Maine school directory — Locate schools and school administrative units.
Maine special education — Find special education supports and family resources.
Maine adult education — Find local adult learning and diploma programs.
Maine community colleges — Explore certificates, associate degrees and workforce education.
University of Maine System — Compare public university campuses and programs.
Finance Authority of Maine — Find student financial-aid and education-financing information.
Maine career and technical education — Explore secondary career and technical education pathways.
Maine Parent Federation — Find family support and education information concerning disabilities.
Maine homeschooling — Find home-instruction requirements and notice forms.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Calais Community Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 24 Hospital Lane, Calais, ME 04619. 207-454-7521.
Down East Community Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 11 Hospital Drive, Machias, ME 04654. 207-255-3356.
Additional Maine and national services
Service areas and destinations vary. Check the provider’s location or route before planning a visit; this list includes resources elsewhere in Maine.
MaineHealth — Locate hospitals, practices and services within the MaineHealth system.
Northern Light Health — Find Northern Light hospitals, providers and locations.
Central Maine Healthcare — Locate Central Maine Healthcare hospitals and clinical services.
Maine Hospital Association — Find Maine hospital-system information and hospital contacts.
Maine hospital quality information — Compare reported healthcare quality and cost information.
Medicare Care Compare — Search hospitals and other Medicare providers by location.
HRSA health center finder — Locate community health centers by address or town.
Maine CDC — Find public-health programs and current health notices.
MaineCare — Find MaineCare coverage information and member contacts.
VA Maine Healthcare — Find VA care locations and veteran patient services.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Public Safety
Additional Maine and national services
Maine State Police — Find State Police offices and public information.
Maine Department of Public Safety — Find state public-safety bureaus and contacts.
Maine Warden Service — Find wildlife-law-enforcement information and regional contacts.
Maine Marine Patrol — Find coastal enforcement offices and marine safety information.
Maine Fire Marshal — Find fire-safety, inspection and investigation resources.
Maine road conditions — Check reported road incidents and travel conditions.
Maine consumer protection — Find consumer complaint guidance and fraud resources.
Maine highway safety — Find traffic-safety education and programs.
Maine corrections — Find corrections facilities and public contact information.
Maine 911 — Learn how the state emergency calling system works.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Emergency Services
Local services for Washington County
Washington County Emergency Management Agency — County preparedness and emergency-planning information. Find the county’s entry in the official MEMA directory.
Additional Maine and national services
Maine Emergency Management Agency — Find statewide emergency updates and preparedness information.
National Weather Service Gray — Read official forecasts and warnings for southern and western Maine.
National Weather Service Caribou — Read official forecasts and warnings for northern and eastern Maine.
211 Maine — Find community assistance and referrals by need and location.
American Red Cross Northern New England — Find regional disaster assistance and preparedness programs.
Ready.gov — Build household emergency plans and supply kits.
FEMA disaster assistance — Check assistance options for federally declared disasters.
Poison Control — Find poison-exposure assistance and prevention information.
Maine emergency medical services — Find Maine EMS system information and contacts.
Maine Forest Service — Find wildfire prevention and forest-protection information.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
State Parks
Additional Maine and national services
Service areas and destinations vary. Check the provider’s location or route before planning a visit; this list includes resources elsewhere in Maine.
Maine park finder — Find state parks, historic sites and public lands.
State parks overview — Compare coastal, lakeside and mountain park settings.
Park day-use fees — Check current day-use fees before visiting.
Camping reservation guidance — Find the official state-park campsite reservation process.
Park campground fees — Compare campsite fees and special camping charges.
Group camping — Find designated group-camping locations and arrangements.
RV and camper information — Check campground facilities and RV planning information.
Baxter State Park — Plan a visit using the park's own reservations and rules.
Acadia National Park — Plan visits to Maine's national park; it is not a state park.
Maine conservation lands maps — Find official state and conservation mapping tools.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Trails
Additional Maine and national services
Service areas and destinations vary. Check the provider’s location or route before planning a visit; this list includes resources elsewhere in Maine.
Maine Appalachian Trail Club — Find Maine Appalachian Trail stewardship and trail information.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy — Review Appalachian Trail maps, alerts and trip-planning guidance.
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands — Find trails on state-managed lands and current park notices.
Acadia carriage roads — Plan walking and cycling on Acadia's shared carriage roads.
Baxter State Park hiking — Check trail access, reservations and seasonal rules before hiking.
Maine Island Trail Association — Find coastal island-trail membership and stewardship information.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust — Find coastal preserves and property-specific visitor guidance.
Maine Audubon sanctuaries — Find sanctuary trails and wildlife-watching destinations.
Maine land trusts — Find land trusts and their preserve information across Maine.
Maine weather warnings — Check the forecast and warnings for the trail's location.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Utilities
Additional Maine and national services
Service areas and destinations vary. Check the provider’s location or route before planning a visit; this list includes resources elsewhere in Maine.
Maine Public Utilities Commission — Find regulated utility contacts and consumer assistance.
Maine Office of Public Advocate — Find independent guidance about utility bills and rates.
Efficiency Maine — Explore energy-efficiency programs and available incentives.
MaineHousing heating assistance — Find heating-assistance programs and application contacts.
Maine broadband authority — Find statewide broadband projects and connectivity programs.
Maine utility assistance — Find utility complaint assistance and consumer-service contacts.
Versant Power — Check service and outage information within Versant's territory.
Summit Natural Gas of Maine — Check natural-gas service availability and customer contacts.
Maine Drinking Water Program — Find public-water oversight and drinking-water information.
Dig Safe — Arrange utility marking before eligible excavation work.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Woodland Public Library – 169 Main Street, Baileyville, ME 04694. 207-427-3235.
Calais Free Library – 9 Union Street, Calais, ME 04619. 207-454-2758.
Cherryfield Public Library – 35 Main Street, Cherryfield, ME 04622. 207-546-4228.
Louise Clements Library – 2655 Cutler Road, Cutler, ME 04626. 207-259-3693.
Danforth Public Library – 46 Central Street, Danforth, ME 04424. 207-448-2055.
Lincoln Memorial Library – Dennysville – 17 King Street, Dennysville, ME 04628. 207-726-4750.
Sturdivant Public Library – 514 Main Street, East Machias, ME 04630. 207-255-0070.
Additional Maine and national services
Maine State Library — Find library services, research assistance and statewide resources.
Maine library directory — Locate public and other libraries by community.
Digital Maine Library — Access statewide online research databases.
Digital Maine repository — Explore digitized Maine documents and historical collections.
Maine InfoNet — Find shared library catalogs and borrowing services.
MaineCat catalog — Search participating Maine library collections.
Maine Memory Network — Explore historical photographs and records from Maine institutions.
Maine Historical Society — Find historical research collections and library access information.
Library of Congress — Search national digitized collections, maps and manuscripts.
National Archives — Find federal archival records and research guidance.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Courts
Additional Maine and national services
Maine Judicial Branch — Find Maine courts, calendars and court-system information.
Maine court locations — Locate the court serving a town or case type.
Maine court forms — Find official court forms and instructions.
Maine court help — Find court-process information and self-help materials.
Maine electronic filing — Check e-filing availability and access to electronic court systems.
Maine jury service — Find jury-service instructions and contact information.
Maine probate courts — Find participating county probate-court services.
U.S. District Court for Maine — Find federal district-court locations and procedures.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Maine — Find federal bankruptcy-court forms and filing information.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance — Find civil legal-aid information and eligibility contacts.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
DMV
Additional Maine and national services
Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles — Find official driver and vehicle services.
BMV branch locations — Locate an office and check available services.
Maine driver licensing — Find licensing requirements and driver-service information.
Maine vehicle registration fees — Check the official vehicle-registration fee schedules.
Maine vehicle titles — Find title applications and ownership-document requirements.
Maine REAL ID — Check official REAL ID documentation requirements.
Maine license renewal — Find driver-license renewal options.
Maine disability plates and placards — Find mobility-parking application information.
Maine passenger vehicle registration — Find passenger-vehicle registration requirements.
Maine registration renewal — Find renewal guidance and online eligibility information.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Transportation
Local services for Washington County
West’s Transportation — Find Downeast bus routes. For Danforth, consult the Region 1 provider in the MaineDOT directory.
Additional Maine and national services
Service areas and destinations vary. Check the provider’s location or route before planning a visit; this list includes resources elsewhere in Maine.
Maine Department of Transportation — Find transportation projects, travel information and agency services.
Maine road conditions — Check reported incidents, construction and road conditions.
Maine State Ferry Service — Check routes and schedules for state-served islands.
Amtrak Downeaster — Plan rail travel on the Brunswick-to-Boston corridor.
Concord Coach Lines — Check intercity coach routes and schedules serving Maine.
METRO Greater Portland Transit — Check bus routes within the Greater Portland service area.
Bangor Community Connector — Find bus services in the Bangor urban area.
Island Explorer — Check seasonal shuttle routes in the Acadia area.
Casco Bay Lines — Plan passenger-ferry trips to Casco Bay islands.
Maine Turnpike Authority — Find toll-road travel updates and toll information.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Postal Services
Additional Maine and national services
USPS locations — Find nearby post offices, collection boxes and service hours.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Check the ZIP Code associated with a mailing address.
USPS mail management — Access official mail tracking and delivery-management tools.
USPS missing mail — Learn the official process for finding delayed or missing mail.
USPS hold mail — Find temporary mail-hold options for eligible addresses.
USPS address changes — Find official mail-forwarding and change-of-address options.
USPS redelivery — Arrange redelivery of eligible missed items.
USPS pickup — Check carrier-pickup options for eligible packages.
USPS postage calculator — Estimate postage for a planned shipment.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service — Find mail-fraud reporting and postal-crime prevention resources.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Veterans
Additional Maine and national services
Maine Bureau of Veterans Services — Find Maine veteran programs and state service officers.
VA Maine Healthcare — Find VA hospitals, clinics and patient services in Maine.
VA locations — Locate VA facilities and services by address.
VA benefits — Find official federal veteran benefit information.
Maine Veterans Homes — Explore Maine veteran residential and long-term-care locations.
Maine Veterans Project — Find veteran support programs offered by this Maine nonprofit.
Maine CareerCenter veteran employment services — Connect with a CareerCenter for veteran employment assistance and hiring events.
VA education benefits — Explore education and training benefits and application guidance.
VA housing assistance — Find veteran housing-benefit programs and contacts.
VA records — Find ways to request and manage military or VA records.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Employment
Additional Maine and national services
Maine CareerCenters — Find regional job-search assistance and employer services.
Maine JobLink — Search job postings and workforce opportunities in Maine.
Maine Department of Labor — Find state employment programs and labor information.
Maine state careers — Browse Maine state-government employment opportunities.
Maine unemployment services — Find official unemployment claim and account guidance.
Maine vocational rehabilitation — Find employment supports for people with disabilities.
Maine workforce education — Explore community-college workforce training programs.
USAJOBS — Search federal jobs by Maine location and occupation.
Apprenticeship job finder — Search registered apprenticeship opportunities.
CareerOneStop — Explore occupations, training and job-search tools.
Geographic search aliases: Washington County ME, Washington County Maine, Washington ME, Washington Maine.
Get to Know Washington County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Washington County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
Calais Free Library provides a distinctive civic building and a point of connection with the community. Check its current information for access and programs rather than relying on a photograph for operating details.
The Boynton Street Historic District offers a streetscape of closely related historic buildings. Notice the rhythm of the houses and their relationship to the street while respecting private properties.
The commercial historic district and the residential historic district present different building types. Looking at both helps distinguish the town’s public-facing business streets from its domestic architecture.
Washington County Courthouse is a prominent documented landmark in Machias. Its tower and formal facade offer an architectural focus distinct from the county’s coastal and residential landscapes.
Look for the differences in porches, rooflines and the spacing between buildings. These exterior details can make a quiet architectural walk rewarding without requiring access to private interiors.
Baring and Edmunds areas, Maine.
Forest and wetland habitats, trails and wildlife observation.
Choose a refuge area and route using current visitor rules and maps.
Lubec, Maine.
A striped lighthouse, coastal scenery and a bog trail.
Review park trail information and seasonal facility notices before your visit.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Explore these places
- Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge — Baring and Edmunds areas. Forest and wetland habitats, trails and wildlife observation.
- Quoddy Head State Park — Lubec. A striped lighthouse, coastal scenery and a bog trail.
Photo credits
- Calais Free Library.jpg — Ken Gallager; CC BY-SA 3.0.
- MachiasME WashingtonCountyCourthouse.jpg — Magicpiano; CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Boynton Street Historic District, Eastport, Maine 2012.jpg — Ken Gallager; CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Calais Historic District, Maine.jpg — Ken Gallager; CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Calais Residential Historic District, Maine1.jpg — Ken Gallager; CC BY-SA 3.0.
Fact sources: MaineDOT public roads; 2020 Census municipal populations. Routes shown are selected major corridors, not a complete road list.
A New Stop, a Local ConnectionExplore the Listings Below