Population57,171 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Coastal Communities With A Shared Civic Center
Hancock County, MaineEllsworth serves as Hancock County’s seat and a regional commercial center, while communities such as Blue Hill, Castine, Deer Isle and Bar Harbor give the county multiple local identities. Its story combines a changing county map with the distinctive histories of individual coastal towns. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 57,171 residents in Hancock County, Maine, on July 1, 2025.
Hancock County at a Glance
Population57,171 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatEllsworth
Largest MunicipalityEllsworth
Established1789 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
Total Area, Including Water2,344.930 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesU.S. 1 · ME 3 · ME 9
Area Codes207
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Discover Hancock County
Hancock County
Hancock County was created from Lincoln County in 1789, when its boundaries covered a much larger territory than they do today. Later divisions reshaped the county while its communities developed their own institutions and commercial centers. Ellsworth's historic commercial district preserves part of that regional story. The district's recognition by Maine's historic preservation program highlights the value of reading downtown buildings together, as evidence of an established center serving both residents and the surrounding area.
Begin in Ellsworth if you want a civic and commercial reference point before exploring other Hancock County communities. Choose a few towns rather than treating the entire county as one destination; Castine, Blue Hill, Deer Isle and Bar Harbor each deserve their own context. Local historical organizations can help connect individual streets and buildings to the wider county story. Plan the route around geography and the specific places you want to understand. Acadia's carriage roads offer a distinctive way to explore the park's designed landscape. The network developed with John D. Rockefeller Jr. includes stone bridges and routes intended for travel without motor vehicles. Walking or cycling lets you notice the construction as well as the scenery. Choose a manageable section using park guidance, and check current closures and permitted uses rather than treating the entire network as one interchangeable route. The Abbe Museum in downtown Bar Harbor focuses on Wabanaki history and living cultures. Its exhibitions and programs give visitors a reason to consider Maine beyond scenery alone, through the perspectives and continuing presence of Indigenous communities. Read the current exhibition and event descriptions when planning a visit. Allow enough time to engage with the interpretation instead of treating the museum simply as a quick rainy-day stop. An Abbe Museum visit and a carriage-road outing give a Mount Desert Island itinerary both cultural and outdoor depth. Let the museum calendar and park conditions guide the order.
What Shapes Us
Place And Character
Ellsworth serves as Hancock County's seat and a regional commercial center, while communities such as Blue Hill, Castine, Deer Isle and Bar Harbor give the county multiple local identities.
The Local Story
Hancock County was created from Lincoln County in 1789, when its boundaries covered a much larger territory than they do today.
Explore The County
Choose a few towns rather than treating the entire county as one destination; Castine, Blue Hill, Deer Isle and Bar Harbor each deserve their own context.
Follow distinct coastal places into one shared county story.
A Closer Look
Hancock County
Places and perspectives from Hancock County
Mount Desert Islander
MoMA at MDES: Art teacher brings bite of the Big Apple back to Mount Desert
NORTHEAST HARBOR – After a fruitful summer of learning in New York City, Mount Desert Elementary School art…
Read the Story Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Hancock County
Stories from every corner of Hancock County.
MoMA at MDES: Art teacher brings bite of the Big Apple back to Mount Desert
NORTHEAST HARBOR – After a fruitful summer of learning in New York City, Mount Desert Elementary School art…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Bar Harbor Mount Desert PD pushes single-employer plan ahead of FY28
BAR HARBOR — Leaders of the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department, along with the managers for…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Virtual workshop will explore gentle, mindful approaches to living well with pain
ONLINE — Healthy Acadia invites community members to join a two-part Mindfulness for Pain Management workshop series on…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Bar Harbor Historical Society dedicates meeting to former president
BAR HARBOR — The Bar Harbor Historical Society held its 2026 Annual Meeting at its La Rochelle Mansion…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Southwest Standers and Bar Harbor Resisters want everyone to get out and vote
The Standers event will take place at 315 Main St. in Southwest Harbor, from 11 a.m. to 12…
Oct 15, 2026 • 2 min read
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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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock Maine.
Schools
Local services for Hancock County
UMaine Cooperative Extension — Hancock 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.
Airline Community School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 26 Great Pond Road, Aurora, ME 04408. 207-359-5002.
Conners-Emerson School – Elementary; grades KG-08. 11 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. 207-288-3631.
Blue Hill Consolidated School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 60 High Street, Blue Hill, ME 04614. 207-374-2202.
Brooklin School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 41 School Street, Brooklin, ME 04616. 207-359-2133.
Brooksville Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 1527 Coastal Road, Brooksville, ME 04617. 207-326-8500.
Adams School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 27 School Street, Castine, ME 04421. 207-326-8608.
Cranberry Isles School – Elementary; grades KG-08. 251 Cranberry Road, Cranberry Isles, ME 04625. 207-244-3765.
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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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.
Mount Desert Island Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 10 Wayman Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. 207-288-5081.
Northern Light Blue Hill Memorial Hospital – Critical Access Hospitals. 57 Water Street, Blue Hill, ME 04614. 207-374-2836.
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital – Acute Care Hospitals. 50 Union Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605. 207-667-5311.
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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock Maine.
Emergency Services
Local services for Hancock County
Hancock County Emergency Management Agency — County preparedness and emergency-planning information.
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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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.
Jesup Memorial Library – 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. 207-288-4245.
Bass Harbor Memorial Library – 89 Bernard Road, Bernard, ME 04612. 207-244-3798.
Blue Hill Public Library – 5 Parker Point Road, Blue Hill, ME 04614. 207-374-5515.
Friend Memorial Public Library – 1 Reach Road, Brooklin, ME 04616. 207-359-2276.
Brooksville Free Public Library – 1 Town House Road, Brooksville, ME 04617. 207-326-4560.
Buck Memorial Library – 47 Main Street, Bucksport, ME 04416. 207-469-2650.
Witherle Memorial Library – 41 School Street, Castine, ME 04421. 207-326-4375.
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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock Maine.
Transportation
Local services for Hancock County
Downeast Transportation — Find Hancock County bus routes and Island Explorer information; check seasonal schedules.
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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock 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: Hancock County ME, Hancock County Maine, Hancock ME, Hancock Maine.
Get to Know Hancock County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Hancock County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
Their stone bridges connect designed structures with wooded and rocky landscapes. The National Park Service’s carriage-road guide explains the network and is a useful companion when choosing a route.
Bass Harbor Memorial Library in Tremont offers a smaller cultural stop alongside the area’s better-known shoreline scenery. Confirm current library access and programs directly before making it part of the day.
Egg Rock Light is a distinctive lighthouse in Frenchman Bay. It is best treated as an offshore landmark to identify, rather than assuming the island or tower is open for an unscheduled visit.
The Gorham Mountain photograph shows a rock cairn used as a trail marker in an exposed coastal landscape. Follow official park routes and leave markers undisturbed so they remain useful to other hikers.
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Combine a carefully chosen Acadia route with a community stop such as a library or local historical destination. This brings the inhabited landscape into view alongside the national park’s better-known natural features.
Mount Desert Island, Maine.
Historic carriage roads, stone bridges and motor-free recreation.
Check National Park Service route information, closures and permitted uses.
Bar Harbor, Maine.
Wabanaki history, living cultures, exhibitions and programs.
Check the museum's current exhibition, event and admission information.
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
- Acadia National Park carriage roads — Mount Desert Island. Historic carriage roads, stone bridges and motor-free recreation.
- Abbe Museum — Bar Harbor. Wabanaki history, living cultures, exhibitions and programs.
Photo credits
- Acadia bridge.jpg — Lvklock; CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Bass Harbor Memorial Library.jpg — Suekoehler; CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Egg Rock Light – Frenchman Bay ME.jpg — liz west from Boxborough, MA; CC BY 2.0.
- Gorham Mountain trails, rock cairn marking the trail (90bbb6c3-e14d-45d0-a716-8fedbfdb127e).jpg — Victoria Stauffenberg; Public domain.
- Claremont Hotel, Southwest Harbor, Maine.jpg — Burt Froehlich; 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