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Fort Kent, Maine
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Fort Kent, Maine
Fort Kent (French: Fort-Kent) is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States, surrounding a village of the same name situated at the confluence of the Fish River and the Saint John River, on the border with New Brunswick, Canada. The population was 4,067 in the 2020 census.
Fort Kent is home to an Olympic biathlete training center, an annual CAN-AM dogsled race, and the Fort Kent Blockhouse — built as a defensive bulwark during the Aroostook War, and in modern times designated a national historic site. Principal industries include agriculture (particularly potatoes and forestry) and textiles. Fort Kent is the northern terminus of U.S. 1 and the ending point of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Fort Kent was established in the summer of 1839 as an American border outpost. The blockhouse, the first structure built in what is the present-day village of Fort Kent, was named after then-governor of Maine Edward Kent. The Saint John River was a log driving route from upstream forests to downstream sawmills and paper mills until the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and trucks began transporting pulpwood.
After receiving nearly 200 inches (510 cm) of snow during the 2007–2008 winter season, the Saint John River began to flood on April 29. Nearly two days of nonstop rain also contributed to the flooding. As the river rose, it poured into the downtown area. More than 600 of Fort Kent's 4,233 residents were evacuated. The river's water level rose to nearly 31 feet (9.4 m), which was 6 feet (1.8 m) above flood stage.
Governor John Baldacci declared a state of emergency for the region, flying from Augusta to see the damage first-hand. The Fish River did most of the damage, flooding St. Louis Catholic Church and an apartment building.[citation needed]
The town is economically and culturally linked to the Canadian towns of Clair and Saint-François-de-Madawaska, both in Madawaska County, New Brunswick, directly across the Saint John River. Most children on the Canadian side attend French-speaking school while their American counterparts are taught mainly in English.
According to the most recent American Community Survey data, up to 33.7% of the population age 5 and older speak French at home. The variety of French spoken in Fort Kent, and most of the Saint John River Valley, closely resembles the French spoken in Quebec and New Brunswick. It is referred to as New England French, "Valley French", or "Brayon". Many residents have American-Canadian dual citizenship.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.15 square miles (142.84 km2), of which 54.17 square miles (140.30 km2) is land and 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is water.
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Fort Kent, Maine
Fort Kent (French: Fort-Kent) is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States, surrounding a village of the same name situated at the confluence of the Fish River and the Saint John River, on the border with New Brunswick, Canada. The population was 4,067 in the 2020 census.
Fort Kent is home to an Olympic biathlete training center, an annual CAN-AM dogsled race, and the Fort Kent Blockhouse — built as a defensive bulwark during the Aroostook War, and in modern times designated a national historic site. Principal industries include agriculture (particularly potatoes and forestry) and textiles. Fort Kent is the northern terminus of U.S. 1 and the ending point of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
Fort Kent was established in the summer of 1839 as an American border outpost. The blockhouse, the first structure built in what is the present-day village of Fort Kent, was named after then-governor of Maine Edward Kent. The Saint John River was a log driving route from upstream forests to downstream sawmills and paper mills until the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and trucks began transporting pulpwood.
After receiving nearly 200 inches (510 cm) of snow during the 2007–2008 winter season, the Saint John River began to flood on April 29. Nearly two days of nonstop rain also contributed to the flooding. As the river rose, it poured into the downtown area. More than 600 of Fort Kent's 4,233 residents were evacuated. The river's water level rose to nearly 31 feet (9.4 m), which was 6 feet (1.8 m) above flood stage.
Governor John Baldacci declared a state of emergency for the region, flying from Augusta to see the damage first-hand. The Fish River did most of the damage, flooding St. Louis Catholic Church and an apartment building.[citation needed]
The town is economically and culturally linked to the Canadian towns of Clair and Saint-François-de-Madawaska, both in Madawaska County, New Brunswick, directly across the Saint John River. Most children on the Canadian side attend French-speaking school while their American counterparts are taught mainly in English.
According to the most recent American Community Survey data, up to 33.7% of the population age 5 and older speak French at home. The variety of French spoken in Fort Kent, and most of the Saint John River Valley, closely resembles the French spoken in Quebec and New Brunswick. It is referred to as New England French, "Valley French", or "Brayon". Many residents have American-Canadian dual citizenship.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.15 square miles (142.84 km2), of which 54.17 square miles (140.30 km2) is land and 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is water.
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