| Madawaska, Maine | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Maine#USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Madawaska in Maine##Location of Madawaska in the USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Madawaska |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Maine |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Aroostook |
| Parts Type: | Villages |
| Parts: | Madawaska Cleveland Fournier Lavertue St. David |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | 1869 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 145.66 |
| Area Land Km2: | 143.90 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.76 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 56.24 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 55.56 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.68 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 3867 |
| Population Density Km2: | 26.9 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 296 |
| Elevation Ft: | 971 |
| Coordinates: | 47.3072°N -68.2416°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 04756 |
| Area Code: | 207 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 23-42520 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0582576 |
Madawaska is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,867 at the 2020 census.[1] Madawaska is opposite Edmundston, Madawaska County in New Brunswick, Canada, to which it is connected by the Edmundston–Madawaska Bridge over the Saint John River. The majority of its residents speak French; 83.4% of the population speaks French at home.
During the early colonial period, Madawaska was a meeting place and hunting/fishing area for the Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik) nation. Later, it was at the center of the bloodless Aroostook War. The final border between the two countries was established with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which gave Maine most of the disputed area, and gave the British a militarily vital connection between the province of Quebec and the province of New Brunswick.[2] Many families were left divided after the settlement.[3] [4]
Madawaska is a rural town whose economy centers on the Saint John River paper industry. The river historically provided water power for the mills and was the route of log drives bringing pulpwood from upstream forests. The river still provides the water supply for paper manufacture, but environmental concerns encourage pulpwood delivery by highway and rail.[5] Canadian corporation Twin Rivers (originally Fraser Papers) has a large facility located in Madawaska which processes the pulp produced by the mill's other plant in Edmundston. The pulp is shipped across the border through a mile-long high pressure pipeline running between both facilities, and is made into paper in Madawaska. The Madawaska mill specializes in fine-grade papers. The town's economy is highly dependent upon cross-border trade, to the extent that Madawaska and its larger sister city of Edmundston are considered by residents under many aspects, a single economic entity.[6]
Madawaska is also home to the St. John Valley Times, a popular weekly newspaper circulated across Aroostook County.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.24sqmi, of which 55.56sqmi is land and 0.68sqmi is water.[8] Madawaska is located beside the Saint John River, the Canada–United States border. Four Corners Park commemorates its location as the most northeastern town in the contiguous United States.[9] The town is served by U.S. Route 1.
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Madawaska has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[10]
See also: Madawaska (CDP), Maine.
As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 4,035 people, 1,983 households, and 1,128 families living in the town. The population density was 72.6PD/sqmi. There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 43.2/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.
There were 1,983 households, of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.62.
The median age in the town was 51.2 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 34.1% were from 45 to 64; and 26.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 4,534 people, 1,993 households, and 1,301 families living in the town. The population density was 81.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,362 housing units at an average density of 42.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.15% Black, 0.44% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.20% of the population.
There were 1,993 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,994, and the median income for a family was $42,269. Males had a median income of $46,117 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,552. About 7.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over. The median home value is $102,935.
Madawaska's schools serve Madawaska, St. David, and Grand Isle. The Madawaska Elementary School has students from pre-kindergarten through the 6th grade. Madawaska Middle/High School contains grades 7 through 12.