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{{for|the lighthouse on nearby Matinicus Rock|Matinicus Rock Light}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Matinicus Island, Maine
|settlement_type = [[Plantation (Maine)|Plantation]]
|image_skyline = View of the Harbor, Matinicus, ME.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = View of the harbor {{circa|1908}}
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
<!-- Maps -->
|nickname =
|motto =
<!-- Images -->
|image_map = Knox County Maine incorporated and unincorporated areas Matinicus Isle plantation highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 260px
|map_caption = Location in [[Knox County, Maine|Knox County]] and the state of [[Maine]].
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates = {{coord|43|51|40|N|68|53|35|W|region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Maine|County]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Maine]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Knox County, Maine|Knox]]
|established_title = Organized
|established_date = 1840
<!-- Area -->
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 26
|area_total_sq_mi = 9.9
|area_land_km2 = 6
|area_land_sq_mi = 2.3
|area_water_km2 = 20
|area_water_sq_mi = 7.6
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 0-30.5
|elevation_ft = 0-100
|population_total = 53
|population_as_of = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =
|postal_code_type =[[Zip code]]
|postal_code =04851
|area_code = [[Area code 207|207]]
| unemployment_rate =
|website =
|footnotes =
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 23-44165
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0582584
}}
'''Matinicus Isle''' is an [[island]] [[Plantation (Maine)|plantation]] in [[Knox County, Maine|Knox County]], [[Maine]], United States. The island is located within [[Penobscot Bay]] about 20 miles east of the mainland coast and is accessible by [[Maine State Ferry Service|state ferry service]] from [[Rockland, Maine|Rockland]] or by [[air taxi]] from [[Knox County Regional Airport]]. Matinicus is the inhabited land furthest off the American East Coast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/islands-maine-winter.amp.html|title = Life on an Island: Silence, Beauty and a Long Wait for the Ferry|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 23 February 2018|last1 = Seelye|first1 = Katharine Q.}}</ref> The plantation is both a year-round island community and a [[summer colony]]. The population was 53 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2301344165|title=Census - Geography Profile: Matinicus Isle plantation, Knox County, Maine|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 9, 2022}}</ref>
==History==
Matinicus is an [[Abenaki]] word meaning "far out island."
The island was probably long used by the [[indigenous people of North America]] as a place for [[Hunter-gatherer|hunting and gathering]], and [[Europeans]] probably started visiting the island in the 16th century.<ref name=":0" /> Early documentation of the island comes from John Josselyn's 1671 account of [[New England]]:
<blockquote>Sagadehock to Nova Scotia is called the Duke of York's Province. Here Pemaquid, Matinicus, Monhegan, Cape Anawhagen…are all filled with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen, and have plenty of cattle, arable lands and marshes.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
The island is also mentioned in the May 1717 deposition of two sailors whose trading ship was commandeered off of [[Cape Cod]] by [[Piracy|pirates]] from the ship ''[[Whydah Gally|Whydah]]''. They testified that they were forced to sail north with the pirates (under captain [[Richard Noland]] of the ''Whydah's'' sister ship ''Anne Galley''), who then took a launch "to Matinicus, where they took a [[sloop]] belonging to Colonel [Stephen] Minot, one shallop belonging to Captain [John] Lane and three [[schooner]]s."<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24882?msg=welcome_stranger|title=Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period by J. Franklin Jameson}}</ref>
In March 1726, Lieutenant Governor Dummer of the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] documented the early tension between the Native Americans and Europeans in a letter to Captain John Giles:
<blockquote>I very much resent this liberty [the Native Americans at Matinicus] have taken in killing the [livestock] which belong to the English, which is contrary to the Articles of Peace and that common justice which the English and Indians owe to one another.<ref name=":0" /> </blockquote>
In 1750, Ebenezer Hall became the island's first permanent settler.<ref name=":0" /> Accompanied by his family, he built a house, commenced [[fishing]] and [[farming]], and claimed territorial rights to the island. He burned the grass on nearby Green Island to produce [[hay]] for his [[livestock]], infuriating the [[Penobscot people|Penobscot tribe]], who still used the islands for fishing and sealing. Twice the tribe wrote letters to [[The Crown|Royal]] authorities in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], complaining about Hall. In the second, delivered for forwarding on April 25, 1753, to [[Richmond, Maine|Fort Richmond]], they warned, "if you don't remove him in two months, we shall be obliged to do it ourselves."<ref name=":0" /> Though Hall was ordered to leave Matinicus, he continued his residence there, and the Penobscots waited not two months but a little over four years before taking action. After a multiple day [[siege]] on his house, they killed and [[Scalping|scalped]] Hall on June 10, 1757.
In the following decades several families, including that of Ebenezer Hall's son, moved to the island, and at the census of 1790 there was a total population of 59.<ref name=":0" /> The population continued to grow, and on October 22, 1840, the island was formally organized as a [[Plantation (Maine)|plantation]].
[[File:Air taxi landing 35ME.jpg|right|thumb|280x280px|Air taxi landing at Matinicus Island Airport]]
As a maritime community, the residents of Matinicus have long worked as sailors and fishermen. The early days of fishing for cod, mackerel, and herring gradually gave way to [[lobster fishing]], which continues as the dominant industry on the island today. The importance of this industry to the livelihood of island residents has led to territorial disputes. In July 2009, an island fisherman shot and wounded a fellow fisherman in a dispute over the locations of individual lobster-fishing rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2009/07/25/news/midcoast/shooting-on-matinicus-shifts-fishermenrsquos-focus-to-lsquoselfpreservationrsquo/|title=Shooting on Matinicus shifts fishermen's focus to 'self-preservation'|last1=Curtis|first1=Abigail|website=The Bangor Daily News|date=25 July 2009|access-date=2017-02-15}}</ref>
The plantation has one church, the Congregational Church of Matinicus, which was built in 1906 and currently holds Sunday services during the summer months and serves as a general community function hall.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/jobslides/443/|title="Dedication of The Congregational Church of Matinicus [Maine], June Six" by Herbert Keightley Job|journal=Early Ornithology Lantern Slides by Herbert Keightley Job|date=21 March 1909|language=en|access-date=2017-02-13|last1=Job|first1=Herbert}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.workingwaterfrontarchives.org/2006/07/01/matinicus-marks-centennial-of-island-church-with-running-water/|title=Matinicus marks centennial of island church - with running water!|first1=Eva |last=Murray|date=2006-07-01|website=The Working Waterfront Archives|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref> The island is a routine stop for the Maine Seacoast Mission's vessel the ''Sunbeam'', which offers [[pastoral care]] as well as [[nursing]] and [[telemedicine]] facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.seacoastmission.org/islands/|title=Islands - Maine Seacoast Mission|newspaper=Maine Seacoast Mission|access-date=2017-02-13|language=en-US}}</ref>
The island's inhabitants have served as first responders to emergencies in the waters of [[Penobscot Bay]]. On January 16, 1992, residents of Matinicus responded to a distress call from the ''O.A. Harkness'', a nearby sinking [[tugboat]], ultimately rescuing the three crew members.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 1993|title=Miraculous rescue off the Maine coast|url=https://newengland.com/today/living/new-england-nostalgia/yankee-magazine-cover-february-1993/|journal=Yankee|volume=57}}</ref> On July 17, 2011, island fishermen rescued 4 occupants of an airplane that [[Water landing|ditched]] into the waters off of Matinicus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/20/news/midcoast/pilot-helps-leads-rescue-efforts-after-plane-crash-off-matinicus/|title=Pilot helps lead rescue efforts after plane crash off Matinicus|last1=Steeves|first1=Heather|website=The Bangor Daily News|date=20 July 2011|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref>
[[Image:Harbor Low Tide Panorama (Matinicus Island, Maine).jpg|thumb|center|800px|Panorama of the harbor in 2006]]Matinicus Island Library, founded in 2016, was featured by [[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]] in 2022 for buying books banned by other organizations in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Smithsonian |last2=Williams |first2=Emily |title=This Small Library Off the Coast of Maine Is Collecting Banned Books |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-small-library-off-the-coast-of-maine-is-collecting-banned-books-180979861/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The library is run by volunteers and partially funded by the [[Stephen King|Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation]].
==Geography==
[[Image:Harbor Tidal Pool (Matinicus Island, ME).jpg|thumb|right|Harbor [[tidal pool]]]]
Matinicus Isle plantation is an [[archipelago]] located on the southeastern fringes of [[Penobscot Bay]] in the [[Gulf of Maine]], part of the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the plantation has a total area of {{convert|9.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{Convert|7.6|sqmi|km2}} is water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2015.html|title=2015 U.S. Gazetteer Files Record Layouts|website=www.census.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref> Matinicus Island, the largest land mass in the archipelago, spans approximately {{convert|2|mi|km}} in length and {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} in width for an area of about {{convert|720|acre|ha}}.<ref name=":0" /> The elevation ranges from 0 to 100 feet (30.5 m).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalmap.gov/elevation.html|title=The National Map: Elevation|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|website=nationalmap.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref> Matinicus Isle is located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north of [[Criehaven, Maine|Criehaven]] Isle.
The shoreline consists of rocky [[cove]]s and sandy [[beach]]es. The island experiences [[semidiurnal tides]] with a difference in sea level of up to {{Convert|10-11|ft|m}} between high and low tides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tideschart.com/United-States/Maine/Knox-County/Matinicus-Harbor-Wheaton-Island/|title=Tide Charts {{!}} Matinicus Harbor, Wheaton Island {{!}} Maine|website=tideschart.com|language=en|access-date=2023-05-29}}</ref>
There are ten major fishing grounds around Matinicus Isle that the island's fishermen use to catch [[cod]], [[haddock]], [[pollock]], [[cusk (fish)|cusk]], and [[lobster]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://penbay.org/matinicus/matinicus_grounds.html|title=Matinicus Rock & Matinicus Island Area Fishing Grounds|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref>
==Climate==
Matinicus has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb'') with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Compared to the mainland, seasonal climate fluctuations are somewhat moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in relatively cooler summers and milder winters. Springs are also some of the coolest in the state, and even the whole country. Summers are almost nonexistent due to the moderating effect of the ocean, which also helps to keep year round temperatures above zero and below 75.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matinicus Rock - Climate data (994370)|url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-994370.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.tutiempo.net|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Matinicus Climate|url=https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/?c1=69600120&c2=69600123}}</ref> The common winter freeze and thaw cycles produce much [[slush]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89064421894;view=1up;seq=5|title=Matinicus Isle, its story and its people|last=Long|first=Charles A. E.|publisher=Lewiston Journal Printshop|year=1926|___location=Lewiston, Me|via=Hathi Trust Digital Library}}</ref> [[Nor'easter]]s, such as the [[Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978|Blizzard of 1978]], can be destructive to the shoreline and infrastructure on the island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/mema/newsroom/mema_news_photo_display.shtml?id=622402|title=MEMA: Photo Album Display|website=www.maine.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref> Tropical disturbances have been known to occasionally strike the area, typically in the late summer and fall, but they are not very common this far north.
| ___location = Matinicus Island (1981–2010 Averages)
| single line = Y
| Jan high F = 33.6
| Feb high F = 33.8
| Mar high F = 37.5
| Apr high F = 43.3
| May high F = 52.3
| Jun high F = 59.3
| Jul high F = 64.0
| Aug high F = 65.6
| Sep high F = 62.5
| Oct high F = 53.7
| Nov high F = 46.6
| Dec high F = 39.1
| Jan mean F = 27.5
| Feb mean F = 28.3
| Mar mean F = 37.1
| Apr mean F = 40.3
| May mean F = 48.3
| Jun mean F = 55.1
| Jul mean F = 60.1
| Aug mean F = 61.8
| Sep mean F = 58.4
| Oct mean F = 49.7
| Nov mean F = 42.7
| Dec mean F = 33.8
| Jan low F = 21.4
| Feb low F = 22.9
| Mar low F = 28.6
| Apr low F = 37.2
| May low F = 44.4
| Jun low F = 50.9
| Jul low F = 56.3
| Aug low F = 58.1
| Sep low F = 54.2
| Oct low F = 45.8
| Nov low F = 38.7
| Dec low F = 28.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.87
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.41
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.63
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.50
| May precipitation inch = 3.92
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.83
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.51
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.11
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.91
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.50
| Nov precipitation inch = 5.04
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.40
| date = November 2021
| source =
}}
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align= right
|1790= 59
|1800= 53
|1810= 95
|1820= 105
|1830= 145
|1840= 192
|1850= 220
|1860= 276
|1870= 277
|1880= 243
|1890= 196
|1900= 184
|1910= 179
|1920= 140
|1930= 156
|1940= 112
|1950= 188
|1960= 100
|1970= 90
|1980= 66
|1990= 67
|2000= 51
|2010= 74
|2020= 53
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 74 people, 41 households, and 16 families residing on Matinicus.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2017-02-13}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|32.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.
The average age of the population was 47.0 years. In terms of age distribution, 20.2% of the population was under the age of 19 years, 66.2% was between the ages of 20 and 64 years, and 13.6% was between the ages of 65 and 84 years. The population was 54.1% male and 45.9% female. The racial makeup of the plantation was 100% [[White (U.S. Census)|white]].
The average household size was 1.8 people, and the average family size was 2.8 people. 17.1% of households had individuals under the age of 18 years, and 22.0% had individuals over the age of 64 years. 34.1% of households consisted of [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, and 61.0% were non-families.
There were 147 housing units at an average density of {{convert|63.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 41 homes were occupied, and 99 homes were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use.
As estimated by the [[American Community Survey]], the [[per capita income]] for the plantation in 2015 was $28,801, the mean income for a household was $67,000, and the mean income for a family was $123,354.<ref name="GR2" /> 22.1% of the population was living below the [[poverty line]].
==See also==
* [[List of islands of Maine]]
* [[Criehaven, Maine]]
* [[Matinicus Rock Light]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://matinicusplantation.com/ Matinicus Isle Municipal Website]
* [http://matinicushistory.org/ Matinicus Island Historical Society]
* [http://www.islandinstitute.org/places/matinicus Island Institute]
* [http://www.seacoastmission.org/ Maine Seacoast Mission]
* [http://penobscotmarinemuseum.org/pbho-1/collection/matinicus-island-double-ender-peapod Matinicus Island Peapod]
* [http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=matinicus_isle_plantation Maine Genealogy]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010721234242/http://www.lighthouse.cc/matinicusrock/ Matinicus Rock Lighthouse]}}
* [http://www.matinicusisland.com/birding.html A Birder's Guide to Matinicus]
{{Knox County, Maine}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Islands of Knox County, Maine]]
[[Category:Plantations in Knox County, Maine]]
[[Category:Plantations in Maine]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Maine]]
[[Category:Islands of Maine]]
[[Category:Coastal islands of Maine]]
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