Presque Isle

Featured story: Presque isle- finding home, resettling American’s small towns, an interview with Trey Stewart.

Welcome to Presque Isle!

Presque Isle, (a.k.a “peninsula” in French) is known as “the star of Aroostook County.” It’s the county’s largest city. Whether you’re exploring the north, shopping, dining, or just going for a Sunday ride, Presque Isle’s small-town America charm has something for everyone.

Early settlers in the area of what is now Presque Isle were loyal to the British crown. They had hoped to partake in the lumber industry, and nearby New Brunswick allowed settlers to live on the land, though they did not technically own it. This kick-started settlement along the river and Massachusetts (later Maine) granted land to settlers through the 1820s.

The first United States citizen to settle the area was a man by the name of Dennis Fairbanks. The area came to be known as Fairbanks as a result but was renamed to Presque Isle when it was incorporated as a township in 1859. In the later part of the 19th century, the township grew and annexed the nearby town of Maysville. During this time, industry boomed in the area. A number of lumber mills and factories dotted the township.

The township was later officially incorporated as the City of Presque Isle in 1940.

Lying just to the East of the Great North Woods, Presque Isle is a hub for outdoor and recreational sports such as snowmobiling, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. In fact, it is home to the IBU World Cup Biathlon where prospective Olympians come to compete at The Nordic Heritage Center, home to one of the U.S.’s most competitive winter biathlon courses.

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