Matinicus Isle Plantation, plantation in Knox County, Maine, United States
Matinicus Isle Plantation is a small settlement on a remote island off Maine's coast in Knox County. The community features wooden houses, boat docks, and narrow pathways connected to the surrounding fishing grounds and rocky shoreline.
The settlement was officially established in 1840 and transferred from Hancock County to Knox County in 1860. European settlers arrived in the 1700s building on earlier use by Abenaki peoples and founded a fishing community that remains today.
The island's name likely comes from the Abenaki people who used the area long before European settlers arrived. Today, fishing traditions and tight-knit community bonds shape daily life, with old family names passed down through generations.
Access to the island is mainly by ferry from Rockland or small aircraft, with boat service depending on tidal patterns and weather conditions. Visitors should expect limited retail options and bring supplies, as the island offers only basic goods and sits far from the mainland.
A memorable aspect is the story of Ebenezer Hall, an early settler who had conflicts with the Penobscot tribe and was killed during a siege in the 1700s. This tension between early Europeans and indigenous peoples shaped the island's past and reminds visitors of the complex origins of European settlement.
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