Fort Kent, ME
| Fort Kent | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Downtown Fort Kent
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| Motto: The Little Town That Could (stemming from a local during the 2004 Biathlon World Cup) | |
 Fort Kent
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| Coordinates: 47°14′31″N 68°34′20″W / 47.24194°N 68.57222°WCoordinates: 47°14′31″N 68°34′20″W / 47.24194°N 68.57222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Aroostook |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55.15 sq mi (142.84 km2) |
| • Land | 54.17 sq mi (140.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.98 sq mi (2.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 610 ft (186 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,097 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 4,065 |
| • Density | 75.6/sq mi (29.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| ZIP Codes | 04743–04744 |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-25755 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582477 |
| Website | www.fortkent.org |
Fort Kent is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,097 in the 2010 census. Fort Kent is home to an Olympic biathlete training center, an annual CAN-AM dogsled race, and the Fort Kent Blockhouse, built in reaction to 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 signed a lease agreement with the Fish River Flying Club on July 8, 2011 to repair, maintain, and operate the local municipal airport, which had been closed since the 1980s.
Fort Kent was erected in the summer of 1839 as an American border outpost during the undeclared Aroostook War. The blockhouse, the first structure built in what is present-day city 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.
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