Franklin County is the heart of Maine’s Lakes and Mountains Region. Franklin County rises from the central upland portion of Maine to the high peaks region in the north. The population of more than 30,000 resides in charming towns and villages throughout the county.

Farmington is the county seat of Franklin County with a population of 7,500 people. It is the home of the University of Maine campus which was Maine’s first public institution of higher education and is known as one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. Its downtown area is vibrant and bustling with interesting and eclectic shops which have much to offer.

Beautiful and unspoiled, Franklin County is the premier four season destination of Maine offering a variety of cultural, historical attractions and activities for all ages.

Outdoor recreation activities abound throughout the county. Come and explore more than a hundred lakes and ponds, including those in the magnificent Rangeley Lakes region. Franklin County straddles two major watersheds with the Dead, Carrabassett, and Sandy rivers draining into the Kennebec River, and the Rangeley lakes pouring westward into the Androscoggin. Rangeley Lake alone is 149 feet deep and Wilson Lake in Wilton is 88 feet deep.

Experience hiking across the Appalachian Trail, up Mt. Blue, and Tumbledown, the Bigelow Range, Cranberry Peak, and so many more.

The town of Rangeley is a nifty place, with a bustling downtown, remarkable mountain vistas, and easy access to the lakes. It’s easy to understand why it was one of Maine’s earliest resort areas.

Sugarloaf Golf Club offers an award-winning course challenging even the best players and offers unparalleled views that will take your breath away at every turn. This course plays host to several golf tournaments – and will provide you with the best view of fall foliage in the state.

Pristine lakes and ponds offer quiet solitude at sunrise with the eerie call of loons who inhabit these bodies of water, and fantastic boating and fishing in the many lakes, streams and rivers through the county.

Explore the rich heritage and history found here when you visit museums and historical sites and societies throughout Franklin County like the Nordica Homestead (Farmington), Stanley Museum and Kingfield Historical Society (Kingfield), Maine Ski Museum (Kingfield), Maine Paper & Heritage Museum, and Farmington Historical Society. Trace Benedict Arnold’s footsteps to Quebec or learn all about Flagstaff’s “Valley Below.”

Towns in Franklin County include Wilton, population over 4,000 centered around beautiful Wilson Lake. On the shore of Wilson Lake you can explore Kineowatha and Bass Park, enjoy a round of golf at Wilson Lake Country Club or a nature walk through Foothills Land Conservancy.

Mt. Blue State Park Located in Weld is Maine’s Largest state park, encompassing approximately 8,000 acres in two sections separated by Webb Lake. Here you will find stellar hiking, trail riding, biking, swimming and picnicking in the Western Mountains.

For more information about Franklin County, contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 615 Wilton Rd., Farmington; by phone at 207-778-4215; by email at [email protected]; or visit www.franklincountymaine.org.

Franklin County Facts

Population, 2012 estimate= 30,630

Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012 = 4.8 percent

Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012 = 18.9 percent

Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012 = 17.9 percent

Housing units, 2011 = 21,874

Homeownership rate, 2007-2011 = 75.6 percent

Median household income, 2007-2011 = $40,502

Courtesy of U.S. Census

COUNTY BUILDING

140 Main Street
Farmington, ME 04938
Tel: 207-778-6614
Fax: 207-778-5899

COMMUNITIES

• Avon • Carrabassett Valley • Carthage
• Chesterville • Coplin Plt.
• Dallas Plt. • Eustis
• Farmington • Industry
• Jay • Kingfield • New Sharon • New Vineyard
• Phillips • Rangeley
• Rangeley Plt. • Sandy River Plt. • Strong • Temple • Weld

CENSUS DATA
Population…………… 30,630
County seat… Farmington
Land area in square miles, 2010 = 1,696.61
Source: U.S. Census