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COUNTIES Maine has sixteen counties. The earliest established was York, in 1652; the latest was Knox in 1860. The structure and functions of county government are similar throughout the state. For a brief sketch of a county, click on Cumberland in the population change map at right. Aroostook is the largest by area, while Sagadahoc is the smallest. Cumberland is the most populous; Piscataquis, which continues to lose population, has the fewest people. Based on the 2000 U.S. Census, northern Maine, especially Aroostook and Piscataquis counties, already sparsely inhabited, continue to lose population. The coastal counties, except for Washington, made substantial gains, while the inland "middle" counties maintained about the same population they had a decade earlier. Aroostook County almost had its own private war when a border dispute between the county and Canada escalated in 1838; it is the largest county with a greater land area than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Cumberland was named for a county in England and is the most populous. Hancock was named for John Hancock, first governor of Massachusetts. Knox was named for Henry Knox, first U.S. Secretary of State and is the newest county. Lincoln was named for Thomas Pownal, early governor of Massachusetts whose home was Lincoln, England. Piscataquis translated from Algonquin means "rapid waters." Washington was named for President George Washington. Waldo was named for general Samuel Waldo was the "prime commercial agent" for pine masts.
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