Grand Isle
A Saint John River town in Maine
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Grand Isle is situated along the Saint John River in Aroostook County, between Madawaska and Van Buren on U.S. Route 1. First settled by Acadians around 1805, the community was incorporated as a town in 1869 and had a population of 366 at the 2020 Census.
About Grand Isle Maine
Grand Isle Maine is a small rural community in Aroostook County located along the Saint John River, which separates the town from the Canadian province of New Brunswick and forms the international border. The town sits at an elevation of 745 feet along U.S. Route 1, positioned between the town of Madawaska to the northwest and the town of Van Buren to the southeast. At the 2020 Census, Grand Isle had a population of 366 residents, down 21.6 percent from 467 residents in 2010. The 2010 Census recorded 215 households and 262 housing units. Census data indicates a median age of 60.3 years, and approximately 60 percent of households in the town and neighboring Upper St. John Valley municipalities speak French at home.
Local Government and Services
The municipal government is run by a board of selectpersons and assessors consisting of 1st Selectperson Raylan K. Lagasse, 2nd Selectperson Otis Frierson, and 3rd Selectperson Robert Desjardins. The town office is located at 366 Main Street (mailing address P.O. Box 197, Grand Isle, ME 04746, phone 207-895-3420) and handles clerk services, tax collection, and water and sewer administration. Elizabeth Morse serves as the municipal clerk, municipal treasurer, tax collector, and water/sewer collector, with Debbie Gendreau serving as deputy clerk. The town also lists a municipal librarian post. Town office hours are Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm; it is closed on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Grand Isle Fire Department operates from a 7,400-square-foot facility on Hyde Road under Fire Chief Gary Campbell (who also serves as E-911 Address Officer) and Deputy Fire Chief Steven Michaud. Vernon Ouellette serves as the Director of the Emergency Management Agency.
Schools
The Grand Isle School Department is a non-operating school administrative unit that maintains no active school buildings within the town. It shares administrative offices and a superintendent with the Madawaska School Department at 328 St. Thomas Street in Madawaska. Students residing in Grand Isle attend public schools in Madawaska, specifically Madawaska Elementary School and Madawaska Middle/High School.
Economy and Agriculture
Grand Isle features agricultural operations including the 500-plus-acre Skylandia Organic Farm, which grows potatoes, berries, vegetables, and grains. The town has also hosted specialized food micro-processing and distribution via Northern Girls, which provides frozen vegetables to regional programs. Other businesses include hospitality services such as the Grand Isle Campground along Main Street, while local businesses benefit from winter tourism and snowmobile traffic supported by the Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club.
Cultural Sites and Landmarks
The Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel is situated in the Grand Isle village of Lille. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it occupies the decommissioned Catholic church of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, built in 1908–1909, along with the former Lawrence Parent General Store (Galerie Lille-sur-St-Jean). The museum exhibits Acadian and Québécois pine furniture, religious artifacts, vestments, sculptures, and folk art. The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society operates a museum at 363 Main Street in the former St. Gerard Rectory, a brick building with an original slate roof and an underground tunnel connecting to the church. The society preserves valley history, domestic artifacts, farming tools, and genealogical publications, and hosts Acadian Kitchen Parties featuring regional musical traditions and storytelling. It also maintains the Mont Carmel Rest Area and Chapel at the foot of Mont Carmel.
Recreation and Events
Grand Isle Campground offers tent, trailer, and RV sites, along with zip lining, a boat ramp, and direct trail access. The town connects to regional off-road trails including ATV Trail 218 and connector 643F, supported by the Grand Isle ATV Club. For winter sports, Grand Isle links to the St. John Valley section of Aroostook County's snowmobile network of more than 2,300 miles of groomed trails. The town holds an annual Fourth of July celebration organized by the fire department, featuring fireworks, music, food, and festivities at the campground.
Transportation
U.S. Route 1 is the main highway through Grand Isle, and roads fall within MaineDOT's regional coverage. Scheduled and demand-response rural public transit is operated by Aroostook Regional Transportation Systems (ARTS), connecting Grand Isle with Madawaska, Van Buren, and Caribou. Commercial airline flights are accessible via Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) in central Aroostook County.
History of Grand Isle
The area was first settled in 1805 by Acadians fleeing from the British. Later, in 1843, the community was organized as part of Van Buren Plantation from Township 18 R3. Grant Isle Plantation was then set off from Van Buren Plantation in 1859, and it went on to be officially incorporated as a town on March 2, 1869. A few years later, in 1872, the town's name was changed to Grand Isle to commemorate the large island located in the middle of the Saint John River.
Today, that deep heritage remains a cornerstone of the community. In the village of Lille within Grand Isle, the Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel occupies a decommissioned Catholic church listed as a historic site preserving Acadian and Québécois culture.
See the history facts and their sources in Quick facts below.
Quick facts
·
Population
- 2010 Census Households
- At the 2010 Decennial Census, Grand Isle had 215 households and 262 total housing units.[1]
- 2020 Census Population
- The town of Grand Isle had a population of 366 at the 2020 Decennial Census.[1]
- 2020 Census Population
- The town of Grand Isle had an official population of 366 residents in the 2020 Decennial Census.[1]
- American Community Survey Median Age
- According to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data reported by Census Reporter, the median age in Grand Isle is 60.3 years.[2]
- Historical Peak Population
- Grand Isle reached its highest recorded census population in 1940, with 1,574 residents.[1]
- Population Change (2010 to 2020)
- Between 2010 and 2020, Grand Isle's population dropped from 467 to 366, representing a decrease of 21.6%.[1]
History (6)
- Date of incorporation
- The town was officially incorporated on March 2, 1869, from Grant Isle Plantation.[3]
- Early plantation organization
- The community was first organized as part of Van Buren Plantation from Township 18 R3 in 1843 before Grant Isle Plantation was set off from Van Buren Plantation in 1859.[4]
- Historic Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel
- In the village of Lille within Grand Isle, the Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel occupies a decommissioned Catholic church listed as a historic site preserving Acadian and Québécois culture.[5]
- Incorporation
- Grand Isle was originally set off as a plantation from Van Buren Plantation in 1859 and incorporated as a town on March 2, 1869.[6]
- Settlement date and early settlers
- The area of Grand Isle was originally settled in 1805 by Acadians fleeing from the British.[3]
- Town name change and naming origin
- The town's name was changed to Grand Isle in 1872, commemorating the large island located in the middle of the Saint John River.[3]
Government (8)
- Deputy Clerk
- Debbie Gendreau serves as the deputy clerk for the town.[7]
- Emergency and Public Safety Officials
- Gary Campbell serves as Fire Chief and E-911 Address Officer, while Vernon Ouellette serves as Director of the Emergency Management Agency.[7]
- Form of Government and Selectpersons
- Grand Isle is governed by a board of selectpersons and assessors consisting of 1st Selectperson/Assessor Raylan K. Lagasse, 2nd Selectperson/Assessor Otis Frierson, and 3rd Selectperson/Assessor Robert Desjardins.[7]
- Mailing Address
- Town of Grand Isle, P.O. Box 197, Grand Isle, Maine 04746.[7]
- Municipal Clerk and Treasurer
- Elizabeth Morse serves as the municipal clerk, municipal treasurer, tax collector, and water/sewer collector.[7]
- Office Hours
- The town office is open Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, and is closed on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.[8]
- Town Office Phone Number
- The telephone number for the town office is (207) 895-3420.[8]
- ZIP Code
- The town of Grand Isle is served by the primary ZIP code 04746.[9]
Schools (4)
- Attending Public Schools
- Students residing in Grand Isle attend public schools in neighboring Madawaska, including Madawaska Elementary School and Madawaska Middle/High School.[10]
- District Central Office Sharing
- Grand Isle School Department shares its superintendent and administrative offices with the Madawaska School Department at 328 St. Thomas Street in Madawaska, Maine.[11]
- Lack of Local School Facilities
- Grand Isle School Department operates as a non-operating school district with no active school buildings within the town.[12]
- Local School Administrative Unit
- The town is organized as the Grand Isle School Department (also known as Grand Isle Public Schools), an independent municipal school administrative unit in Aroostook County.[13]
Economy (4)
- Agricultural production
- Grand Isle is home to local agricultural operations, including the 500-plus-acre Skylandia Organic Farm, which cultivates potatoes, berries, vegetables, and grains.[14]
- Food processing and distribution
- Grand Isle has hosted specialized food processing and distribution enterprises, such as Northern Girls, a micro-processor providing frozen vegetables to regional food programs.[15]
- Local winter tourism and snowmobile economy
- Winter recreation is an important feature of Grand Isle's local economy, with local businesses relying on snowmobile traffic generated by an extensive trail network maintained by the Grand Isle-based Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club.[16]
- Small business and tourism services
- The town features hospitality and outdoor recreation businesses including the Grand Isle Campground along Main Street, offering camping facilities and river access.[14]
Landmarks (5)
- Greater Grand Isle Historical Society Museum Building
- The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society museum is housed in the former St. Gerard Rectory at 363 Main Street, a brick structure featuring an original slate roof and an underground tunnel connecting it to the church.[17]
- Mont Carmel Rest Area and Chapel
- The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society maintains the Mont Carmel Rest Area and Chapel at the foot of Mont Carmel, commemorating the site where construction on the area's first church sanctuary originally began in 1846.[17]
- Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel Artifacts Collection
- The museum displays an extensive regional collection of religious artifacts, vestments, sculptures, folk art, and Acadian and Québécois pine furniture dating back as far as the 18th century.[14]
- Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel Church Structure
- Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel occupies the former Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel Roman Catholic Church, built in 1908–1909 in the Grand Isle village of Lille. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[18]
- Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel Museum Complex
- In addition to the decommissioned Catholic church, the Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel museum complex includes the former Lawrence Parent General Store, known as the Galerie Lille-sur-St-Jean.[18]
Recreation (5)
- ATV Trail Connectivity
- Grand Isle connects to Aroostook County's multi-town off-road trail network, which includes regional routes such as ATV Trail 218 and connector 643F.[19]
- Grand Isle ATV Club
- The Grand Isle ATV Club is a recognized local club supporting the interconnected multi-use trail network across northern Maine.[20]
- Grand Isle Campground Amenities
- Grand Isle Campground provides RV, trailer, and tent sites along with a boat ramp, zip lining, and direct access to ATV trails.[3]
- Saint John River Location
- Grand Isle is situated along the Saint John River, which forms the international border with Canada and commemorates the large island located in the river within the town.[3]
- Snowmobile Trail Network
- Grand Isle links into the St. John Valley section of Aroostook County's snowmobile trail system, which features over 2,300 miles of groomed trails.[21]
Events (1)
- Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks
- Grand Isle holds an annual Fourth of July celebration featuring fireworks, live music, festivities, and food at the Grand Isle campground. The event is traditionally organized by the town's fire department, which funds the fireworks display through community bottle and can drives.[22]
Culture (6)
- Acadian Kitchen Parties
- The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society hosts revived Acadian Kitchen Parties, which are community gatherings celebrating regional Acadian musical traditions, songs, and storytelling.[23]
- Acadian Settlement Heritage
- Grand Isle was originally settled around 1805 by Acadians fleeing British forces and remains closely tied to Acadian history and culture in the St. John River Valley.[24]
- French Language Tradition
- Grand Isle has retained strong French language roots, with approximately 60 percent of households in the town and neighboring Upper St. John Valley municipalities reporting speaking French at home in 2019 Census data.[25]
- Greater Grand Isle Historical Society Museum
- The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society operates a museum that preserves and displays St. John Valley history, genealogical publications, folk art, farming implements, and domestic artifacts.[26]
- Historic Morneault House Origin
- The Morneault House, an authentic example of 19th-century Acadian piece-sur-piece log architecture now preserved at the Acadian Village in Keegan, originally stood on River Lot 197 in Grand Isle.[27]
- Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel
- Located in the village of Lille within Grand Isle, Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel occupies the former 1908–1909 Catholic church of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves as a cultural museum dedicated to Acadian and Québécois history and artifacts.[28]
Transportation (7)
- MaineDOT regional administration
- Grand Isle is included in the service coverage area managed by the Maine Department of Transportation.[29]
- Nearest commercial airport
- Presque Isle International Airport (PQI), located in Presque Isle in central Aroostook County, provides commercial passenger airline service for the region.[30]
- Primary highway
- U.S. Route 1 serves as the primary highway running through Grand Isle along the Saint John River valley.[31]
- Proximity to Madawaska
- Grand Isle borders the Madawaska area to the northwest along the Saint John River valley and U.S. Route 1 corridor.[32]
- Proximity to Van Buren
- Grand Isle directly borders the town of Van Buren to the southeast along the U.S. Route 1 corridor.[33]
- Public transit service provider
- Aroostook Regional Transportation Systems (ARTS) provides demand-response and scheduled rural public transit service connecting Grand Isle to surrounding communities in Aroostook County.[34]
- Regional scheduled transit route
- Aroostook Regional Transportation operates scheduled service connecting Madawaska, Grand Isle, Van Buren, and Caribou to in-town destinations.[35]
Services (5)
- Grand Isle Fire Department
- Grand Isle Fire Department operates from a 7,400-square-foot facility on Hyde Road, maintaining apparatus that includes pumpers, a heavy rescue truck, a water tanker, a brush truck, a trailer, and a boat.[36]
- Town Fire Leadership
- The municipal fire department is led by Fire Chief Gary Campbell and Deputy Fire Chief Steven Michaud.[7]
- Town Librarian Position
- The Town of Grand Isle lists a municipal librarian post among its municipal town official roles.[7]
- Town Office and Municipal Services
- The Grand Isle Town Office is located at 366 Main Street, handling administrative services including municipal clerking, tax collection, and water and sewer administration.[37]
- Water and Sewer Administration
- Municipal water and sewer billing and collections are managed through the Grand Isle town administration.[38]
Geography (7)
- Adjacent Municipalities
- Grand Isle is located between the town of Madawaska to the northwest and Van Buren to the southeast along U.S. Route 1.[39]
- Bordering River
- Grand Isle borders the Saint John River, which separates the town from the Canadian province of New Brunswick.[39]
- Elevation
- Grand Isle has a recorded elevation of 745 feet according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Aroostook County elevation table.[40]
- Land and Water Area
- The town of Grand Isle has 34.59 square miles (89.59 square kilometers) of land area and 0.79 square miles (2.05 square kilometers) of water area.[1]
- Location within Aroostook County
- Grand Isle is situated in northeastern Aroostook County in northern Maine, located along the international Canada–United States border across from New Brunswick.[39]
- Total Area
- Grand Isle encompasses a total area of 35.38 square miles, consisting of 34.59 square miles of land and 0.79 square miles of water.[1]
- Total Area
- According to U.S. Census Bureau gazetteer data, the town of Grand Isle encompasses a total area of 35.38 square miles (91.63 square kilometers).[1]
Businesses in Grand Isle
Map of Grand Isle
Nearby communities
All communities in The County
St. John Valley
Central Aroostook
Southern Aroostook
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