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Mapleton

A historic agricultural community in Aroostook County

1,886Population (2020)
34.34Square miles
1880Incorporated
Central AroostookRegion

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Incorporated in 1880, Mapleton is thought to have been named for the abundance of maple trees in its forests. Located along Route 163 about 5 miles west of Presque Isle, the town maintains a strong agricultural heritage centered around potato farming.

Illustration of a meadow of purple lupines and wildflowers with a farmhouse-free horizon of green hills in spring

Mapleton, Maine is a town in Aroostook County located about 5 miles west of Presque Isle and 14 miles east of Ashland along Route 163. As of the 2020 Census, the population of Mapleton was 1,886 residents, down 3.2% from 1,948 in 2010. The town had 816 households at the 2010 Census, while American Community Survey estimates place the current count at approximately 782 households. The median age in Mapleton is 41.8 years.

Local Economy and Agriculture

Potatoes have historically served as the primary agricultural crop in Mapleton and continue to support the local economy. Several active farms and businesses operate in the community:

  • Buck Farms: Located in Mapleton, this farm grows potatoes and grain crops, and operates the Maine Malt House to process farm-grown barley into malt for regional craft breweries.
  • Chase Family Farms: Located on Creasey Ridge Road, this organic farm produces grass-fed beef and certified organic hay.
  • MSAD 1 Regional School Farm: Employs up to 40 local students from Mapleton and neighboring towns during peak harvest to work in crop processing, horticulture, and marketing.
  • Chandler Farms Inc.: Located on State Road, offering sales and maintenance services for powersports equipment including ATVs and snowmobiles.
  • Buck Construction Co.: A commercial contracting and building enterprise based on Mapleton Road.

Town Government and Municipal Services

Mapleton operates under a Town Manager form of government with an elected Select Board and an Annual Town Meeting. Municipal administration and economic planning are coordinated jointly with the neighboring towns of Castle Hill and Chapman under an interlocal agreement and a joint comprehensive plan.

  • Town Office: Located at 103 Pulcifur Road, PO Box 500, Mapleton, ME 04757. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The telephone and fax number is (207) 764-3754.
  • Town Officials: Sandra L. Fournier serves as Town Manager, Samantha Watt serves as Town Clerk, and Christopher Woodworth serves as Road Commissioner for the Highway Department. The Select Board members are Scott Young, Barry Buck, Joseph Powers, Kim Archer, and Matthew Gregg.
  • Highway Department: Managed jointly with Castle Hill and Chapman from the municipal offices on Pulcifur Road.
  • Public Safety: Mapleton has no municipal police department; law enforcement coverage is provided by the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and the Maine State Police.
Illustration of a snow-covered lake shore with bare birches and dark spruce under a pale winter sky in winter

Education

Mapleton is part of Maine School Administrative District 1 (MSAD #1), which also serves Castle Hill, Chapman, Presque Isle, and Westfield.

  • Mapleton Elementary School: Located at 1642 Main Street, serving elementary students in the district.
  • Secondary Schools: MSAD #1 secondary students attend Presque Isle Middle School and Presque Isle High School in neighboring Presque Isle.
  • Career and Technical Training: High school students can take vocational courses through the Presque Isle Tech Center.
  • Adult and Higher Education: MSAD #1 operates an Adult Education program. Higher education facilities nearby include the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.

Outdoor Recreation and Local Sites

Mapleton offers multiple recreational corridors and outdoor destinations:

  • Bangor and Aroostook Trail: Mapleton serves as a southern branch terminus for this multi-use rail-trail, open year-round for walking, ATV riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
  • Aroostook Valley Trail: A multi-use 28-mile trail along the Aroostook River corridor passing through Mapleton and nearby communities for motorized and non-motorized recreation.
  • Mapleton ATV Club: A local volunteer organization that coordinates trail rides, cleanups, and trail maintenance.
  • Tri-Town Recreation Department: Operated jointly with Castle Hill and Chapman to organize youth sports leagues and community programs.
  • Waterways: The North Branch of the Presque Isle Stream runs through town, along with tributary brooks such as Clayton Brook and Dudley Brook.
  • Haystack Historical Society Museum: Located in a former one-room schoolhouse on Main Street, this museum preserves artifacts and photographs from Mapleton, Chapman, and Castle Hill. The society also hosts an annual baked ham dinner fundraiser.
  • Winslow Memorial Museum: Located at the Winslow family homestead, preserving regional farming heritage and antique agricultural equipment dating back to 1857.

Mapleton Daze Community Festival

Mapleton Daze is an annual weeklong community festival held in June. The celebration includes fireworks, live music, local food vendors, games, a Saturday parade on Main Street preceded by a children's bike parade, and the Woodie Waddell Cribbage Tournament at Mapleton Elementary School. During the festival, the Mapleton Lions Club serves chicken barbecue dinners at the Lions Hall, the Haystack Historical Society offers homemade pie and ice cream at its museum, and community members take part in an annual morning hike and sunrise breakfast atop Haystack Mountain.

Transportation

Maine State Route 163 runs through Mapleton along Main Street, connecting to Presque Isle in the east and Castle Hill and Ashland in the west. Maine State Route 227 passes through northern Mapleton, also linking Presque Isle and Ashland. Regional public transportation is available through the Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS), which runs scheduled public bus routes connecting Mapleton to Presque Isle. Commercial airline flights are accessible at Presque Isle International Airport in neighboring Presque Isle.

Illustration of a hayfield with round bales and a small distant barn under a big sky in summer

History of Mapleton

The earliest European settlers in the area arrived primarily from New Brunswick, later followed by others from elsewhere in the United States, who found forests abundant with maple trees that are thought to have given Mapleton its name. The town was officially incorporated on March 1, 1880, with prominent early citizens of the time including Freeman L. Ball, Thomas Griffin, Josiah McLaughlin, and Francis Hatch. Following incorporation, Mapleton supported seven public schoolhouses with school property valued at $1,100, while its business center in the early 1880s featured a potash factory, a starch factory driven by a 16-horsepower engine, and a rotary sawmill cutting around 10,000 feet of lumber per day.

In 2013, the community looked to the future by participating in the adoption of Maine's first three-town comprehensive plan alongside neighboring Castle Hill and Chapman.

See the history facts and their sources in Quick facts below.

Quick facts

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Population

2010 Census Household Count
At the 2010 Census, there were 816 households in the town of Mapleton.[1]
2020 Census Population
According to the 2020 Decennial Census, the population of Mapleton town was 1,886.[1]
2020 Decennial Population
Mapleton town recorded a population of 1,886 residents in the 2020 Decennial Census.[1]
Historical Population Change (2010 to 2020)
The town's population decreased by 3.2% between the 2010 Census (1,948 residents) and the 2020 Census (1,886 residents).[1]
Households Estimate
According to American Community Survey estimates reported via Census Reporter, Mapleton town has approximately 782 households.[2]
Median Age
The median age in Mapleton town is 41.8 years.[3]
History (8)
Date of Incorporation
Mapleton was officially incorporated as a town on March 1, 1880.[4]
Early Commercial Mills
By the early 1880s, Mapleton's business center included a starch factory driven by a 16-horsepower engine, a rotary sawmill cutting around 10,000 feet of lumber per day, and a potash factory.[4]
Early Education Infrastructure
Following its incorporation in 1880, the town had seven public schoolhouses with school property valued at $1,100.[4]
Early European Settlers
The original European settlers primarily arrived from New Brunswick, with others from elsewhere in the United States following later.[5]
Incorporation Date
Mapleton was officially incorporated as a town on March 1, 1880.[4]
Origin of Town Name
Mapleton is thought to have been named for the abundance of maple trees found in its forests.[5]
Prominent Early Citizens
Freeman L. Ball, Thomas Griffin, Josiah McLaughlin, and Francis Hatch were among Mapleton's prominent early citizens noted around the time of incorporation.[4]
Tri-Town Comprehensive Plan
In 2013, Mapleton participated in the adoption of Maine's first three-town comprehensive plan alongside Castle Hill and Chapman.[6]
Government (8)
Form of Government
Mapleton operates under a Town Manager form of government, governing alongside an elected Select Board and an Annual Town Meeting, and shares administration through an interlocal agreement with Castle Hill and Chapman.[7]
Road Commissioner
Christopher Woodworth serves as the Road Commissioner for the Highway Department.[8]
Select Board Members
The members of the Mapleton Select Board are Scott Young, Barry Buck, Joseph Powers, Kim Archer, and Matthew Gregg.[9]
Town Clerk
Samantha Watt serves as the Town Clerk.[10]
Town Manager
Sandra L. Fournier serves as the Town Manager.[11]
Town Office Address
The joint town office for Mapleton is located at 103 Pulcifur Road, PO Box 500, Mapleton, ME 04757.[11]
Town Office Hours
The Mapleton town office operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.[11]
Town Office Phone
The telephone and fax number for the town office is (207) 764-3754.[11]
Schools (6)
Adult Education
MSAD #1 operates an Adult Education program serving the district community.[12]
Career and Technical Education
The district provides career and technical training to area high school students through the Presque Isle Tech Center.[12]
District Secondary Schools
MSAD #1 secondary students attend Presque Isle Middle School and Presque Isle High School in neighboring Presque Isle.[13]
Mapleton Elementary School
Mapleton Elementary School is located at 1642 Main Street in Mapleton and serves elementary students in the district.[14]
Nearby Higher Education
Post-secondary education near Mapleton is available in neighboring Presque Isle at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College.[15]
School District Membership
Mapleton is served by Maine School Administrative District 1 (MSAD #1), which covers Mapleton, Castle Hill, Chapman, Presque Isle, and Westfield.[12]
Economy (7)
Commercial Power Equipment and Vehicle Services
Chandler Farms Inc., located on State Road in Mapleton, provides dealership and maintenance services for powersports equipment including snowmobiles and ATVs.[16]
Grain and Malting Agriculture
Buck Farms in Mapleton grows potatoes and grain crops, operating the Maine Malt House to process farm-grown barley into malt for regional craft breweries.[17]
Historic and Primary Agricultural Sector
Potatoes have historically served as the most important crop grown in Mapleton and continue to be central to the local agricultural economy.[16]
Livestock and Forage Farming
Chase Family Farms on Creasey Ridge Road operates as an organic farm in Mapleton producing grass-fed beef and certified organic hay.[18]
Local Construction and Contracting
Buck Construction Co. operates out of Mapleton Road in Mapleton, representing one of the major commercial contracting and building enterprises based in the community.[19]
Student Agricultural Workforce
The MSAD 1 regional school farm employs up to 40 local students during peak harvest from Mapleton and neighboring towns in crop processing, horticulture, and marketing.[20]
Tri-Town Interlocal Governance and Planning
Mapleton coordinates municipal administration and economic planning jointly with the neighboring towns of Castle Hill and Chapman under an adopted joint comprehensive plan.[21]
Landmarks (2)
Haystack Historical Society Museum
The Haystack Historical Society operates a local history museum housed in a historic one-room schoolhouse on Main Street in Mapleton, showcasing artifacts and photographs from Mapleton, Chapman, and Castle Hill.[22]
Victor A. and Gloria J. Winslow and Family Memorial Museum
Established at the Winslow family homestead in Mapleton, this museum preserves five generations of regional farming heritage and antique agricultural equipment dating back to 1857.[23]
Recreation (5)
Aroostook Valley Trail Network
The multi-use Aroostook Valley Trail network spans 28 miles of former railbed along the Aroostook River corridor across Mapleton and neighboring communities for motorized and non-motorized recreation.[24]
Bangor and Aroostook Trail Access
Mapleton serves as a southern branch terminus of the multi-use Bangor and Aroostook Trail, a rail-trail open year-round for walking, ATV riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.[25]
Mapleton ATV Club
The Mapleton ATV Club is an active local nonprofit volunteer organization that organizes trail rides, cleanups, and trail maintenance across local trail systems.[26]
North Branch Presque Isle Stream
The North Branch of the Presque Isle Stream flows through Mapleton alongside tributary brooks including Clayton Brook and Dudley Brook, offering local waterway habitats.[27]
Tri-Town Recreation Department
Mapleton operates a joint Recreation Department with neighboring Castle Hill and Chapman that organizes youth sports leagues and community recreation programs.[28]
Events (6)
Haystack Historical Society Pie and Ice Cream Event
During Mapleton Daze, the Haystack Historical Society opens its museum to the public and serves homemade pie and ice cream.[29]
Haystack Mountain Sunrise Breakfast
An annual morning hike and sunrise breakfast atop Haystack Mountain is held as a traditional community event during Mapleton Daze.[30]
Mapleton Daze
Mapleton Daze is an annual weeklong community festival held in June featuring parades, local food vendors, games, live musical entertainment, and fireworks.[31]
Mapleton Daze Lions Club Chicken Barbecue
During the annual Mapleton Daze celebration, the Mapleton Lions Club serves chicken barbecue dinners at the Lions Hall.[30]
Mapleton Daze Parade
Mapleton Daze features an annual Saturday parade along Main Street preceded by a children's bike parade.[29]
Woodie Waddell Cribbage Tournament
The annual Woodie Waddell Cribbage Tournament takes place at Mapleton Elementary School as part of the Mapleton Daze festivities.[30]
Culture (5)
Agricultural Heritage
Potato farming has historically served as the primary agricultural foundation of Mapleton and continues to shape the local community and landscape.[4]
Annual Baked Ham Dinner Tradition
The Haystack Historical Society hosts an annual baked ham dinner as a longstanding community fundraising tradition serving the residents of Mapleton, Chapman, and Castle Hill.[32]
Haystack Historical Society Museum
The Haystack Historical Society operates a seasonal museum located in a former one-room schoolhouse on Main Street in Mapleton, preserving photographs and artifacts from Mapleton, Chapman, and Castle Hill.[33]
Mapleton Daze Community Festival
Mapleton Daze is an annual multi-day community celebration featuring a town parade, fireworks, live musical performances, vendors, and games.[34]
Settler Heritage and Origin
The initial European settlers of Mapleton primarily arrived from New Brunswick, with additional settlers from other parts of the United States arriving later.[16]
Transportation (6)
Distance to Presque Isle and Ashland
Mapleton's main village center is situated approximately 5 miles west of Presque Isle and 14 miles east of Ashland along Route 163.[35]
Highway Department Contact
Mapleton's local highway administration is managed jointly with Castle Hill and Chapman from the municipal offices on Pulcifur Road.[8]
Maine State Route 163
Maine State Route 163 traverses Mapleton along Main Street, connecting the town eastward to Presque Isle and westward toward Castle Hill and Ashland.[36]
Maine State Route 227
Maine State Route 227 passes through northern Mapleton, running roughly parallel to Route 163 between Ashland and Presque Isle.[37]
Nearby Airport
The nearest commercial aviation facility is Presque Isle International Airport, situated in neighboring Presque Isle just east of Mapleton.[38]
Regional Public Transit Service
Public transit service for Mapleton is provided by Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS), which offers scheduled general public routes connecting Mapleton and surrounding towns into Presque Isle.[39]
Services (5)
County Law Enforcement Patrols
Mapleton lacks a local municipal police department and receives law enforcement coverage from the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and the Maine State Police.[40]
Fire Station Location
The Mapleton-Castle Hill-Chapman Fire Department station is located at 117 Pulcifur Road in Mapleton, Maine.[41]
Highway Department
Municipal road maintenance is managed by the tri-town Highway Department under the direction of a road commissioner based at the Mapleton town office.[8]
Public Library Access
The Maine State Library's public library directory records no municipal public library in Mapleton, with public library facilities situated in nearby towns such as Presque Isle and Washburn.[42]
Volunteer Fire Department
Fire protection in Mapleton is provided by the Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman Volunteer Fire Department, headquartered in Mapleton.[43]
Geography (8)
Highest elevation point
Sprague Hill is the highest elevation point in the town of Mapleton.[4]
Interlocal bordering towns
Mapleton is closely partnered in an interlocal municipal cooperation with the neighboring Aroostook County towns of Castle Hill and Chapman.[44]
Local streams
Streams flowing within Mapleton include Bulls Brook, Clayton Brook, Dudley Brook, Grendell Brook, and Hughes Brook.[45]
Major waterways
The Aroostook River crosses the northeastern corner of the town of Mapleton, and the North Branch Presque Isle Stream runs through the municipality.[45]
Mapleton CDP land area
The Mapleton Census-Designated Place (CDP) within the town encompasses a land area of 2.7 square miles.[46]
Total Area
Mapleton encompasses a total area of 34.34 square miles, consisting of 33.97 square miles of land and 0.37 square miles of water.[1]
Total land area
Mapleton town has a total land area of 34.0 square miles.[47]
ZIP Code
The town of Mapleton is served by ZIP code 04757.[48]

Businesses in Mapleton

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Nearby communities

Washburn Town · about 4 mi away Presque Isle City · about 6 mi away Castle Hill Town · about 6 mi away Chapman Town · about 6 mi away Wade Town · about 7 mi away Woodland Town · about 12 mi away
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Sources (48)
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  2. Mapleton town, Aroostook County, ME - Profile data - Census Reporter — censusreporter.org , viewed Oct 10, 2026
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  17. The Farm | Maine Malt House — mainemalthouse.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  18. Chase Family Farms Organic Farm in Mapleton Maine with local beef and organic hay — chasefamilyfarms.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  19. Personal Property Tax Commitment Book - 2024 12.550 — mapletonmaine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  20. Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future A Policy and Planning Guide for Towns — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
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  22. Haystack Historical Society | SOS - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  23. Aroostook family preserves 5 generations of farming history - Bangor Daily News — bangordailynews.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  24. Aroostook Valley Trail - Maine Trail Finder — mainetrailfinder.com , viewed Oct 9, 2026
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  26. Mapleton ATV Club — mapletonatvclub.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  27. Mapleton - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
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  30. Mapleton gears up for Daze - The County — vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
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  32. New fall events in Mapleton - The County — thecounty.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  33. Haystack Historical Society | SOS - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  34. Mapleton Daze | Visit Aroostook — visitaroostook.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  35. Mapleton (CDP), Maine - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org , viewed Oct 10, 2026
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  37. Maine State Route 227 - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  38. Presque Isle International Airport - Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  39. Rates and Schedules | Aroostook Regional Transportation — aroostooktransportation.org , viewed Oct 9, 2026
  40. State police, sheriff's office collaborate on new Aroostook County patrol coverage — thecounty.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  41. Stations | Mapleton-Castle Hill-Chapman Fire Department - NERIS — neris.fsri.org , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  42. Public Library Directory by Town - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  43. Volunteer Fire Department - TOWNS OF MAPLETON, CASTLE HILL, AND CHAPMAN — mapletonmaine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  44. TOWNS OF MAPLETON, CASTLE HILL, AND CHAPMAN – Interlocal Cooperation Since 1992 — mapleton.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  45. Mapleton - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  46. Mapleton CDP, Maine - Census Bureau Profile — data.census.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  47. Mapleton town, Aroostook County, Maine - Census Bureau Profile — data.census.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  48. TOWNS OF MAPLETON, CASTLE HILL, AND CHAPMAN – Interlocal Cooperation Since 1992 — mapletonmaine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026