Mars Hill
A scenic northern town with rich traditions.
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Mars Hill is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, that borders Wicklow Parish in New Brunswick, Canada. It took its name from Hezekiah Mars, who camped at the base of Mars Hill Mountain for three years. The town had a population of 1,360 people at the time of the 2020 census.
About the Community
Mars Hill is a small community located in Aroostook County, Maine, using the ZIP code 04758. At the 2020 U.S. Census, the town recorded a population of 1,360 people, dropping from 1,493 residents in 2010. The 2010 census reported 614 households and a median age of 44 years, while recent American Community Survey 5-year estimates place the median age at 43.4 years.
Local Government
The town operates under an elected Town Council and an appointed Town Manager. Barry Dorr serves as Council Chairman and Rena Kearney as Vice-Chairman, alongside council members Darrell Wilson, Trent Lundeen, and Taylor Fletcher. Kelly Garrison serves as Town Manager, Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Tax Collector. The Mars Hill Town Office is situated at 37 Main Street (PO Box 449) and can be reached by phone at (207) 425-3731. The office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM; it remains closed Friday through Sunday.
Schools and Education
Public education is administered by Maine School Administrative District #42 (M.S.A.D. #42), which serves Mars Hill and Blaine, while also taking tuitioned students from Bridgewater and E Plantation. The district's central office is located at 35 Pleasant Street. Fort Street Elementary School, situated at 38 Fort Street, serves prekindergarten through grade 6. Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School is located at 26 Pleasant Street, educating grades 7 through 12. M.S.A.D. #42 also provides adult education and serves as an approved public training provider through Maine JobLink.
Local Economy
Mars Hill has an economy supported by manufacturing, energy, recreation, and local finance. Pineland Farms Potato Company, part of Michael Foods, Inc., operates a food processing facility in Mars Hill that employs over 200 workers producing value-added and refrigerated potato products. The County Federal Credit Union also maintains an office in town. In fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded the town an Economic Adjustment Assistance grant of $2,538,800. Additionally, Mars Hill Mountain hosts a 28-turbine, 42-megawatt wind facility, which began operating in March 2007 as Maine's first utility-scale wind project and was slated to provide $10 million in tax payments over 20 years. Big Rock Ski Area operates on the mountain as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supporting retail and hospitality revenue, with roughly 30 percent of its pass holders visiting from New Brunswick, Canada.
Outdoor Recreation and Landmarks
Outdoor activities are centered around local trails, sports facilities, and Mars Hill Mountain. Travelers looking for a Mars Hill Maine guide will find that BigRock Mountain features 26 trails, lifts, night skiing, snowmaking, and nearly 1,000 feet of vertical drop, making it the northernmost chairlift-served ski area in Maine. For hiking, a section of the International Appalachian Trail begins near the base of BigRock Mountain and climbs two miles round-trip to the mountain's 1,748-foot summit. The Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail runs through downtown, offering a multi-use corridor for walking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing between Houlton and Presque Isle. The surrounding region also supports snowmobile and ATV trails, as well as hunting and fishing areas. Golfers can visit the Mars Hill Country Club at 75 Country Club Road, which features an 18-hole, par-72 regulation course with a driving range and practice greens.
Community Culture and Library
The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library serves Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater, and nearby plantations from its building constructed through a bequest from local businessman Walter T.A. Hansen. The library houses an Archives Room containing town reports, school yearbooks, community records, and issues of the Mars Hill View on microfilm. The Central Aroostook Historical Society is based in Mars Hill and works to preserve local records and artifacts across Mars Hill, Blaine, Westfield, and adjacent communities.
Annual Events
The town gathers for several recurring community events:
- Mars Hill Homecoming Days Festival: An annual celebration bringing together residents and alumni for a parade, musical performances, reunions, family activities, and food vendors.
- Fall Festival to End Hunger: Held annually at BigRock Mountain on the first Saturday in October, this fundraiser organized by The County Federal Credit Union features chairlift rides, an ATV ride, live music, food trucks, and a golf scramble to benefit local food pantries and Meals on Wheels.
- WinterKids Family Day: Hosted at BigRock Mountain during the winter season, providing discounted outdoor winter activities for families.
Transportation
Mars Hill is located along U.S. Route 1, which intersects with U.S. Route 1A as it branches northeast toward Easton and Fort Fairfield. Driving north along U.S. Route 1, Mars Hill is approximately 14 to 15 miles south of Presque Isle. Daily scheduled passenger bus service is operated through town by Cyr Bus Line, connecting northern Aroostook County to Bangor. Public transit is also provided by the Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS), linking Mars Hill to neighboring towns like Presque Isle and Houlton. The nearest commercial air service is at Presque Isle International Airport (PQI), roughly 12 nautical miles northwest. Within the town itself, Mars Hill Airport (ME40) operates as a private airfield with a turf runway.
History of Mars Hill
The area gained its name from Hezekiah Mars, a Canadian from the St. John River valley who camped with his son at the foot of Mars Hill Mountain for three years before departing for England. Later, surveyors under the Treaty of Ghent cleared tracts on both peaks of the mountain to calculate their elevations above the St. Lawrence River during Anglo-American boundary negotiations. In 1834, John Ayers began harvesting and hauling timber from Mars Hill Mountain to the St. John River, cutting many tall trees for ship masts. Following the bloodless Aroostook War of 1839, Moses Snow and his crew cleared the border line between Maine and New Brunswick in 1842, setting iron marker posts in place.
Permanent community life continued to grow when the Wilson family settled at Rocky Brook in 1856 and set up Wilson's Mill, supplying timber that went into a bridge across Prestile Stream in 1857. Mars Hill opened its first schoolhouse in 1860, which served as the central hub for local activities. After being organized as a plantation in 1866, Mars Hill was incorporated as a town on February 21, 1867. Decades later, in 1892, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad arrived, establishing vital transportation connections that opened distant commercial markets for locally grown potatoes.
See the history facts and their sources in Quick facts below.
Quick facts
·
Population
- 2010 Decennial Census Households
- According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 614 households in the town of Mars Hill.[1]
- 2010 Decennial Census Median Age
- At the 2010 census, the median age of Mars Hill residents was 44 years.[1]
- 2020 Decennial Census Population
- The town of Mars Hill had a population of 1,360 at the 2020 U.S. Census.[1]
- 2020 decennial census population
- Mars Hill had a recorded population of 1,360 residents at the 2020 census.[1]
- 2020 Decennial Census Population
- At the 2020 U.S. Census, the town of Mars Hill had a population of 1,360.[1]
- ACS Median Age Estimate
- According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year profile data, the median age in Mars Hill town was estimated at 43.4 years.[2]
- Population Change (2010 to 2020)
- The town's population decreased from 1,493 residents in the 2010 census to 1,360 residents in the 2020 census, representing a loss of 133 people.[1]
History (10)
- Arrival of the Railroad
- The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad reached Mars Hill in 1892, establishing vital transportation connections that opened distant commercial markets for locally grown potatoes.[3]
- Boundary Line Survey
- Following the bloodless Aroostook War of 1839, Moses Snow and his crew cleared the boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick, placing iron marker posts along the border in 1842.[3]
- Date of Incorporation
- Mars Hill was incorporated as a town on February 21, 1867.[4]
- Early Mill and Bridge Construction
- The Wilson family settled at Rocky Brook in 1856 and established Wilson's Mill, which provided timber used to build a bridge across Prestile Stream in 1857.[3]
- Early Resident and Namesake Legend
- Hezekiah Mars, a Canadian from the St. John River valley, camped at the foot of Mars Hill Mountain for three years with his son before leaving for England, giving the area its name.[3]
- Early Timber Industry
- In 1834, John Ayers began harvesting and hauling timber from Mars Hill Mountain to the St. John River, with many tall trees cut for ship masts.[3]
- First School
- Mars Hill opened its first schoolhouse in 1860, serving as the central hub for local community activities.[3]
- Incorporation Date
- Mars Hill was incorporated as a town on February 21, 1867, having previously been organized as a plantation in 1866.[5]
- Town name origin
- The area became known as Mars Hill after Hezekiah Mars lived in a camp at the base of the mountain for three years.[6]
- Treaty of Ghent Boundary Landmark
- Mars Hill Mountain served as a major landmark during Anglo-American border negotiations, where surveyors under the Treaty of Ghent cleared areas on both peaks to determine their elevations above the St. Lawrence River.[7]
Government (9)
- Form of Government
- Mars Hill is governed by an elected Town Council and an appointed Town Manager.[8]
- Town Council Leadership
- Barry Dorr serves as Chairman and Rena Kearney serves as Vice-Chairman of the Mars Hill Town Council.[8]
- Town Council Members
- The Mars Hill Town Council members are Darrell Wilson, Trent Lundeen, and Taylor Fletcher.[8]
- Town incorporation
- Mars Hill was organized as a plantation in 1866 and incorporated as a town on February 21, 1867.[7]
- Town Manager
- Kelly Garrison serves as the Town Manager, as well as the Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Tax Collector.[8]
- Town Office Address
- The Mars Hill Town Office is located at 37 Main Street (PO Box 449), Mars Hill, ME 04758.[9]
- Town Office Hours
- The town office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Wednesday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM; it is closed Friday through Sunday.[9]
- Town Office Phone Number
- The phone number for the Mars Hill Town Office is (207) 425-3731.[9]
- ZIP Code
- The town of Mars Hill is served by ZIP code 04758.[10]
Schools (5)
- Adult Education and Workforce Training Provider
- M.S.A.D. #42 operates adult education and is registered as an approved public training provider through Maine JobLink.[11]
- Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School
- Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School is located at 26 Pleasant Street in Mars Hill, providing public education for grades 7 through 12.[12]
- District Central Office Location
- The M.S.A.D. #42 central office is located at 35 Pleasant Street in Mars Hill.[12]
- Fort Street Elementary School
- Fort Street Elementary School is a public elementary school in Mars Hill located at 38 Fort Street, serving students in prekindergarten through grade 6.[12]
- School District
- Public education in Mars Hill is administered by Maine School Administrative District #42 (M.S.A.D. #42), which serves Mars Hill and Blaine, along with tuitioned students from Bridgewater and E Plantation.[13]
Economy (5)
- Federal economic adjustment grant
- The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded Mars Hill an Economic Adjustment Assistance grant of $2,538,800 in fiscal year 2022.[14]
- Major food manufacturing employer
- Pineland Farms Potato Company (part of Michael Foods, Inc.) operates a food processing facility in Mars Hill employing over 200 workers to produce value-added and refrigerated potato products.[15]
- Mars Hill wind energy project
- Mars Hill is home to Maine's first utility-scale operating wind energy facility, consisting of a 28-turbine, 42-megawatt project that became operational in March 2007 and was slated to provide $10 million in tax payments to the town over 20 years.[16]
- Regional financial services employer
- The County Federal Credit Union maintains an office in Mars Hill, serving as one of the regional financial employers in Aroostook County.[17]
- Winter recreation and tourism economy
- Big Rock Ski Area on Mars Hill Mountain operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ski facility that underpins the region's winter tourism, generating retail and hospitality revenue in Mars Hill with roughly 30 percent of pass holders crossing over from New Brunswick, Canada.[18]
Landmarks (5)
- Big Rock Ski Area
- Big Rock Ski Area on Mars Hill Mountain officially opened in March 1961 and developed into the northernmost chairlift-served ski area in Maine.[19]
- Central Aroostook Historical Society
- The Central Aroostook Historical Society was established in 2010 to record, preserve, and share local history across Mars Hill, Blaine, E Plantation, Robinson, and Westfield.[20]
- Mars Hill Mountain Border Boundary Clearing
- Following the 1839 Aroostook War and the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty, surveyor markers were established along the Maine and New Brunswick boundary near the base of Mars Hill Mountain.[1]
- Mars Hill Wind Farm
- Installed on Mars Hill Mountain in 2006, the facility was Maine's first utility-scale commercial wind farm.[21]
- Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library Building
- Constructed using funds bequeathed by local businessman Walter T. A. Hansen, the library building in Mars Hill opened to the public on February 2, 1952.[22]
Recreation (5)
- BigRock Mountain Ski Area
- BigRock Mountain is a nonprofit ski resort situated on Mars Hill Mountain featuring 26 trails, lifts, night skiing, snowmaking, and nearly 1,000 feet of vertical drop.[23]
- International Appalachian Trail at Mars Hill Mountain
- A section of the International Appalachian Trail climbs two miles round-trip to the 1,748-foot summit of Mars Hill Mountain, beginning near the base of BigRock Mountain.[24]
- Mars Hill Country Club
- Mars Hill Country Club is an 18-hole, par-72 regulation golf course located at 75 Country Club Road, equipped with a driving range and practice greens.[25]
- Outdoor Recreation Network
- Mars Hill hosts recreational corridors including snowmobile and ATV trails alongside fishing and hunting areas in surrounding Aroostook County terrain.[5]
- Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail
- The Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail passes through downtown Mars Hill, providing a multi-use path for walking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing between Houlton and Presque Isle.[26]
Events (3)
- Fall Festival to End Hunger
- Held annually at BigRock Mountain in Mars Hill on the first Saturday in October, the Fall Festival to End Hunger is a fundraiser organized by The County Federal Credit Union that features live music, scenic chairlift rides, food trucks, an ATV ride, and a golf scramble to benefit area food pantries and Meals on Wheels.[27]
- Mars Hill Homecoming Days Festival
- Mars Hill hosts the annual Mars Hill Homecoming Days Festival, a community celebration bringing together residents and alumni with events such as a parade, food trucks, musical performances, and reunions.[28]
- WinterKids Family Day at BigRock Mountain
- BigRock Mountain in Mars Hill hosts an annual WinterKids Family Day each winter season, offering discounted outdoor winter sports and activities for families.[29]
Culture (5)
- Central Aroostook Historical Society
- The Central Aroostook Historical Society is based in Mars Hill and works to preserve historical materials, artifacts, and heritage records for Mars Hill, Blaine, Westfield, and nearby communities.[30]
- Fall Festival to End Hunger
- Mars Hill hosts the annual Fall Festival to End Hunger at Big Rock Mountain, featuring live music, foliage chairlift rides, an ATV ride, and community fundraising to support local food pantries and Meals on Wheels in Aroostook County.[31]
- Library Local History Archives
- The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library maintains a dedicated Archives Room containing school yearbooks, town reports, historical records of community organizations, and issues of the Mars Hill View on microfilm.[32]
- Mars Hill Homecoming Days Festival
- Mars Hill hosts the annual Mars Hill Homecoming Days Festival, a community celebration bringing together residents and alumni for a parade, musical performances, family activities, and local food vendors.[33]
- Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library
- The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library is the public library serving Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater, and surrounding plantations. Originally incorporated in 1938 in the Hussey block, it relocated to its permanent building constructed following a bequest from local businessman Walter T.A. Hansen.[34]
Transportation (6)
- Distance to Presque Isle
- Mars Hill is approximately 14 to 15 miles south of Presque Isle along the road via U.S. Route 1.[35]
- Intercity Bus Route
- Cyr Bus Line operates daily scheduled intercity passenger bus service stopping in Mars Hill along its route connecting northern Aroostook County to Bangor.[35]
- Local Aviation Facility
- Mars Hill Airport (FAA identifier ME40) is a privately owned airfield located in the town with a turf runway.[36]
- Nearest Regional Commercial Airport
- Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) is the closest commercial airport serving the Mars Hill area, located approximately 12 nautical miles northwest in Presque Isle.[36]
- Primary Highway Junction
- U.S. Route 1 runs directly through Mars Hill and intersects with U.S. Route 1A, which splits northeast toward Easton and Fort Fairfield.[37]
- Regional Public Bus Service
- The Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS) provides public transit services connecting Mars Hill to neighboring communities, including Presque Isle and Houlton.[38]
Services (7)
- Mars Hill Fire Chief
- Gerald Cousins serves as the Fire Chief for the Town of Mars Hill.[39]
- Mars Hill Fire Department location
- The Mars Hill Fire Department is located at 12 Market Street in Mars Hill.[40]
- Mars Hill Highway and Public Works administration
- Jeff Boyington serves as the Road Commissioner for Mars Hill's Highway Department.[39]
- Mars Hill law enforcement coverage
- Mars Hill does not maintain a municipal police department and relies on law enforcement coverage provided by the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and the Maine State Police.[41]
- Northern Light Continuing Care Mars Hill
- Northern Light Continuing Care Mars Hill operates in Mars Hill as a skilled nursing and long-term care facility.[42]
- Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library
- The Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library is the public library in Mars Hill, situated at 10 Hansen Street.[43]
- Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library services
- The library provides public computer and internet access, wireless connections, interlibrary loans, and a meeting space for local groups.[44]
Geography (9)
- Border location
- Mars Hill is located in Aroostook County, Maine, and borders Wicklow Parish, New Brunswick, Canada.[1]
- Bordering Municipalities and Jurisdictions
- Mars Hill is bounded on the north by Easton, on the south by Blaine, on the west by Westfield, and on the east by Wicklow Parish in New Brunswick, Canada.[7]
- Local Ponds and Waterways
- Water features mapped within and around the town include Prestile Stream, Rocky Brook, River De Chute, Delano Lake, McPherson Lake, and Hersom Lake.[45]
- Location within Aroostook County
- Mars Hill lies on the eastern border of Aroostook County, Maine, positioned along the international border between the United States and Canada.[7]
- Mars Hill Mountain Elevation
- Mars Hill Mountain, situated in the eastern portion of the town, reaches a peak elevation of 1,748 feet (533 meters).[46]
- Prestile Stream
- Prestile Stream flows through Mars Hill, passing through the community center between Fort Street and Silver Street and under the Fort Street Bridge.[1]
- Total and Land Area
- The town of Mars Hill encompasses a total area of 35.20 square miles (91.17 km²), comprising 35.13 square miles (90.99 km²) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) of water.[1]
- Total Area
- Mars Hill has a total area of 35.20 square miles, comprising 35.13 square miles of land and 0.07 square miles of water.[1]
- Town Elevation
- The town of Mars Hill sits at an average elevation of approximately 607 to 610 feet above sea level.[1]
Businesses in Mars Hill
Map of Mars Hill
Nearby communities
All communities in The County
St. John Valley
Central Aroostook
Southern Aroostook
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