Masardis

Historic northern Maine town along the Aroostook River

204Population (2020)

39.92Square miles

1839Incorporated

North WoodsRegion

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Masardis is a northern Maine town in Aroostook County where the Aroostook River meets the St. Croix Stream. Settled in the 1830s and incorporated in 1839, the community had a population of 204 as of the 2020 census. Maine State Route 11 passes directly through the town, connecting it northward to Ashland and southward toward Sherman.

Illustration of a snow-covered farm field at dusk with a long line of evergreens and a faint glow on the horizon in winter

Masardis is a rural town located in Aroostook County in northern Maine. For those unfamiliar with the region, the town covers a total area of 39.92 square miles, with 38.73 square miles of land and 1.19 square miles of water, sitting at an elevation of 545 feet above sea level. The Aroostook River flows through the community, where it meets the St. Croix Stream. A USGS stream gage positioned on the Aroostook River near Masardis has an elevation of 530.02 feet above NAVD 1988. The town shares borders with Ashland to the north, Oxbow Plantation to the south, Garfield Plantation, and the unorganized territories of Northwest Aroostook and Central Aroostook. As of the 2020 census, Masardis had a resident population of 204 people, down 18.1% from 249 in 2010. The 2010 census recorded 107 households, 69 families, and a median resident age of 46.9 years, while the town reached an earlier peak of 690 residents in 1920.

Getting Around Masardis Maine

When traveling to Masardis Maine, the primary highway is Maine State Route 11, which passes directly through town to connect northward toward Ashland and southward toward Sherman. Garfield Road intersects Route 11 in Masardis and extends north toward Portage Road. By road, Masardis is about 9 miles south of Ashland and approximately 28 miles southwest of the regional commercial hub of Presque Isle. Interstate 95 is located about 47 miles south via Route 11 at Exit 264 in Sherman. For air travel, Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) is approximately 30 miles away and offers commercial passenger flights. Public transit van service is provided by Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS), the Region 1 transit operator, which runs scheduled trips connecting local residents to Presque Isle.

Local Economy and Industry

Forestry and lumber processing play a central role in the Masardis economy. The Masardis Sawmill was acquired by Irving Forest Products from Groupe Lebel in January 2025 and employs around 80 people. It produces random-length spruce and fir lumber with an annual capacity of 115 million board feet. For timber and lumber transportation, the mill operations are serviced by the Maine Northern Railway. Based on U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data for ZIP Code 04762, Masardis had 8 employer establishments in 2023. Five-year estimates from the 2024 American Community Survey reported a median household income of $58,333 and an estimated employment rate of 42.6% for the 04762 ZIP Code tabulation area.

Illustration of a quiet country road lined with maple trees between open farm fields and a wooded ridge in summer

Town Services and Schools

Municipal services are coordinated at the Masardis Town Hall and town office, located at 26 School Street. Masardis operates a local volunteer fire department from a station at this same address, with dispatch handled through the Maine Department of Public Safety Houlton Regional Communications Center. Law enforcement is provided by the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and Maine State Police Troop F. The town is served by ZIP code 04732, and Masardis Cemetery serves as a local burial ground. Masardis belongs to Maine School Administrative District #32 (MSAD 32 / RSU 32), alongside Ashland and Garfield Plantation. Masardis and Garfield Plantation make up District 1, together electing two directors to the school board. Local public school students attend Ashland District School in nearby Ashland for grades Pre-K through 12, and MSAD 32 provides adult education programs for the community. Masardis does not have an independent municipal public library, with nearby public library services located in Ashland.

Outdoor Recreation

The waterways, woods, and trails around Masardis offer multiple recreation options:

Boating and Paddling: The town operates a public freshwater boat launch on the Aroostook River featuring a 16-foot by 48-foot hard ramp with trailer parking. An 11.6-mile paddling route begins here, just below the confluence of the Aroostook River and St. Croix Stream, and heads north toward Ashland past farmland, forests, and state wildlife management areas.
Wildlife Viewing: Downstream from Masardis village on the west bank of the Aroostook River lies the Pollard Flat Wildlife Management Area, offering riverfront viewing for moose, beaver, otter, and waterfowl.
ATV Trails: The Masardis ATV Club maintains local off-road trails linked to the countywide ATV network and coordinates access across surrounding private timberlands.
Snowmobiling: The Oxbow-Masardis Snowmobile Club maintains groomed routes connecting the area to Maine's Interconnected Trail System (ITS).

Illustration of rolling fields of golden grain and canola under a wide sky with a distant wooded ridge in summer

History of Masardis

Early settlement in the area began when Thomas Goss arrived with his family from Danville, Maine, in 1833, settling on the west bank of the Aroostook River. Two years later, in 1835, John Knowlen and his family moved to Masardis from Passadumkeag, hauling their belongings by horse team through Patten, Maine. Due to its strategic location at the confluence of the St. Croix and Aroostook Rivers, the settlement served as an important base for American soldiers during the Aroostook War, and several soldiers later chose to remain and settle in the town. In 2004, archaeologists and students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle excavated a site on the banks of the Aroostook River in Masardis, discovering fire pits and an Aroostook War soldier's uniform button.

Previously designated as Township No. 10, Range 5, the community originally requested the name Aroostook. However, the State of Maine assigned that name to the newly formed county in 1839, naming the municipality Masardis instead. The town was officially incorporated on March 21, 1839.

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

Quick facts

Population

2010 Census Households: At the 2010 census, there were 107 households and 69 families residing in the town of Masardis.^[1]
2010 Median Age: The median age of residents in Masardis was 46.9 years at the time of the 2010 census.^[2]
2020 Census Population: According to the 2020 U.S. Decennial Census, Masardis had a resident population of 204.^[1]
2020 Decennial Census Population: The town of Masardis had a population of 204 at the 2020 decennial census.^[1]
Historical Peak Population: Masardis reached its historically recorded peak population in 1920 with 690 residents, after which it steadily declined over subsequent decades.^[1]
Population Change (2010–2020): The population of Masardis decreased by 18.1% between 2010 and 2020, dropping from 249 residents in 2010 to 204 in 2020.^[1]

History (7)

Aroostook War Archaeological Site: In 2004, archaeologists and students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle excavated a site on the banks of the Aroostook River in Masardis, discovering fire pits and an Aroostook War soldier's uniform button.^[3]
Early Settler John Knowlen: John Knowlen and his family moved to Masardis from Passadumkeag in 1835, hauling their belongings by horse team through Patten, Maine.^[3]
Early Settler Thomas Goss: Thomas Goss arrived in Masardis with his family from Danville, Maine, in 1833, settling on the west bank of the Aroostook River.^[3]
Incorporation Date: The town of Masardis was incorporated on March 21, 1839.^[4]
Incorporation Date: Masardis was incorporated as a town on March 21, 1839, having previously been designated as Township No. 10, Range 5.^[3]
Role in the Aroostook War: Due to its strategic location at the confluence of the St. Croix and Aroostook Rivers, Masardis served as an important base for American soldiers during the Aroostook War, with several soldiers later choosing to remain and settle in the town.^[3]
Town Name Origin Dispute: The settlement originally requested the name Aroostook, but the State of Maine assigned that name to the newly formed county in 1839, naming the municipality Masardis instead.^[5]

Government (1)

ZIP Code: Masardis is served by ZIP code 04732.^[6]

Schools (4)

Adult education services: Maine School Administrative District #32 offers adult education programs for the district's member communities, including Masardis.^[7]
Local public school: Public school students in Masardis attend Ashland District School, located in nearby Ashland, Maine, which serves grades Pre-K through 12.^[7]
School administrative unit: Masardis is served by Maine School Administrative District #32 (MSAD 32 / RSU 32), which also serves the neighboring communities of Ashland and Garfield Plantation.^[7]
School board representation: Under Maine Department of Education apportionment for RSU 32/MSAD 32, Masardis and Garfield Plantation comprise District 1 and together elect two directors to the school board.^[8]

Economy (6)

Employment Rate: The employment rate in the Masardis ZIP Code tabulation area (04762) was estimated at 42.6% by the U.S. Census Bureau.^[9]
Freight Rail Transportation Connection: The Masardis sawmill operations are serviced by the Maine Northern Railway for timber and lumber transportation.^[10]
Local Business Establishments: Masardis had a total of 8 employer establishments according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns data for ZIP Code 04762.^[9]
Masardis Sawmill Acquisition and Workforce: The Masardis Sawmill was acquired by Irving Forest Products from Groupe Lebel in January 2025 and employs approximately 80 people.^[11]
Masardis Sawmill Annual Production Capacity: The Masardis lumber mill produces random-length spruce and fir lumber with an annual capacity of 115 million board feet.^[10]
Median Household Income: The median household income in the Masardis area (ZIP Code 04762) was $58,333 based on 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.^[9]

Landmarks (3)

Masardis Aroostook War Camp Archaeological Site: In 2004, an archaeological discovery along the banks of the Aroostook River in Masardis uncovered fire pits, ecofacts, and an Aroostook War soldier's uniform button, marking an encampment site from the boundary conflict.^[12]
Masardis Cemetery: The Masardis Cemetery is an established local burial ground serving the town of Masardis in Aroostook County.^[13]
Masardis Town Hall: The Masardis Town Hall and municipal office is located at 26 School Street in Masardis.^[14]

Recreation (5)

Aroostook River Paddling Route (Masardis to Ashland): An 11.6-mile paddling route begins at the Masardis public boat launch just below the confluence of the Aroostook River and St. Croix Stream, continuing north toward Ashland through farmland, forests, and state wildlife management areas.^[15]
Aroostook River Public Boat Launch: The town of Masardis operates a public freshwater boat launch on the Aroostook River featuring a 16-foot by 48-foot hard ramp with trailer parking.^[16]
Masardis ATV Club Trails: The Masardis ATV Club maintains local off-road trails connected to the broader Aroostook County ATV trail network and coordinates trail access on surrounding private timberlands.^[17]
Oxbow-Masardis Snowmobile Club Trails: The Oxbow-Masardis Snowmobile Club maintains local groomed snowmobile routes connecting the Masardis area to Maine's Interconnected Trail System (ITS) across Aroostook County.^[18]
Pollard Flat Wildlife Management Area: Located along the west bank of the Aroostook River downstream from Masardis village, Pollard Flat Wildlife Management Area offers riverfront wildlife viewing opportunities for waterfowl, beaver, otter, and moose.^[15]

Culture (5)

Aroostook War encampment and archaeological discovery: Masardis served as a post for American soldiers during the border dispute known as the Aroostook War, and in 2004 University of Maine at Presque Isle archaeologists uncovered soldiers' fire pits and uniform buttons along the Aroostook River.^[19]
Aroostook War volunteer ballad tradition: Local historical traditions preserve ballads composed during the Aroostook War era celebrating the volunteers who encamped at the St. Croix and Aroostook rivers in the region.^[19]
Indigenous origin of town name: Masardis was named by local Native Americans, with interpretations of the name meaning 'where two rivers meet' or a 'large stream,' referencing the junction of the Aroostook and St. Croix rivers.^[19]
Public library services access: Masardis does not have an independent municipal public library; nearby community public library services in the district are based out of neighboring Ashland.^[20]
Settlement history: Originally designated as No. 10, R. 5, Masardis was settled in the 1830s by families from southern and central Maine, including Passadumkeag and Old Town, before its formal incorporation on March 21, 1839.^[19]

Transportation (7)

Distance to Ashland and Presque Isle: Masardis is situated about 9 miles south of Ashland via Route 11, and approximately 28 miles southwest of the regional commercial hub of Presque Isle.^[15]
Distance to Interstate 95: From Masardis, Interstate 95 is accessible approximately 47 miles south via Route 11 at Exit 264 in Sherman.^[15]
Local Connecting Roads: Garfield Road intersects Route 11 in Masardis and extends north toward Portage Road.^[21]
Nearest Commercial Airport: Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) is located approximately 30 miles from Masardis, offering commercial passenger flight service.^[22]
Primary Highway: Maine State Route 11 runs directly through the town of Masardis, connecting it northward toward Ashland and southward toward Sherman.^[23]
Regional Public Transit Provider: Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS) provides public transit van service to residents of Masardis, including scheduled trips connecting to Presque Isle.^[24]
State Public Transit Directory: The Maine Department of Transportation lists Aroostook Regional Transportation Systems, Inc. as the designated public transit provider for Region 1, covering Masardis.^[25]

Services (4)

Emergency Dispatch Services: The Maine Department of Public Safety's Houlton Regional Communications Center provides emergency dispatch services for the Masardis Fire Department.^[26]
Municipal Office Location: The Masardis Town Office is located at 26 School Street in Masardis, Maine.^[6]
Police Coverage: Law enforcement coverage in Masardis and surrounding Aroostook County areas is provided by the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office and Maine State Police Troop F.^[27]
Volunteer Fire Department: Masardis maintains its own local volunteer fire department, operating from a station at 26 School Street with a roster of volunteer firefighters.^[28]

Geography (7)

Elevation: The town of Masardis sits at an elevation of 545 feet above sea level.^[29]
Location within Aroostook County: Masardis is a town situated in Aroostook County in northern Maine, bordered directly by Ashland to the north and Oxbow Plantation to the south.^[30]
Neighboring municipalities and territories: Masardis borders the town of Ashland, the plantations of Garfield and Oxbow, and the unorganized territories of Northwest Aroostook and Central Aroostook.^[30]
River confluence: The Aroostook River flows through Masardis, where it joins with the St. Croix Stream.^[15]
Total Area: Masardis covers a total area of 39.92 square miles, consisting of 38.73 square miles of land and 1.19 square miles of water.^[1]
Total land area: The town encompasses a land area of approximately 38.7 square miles.^[31]
USGS river gage elevation: A USGS stream gage on the Aroostook River near Masardis is positioned at an elevation of 530.02 feet above NAVD 1988.^[32]