Moro Plantation

About Moro Plantation, Maine

Moro Plantation, Maine, is a rural community situated in southwestern Aroostook County, historically corresponding to Township 6, Range 5 West of the Easterly Line of the State (T6 R5 WELS). Located at coordinates latitude 46.1651° N and longitude -68.3732° W, the plantation sits at an elevation of 896 feet and uses ZIP code 04780. The plantation covers a total area of 36.5 square miles (94.6 square kilometers), comprising roughly 35.4 square miles of land and 1.1 square miles of water. It borders Hersey to the south, Merrill to the east, T7 R5 WELS to the north, and Penobscot County townships to the west.

Water bodies in the plantation include Rockabema Lake, which features a state-maintained public boat launch, as well as Secret Pond and Green Pond.

Community and Demographics

In the 2000 census, Moro Plantation had 63 residents across 25 households and 18 families, with a median age of 47.0 years. The population dropped to 38 residents in the 2010 census, where the median age was recorded at 56.0 years. By the 2020 Decennial Census, the population increased by 15.8% to 44 residents. A July 1, 2025 population estimate placed the count at 43 residents.

Local Government and Public Services

Moro Plantation is governed by a Board of Assessors, with Willow Brooks serving as the Town Agent and Terry Wood serving as Superintendent. Because of the small population and tax base, administrative and emergency municipal services are shared with or provided through the neighboring town of Patten to the south. Official Board of Assessors meetings take place at public facilities including the Patten Town Garage and Public Works Garage.

Town clerk, tax collection, treasury, and other administrative business are handled out of the Patten Town Office, located at 21 Katahdin Street, PO Box 260, Patten, ME 04765. The office phone number is (207) 528-2215. Office hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with Wednesdays open by appointment only. Fire protection services and fire permits are contracted through the Town of Patten's Fire Department, while emergency medical care and transport are provided by the Patten Ambulance Service.

Education

The community maintains its own municipal school unit, Moro Plantation Public Schools (Moro Plt School Department), having withdrawn from Regional School Unit 50 effective July 1, 2018. It operates as a non-operating school district without physical school buildings in the plantation. Administrative and school board business is conducted from 21 Katahdin Street in Patten. The district is affiliated with the Region Two School of Applied Technology (Southern Aroostook County Region 02) career and technical education center located in Houlton.

Economy and Outdoor Recreation

The Maine Department of Labor places Moro Plantation within the rural nonmetropolitan labor market area in northern and eastern Maine. Large portions of working forestland are owned by commercial timber and land management firms, such as H.C. Haynes, Inc. and Lakeville Shores, Inc. In addition, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands holds and manages public forested parcels within the plantation.

The local economy also benefits from outdoor recreation. Moro Plantation connects into the Katahdin and southern Aroostook County motorized multi-use trail networks, supporting four-season trail use. Maine State Route 11, known locally as the Aroostook Scenic Highway, runs directly through the plantation. The western terminus of Maine State Route 212 intersects Route 11 at Knowles Corner, offering access east toward Smyrna and Interstate 95. Along Route 11, sporting lodges including Katahdin Lodge and North Country Lodge arrange trips for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and ATV riding. Hikers also pass through on the International Appalachian Trail, which follows Townline Road and offers a lean-to shelter for camping adjacent to Roach Farm.