Aroostook County questions

[island mermaid]

One word... P-O-L-A-R-I-S!

Go buy 4 brand new ones right this minute!

That's all you need to know. (at least until bydand signs on)


Why isn't that company repping me right now? I certainly rep them enough.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by caitlinsmom

I am back yet again with another few questions. We have been looking at Fort Kent and the surrounding area as of late. What can you tell me about the town? What about the "feel"? What does the town offer? How far from Bangor is Ft. Kent? What about the University there? Compared to PI which would be "better"? Will I need to go to Bangor to do major monthly shopping? Is there a SAMS, Costco, or local big store for stocking up (In Bangor that is)? What is a reasonable amount to expect to pay for rent (3bd house)?

From the main parking lot on UMFK to the parking lot at SAMS club in Bangor is just over 180 miles. If you are still looking at an education program, UMFK doesn't have a real good one yet. They are working on it, but UMPI's is head and shoulders better. To me personally Fort Kent has a strange feel to it. Nothing really comes to mind as to WHY, it just does for me. There are a few good places to eat, and some stores there, but shopping does leave some to be desired. The bigger grocery store there (Paradis Shop N Save) does do a very good job and had a good selection when I was in there last Spring. There is really no reason to go to Bangor for monthly shopping. Just about everything can be found local there.

If you are headed to Ft. Kent, brush up on your French. You will run into some folks who only speak French and not English there. Plus UMFK is heavy French Canadian for student population. It isn't mandatory, but makes life easier . The campus is much smaller than most of the others in the University of Maine system, and while it excels in some programs, other campuses are better for other programs.

The town itself has a rather nice downtown, and the Fish River runs right through part of the town and empties into the St. Johns River right there. They discontinued use of the prettiest place to cross the Fish River when they put in the newest bridge in town, but that is minor details.

[caitlinsmom]

All right back again.

We are really trying to make the move by August this year. WOO HOO! Anyway a few more questions. The Fort Fairfield area has been mentioned as a great choice a few times but I was wondering about the Bridgewater area. How is the commute into Presque or Houlton? What if any shops etc does the town have? General feel of the area? How busy does Route 1 stay?

We have been eyeing a house thats been on the market for quite a while, just a few blocks of Rt 1. It is listed at 173K but that price has dropped since it was listed. I am worried that this house is over priced for the area because it hasnt moved in over 2 years! It looks amazing to me and it seems like a good deal based on the amount of acrage.
LandAndFarm.com - Land for Sale! - Northern Maine Farmhouse 80 Ac - Property

Where can I find lists of rentals if that is the route we go? I have only found a few here and there. What is a decent price to pay for a 3bd 1bth house.

And last but not least, whats the job situation looking like now? I know it isnt bustling normally but with the economy now I jsut thought I would check. Are businesses suffering?

[Snowmon]

Well I've only been living here (PI) since last summer, but, I do work down near Bridgewater a bunch. It is a nice area, not really any shops to speak of, but nice vegetable stands in summer. I'd say it is about 25 minutes to PI from there. Mars Hill is nearby though and it has a diner and an IGA that is remarkably big, for the size of the town IMO.
My first winter up here is just about done and I will say, Whew! Long and tough but if you ski/snowmobile or have some other hobbies, you will do fine.
It really is like a whole different world up here, but it is a nice old fashioned place where you know your neighbors and leave doors unlocked when you go away for the weekend even!

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by caitlinsmom

We are considering moving to Aroostook county once we finish school. (Dh a teacher and me a librarian). We have never been to Maine but will make a trip before deciding. In the meantime we would like a little info. How are the schools? Is there a lot of parental involvment, community support etc? Are the communities close knit? Will we as outsiders have a hard time being accepted? We are more natural minded (although not enviromentalists) and practice a more sustainable way of life, will we be out casts (for lack of a better word)? We are independant and enjoy doing things ouselves but do ask for help when we need it, are people in general willing to help their neighbor? We are laid back and keep to ourselves but do like to interact in the community and with friends, are there opportunities to do this? Is the area relgiously tolerant? We like small town life (we currently live in 3500 pop.), peace and quiet, and beautiful scenery, which towns/areas would you recommend? We have always looked more at Houlton and the surrounding area but would love any place in the county. We have lived in areas in Utah and Idaho that do get a lot of snow (althought not 16 ft!), what is a normal winter like? (This varies so much on websites I've looked at). We have strong winds here for 9 mo of the year, what are winds like there?
Any other info you can supply would be great!

I lived in "THE COUNTY", Aroostook County for 12 years and had it not been for a divorce, I would still be there. It is amazingly gorgeous up there. I lived in a small town called Smyrna Mills, population 350 but Houlton was only 17 miles away so I went there a lot too. For what you are looking for, I think Houlton is your best bet. Yes, the neighbors are friendly and interact well, no you won't be treated like an outcast. I am originally from Connecticut and when I moved up to the County with my 2 year old son, the neighbors in Smyrna were curious about me but beyond that, friendly.

As far as winters go in that area....you best mean it when you say you like snow because they do get a lot of it; and it is amazingly cold on top of that. I believe they had a spring storm up there just a few days ago.

Good luck with your move and you won't be sorry!!

[DreamworksSKG]

have you considered trying Ft Kent, Presque Isle or Caribou and surrounding communities? I think many of these small villages would have you way out in the country :-)

Houlton and surrounding area would be good too.

For Houlton maybe check out -
Littleton, Monticello or Bridgewater to the North

To the west
maybe Oakfield, Smyma Corner/Mills area, or Island Falls near Pleasant Lake

To the South Maybe
Linneus, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Cary, North Amity or Weston/Danforth Area.
(about 20-30 miles South of Houlton)

Would def. be out in the country :-)

in Presque Isle I'd check out:

Maple Grove, Easton, Westfield, Spragueville, Mapleton, Ashland, Sheridan, Crouseville, Perham, Carson, Washburn,

Caribou:
I'd check out

Limestone, Carson, Norht Lyndon, Acadia, Colby, Sweden, Stockholm, and Van Buren (on the Candian Border)
about 20 miles north of Caribou

Ft. Kent area I'd check :

Frenchville, Madawaska, the Eagle , Long Lake area.
might be a good place to build a house

Not sure if you'd find too much housing out there, in these areas.

Many of the names on googlemaps probably aren't even towns, just (area names)

so you might have to buy land and build a house somewhere in A county

Keep in Mind these are small towns



use googlemaps to see the general distances/area, etc.

[Bydand]

Dreamworks, I hate to ask this but have to. Have you been up that direction? I ask because most of the "towns" you named to check out are not towns at all. Most on your list do not have a store or gas station at all. Several are a house or two on a corner (Spragueville comes to mind).