Community Profile
General
The City of Ellsworth is located in the center of the County
of Hancock in the southeastern coastal region of the State of Maine, also
referred to as "Down East". The City is approximately 29 miles southeast of
the City of Bangor, 105 miles east of Augusta, the State's capital and 170
miles northeast of Portland, the State's largest city. Ellsworth is the only
city in Hancock County and has served as its county seat since 1837.
Ellsworth is situated at the head of the Union River Bay with the Union
River passing southward through the center of the City. The towns of
Trenton, Lamoine, Hancock, Mariaville and unorganized Township 8, Southern
Division forms the City's eastern border. The towns of Otis and Dedham are
contiguous to Ellsworth at its north; the Town of Orland at its west; the
Southwestern border being formed by the Town of Surry. Convenient access is
provided by US Route 1A which diagonally bisects the City's mid-plain, also
providing access to US Interstate Route 395 in Brewer and then to US
Interstate Route 95's exits in Bangor. The US Route 1, also being State
Route 3, traverses the City's southern perimeter, through the City's
downtown, to its southeastern corner where the roads separate, with US Route
1 continuing easterly to Washington County; State Route 3 continuing south
to Mount Desert Island. State Routes 172, 179, 180 and 230 provide access to
the City's eastern section, flowing in north-south directions. The Hancock
County Airport, nine miles from the City’s center in Trenton, and the Bangor
International Airport, accommodates air travel approximately 27 miles from
the City in Bangor.
Early settlers selected the area embracing the City
recognizing the commercial and industrial capabilities of the waterpower
from the Union River. The area was first settled in 1763 and for 32 years
was known as Union River Settlement and Union District. From 1795 the area
was called Bowdoin and New Bowdoin until February 26, 1800 when it was
incorporated as the Town of Ellsworth, taking its name in honor of Oliver
Ellsworth, a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and a Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme Court. On February 17, 1837 Ellsworth
replaced the Town of Castine as the County of Hancock's county seat.
Ellsworth became incorporated as the City on February 6, 1869.
The Union River has been a major source of hydro energy and
the site of numerous mills and dams from 1765 to the present. From the
area's initial importance as a lumbering and milling center, Ellsworth
evolved as an important shipbuilding and shipping port until the 1880's.
Now, as the hub of the County and the "crossroads" of Down East Maine, the
economy of Ellsworth is service-based and is the region's trading, banking
and dining center with retail and professional businesses serving Hancock
County and western Washington County. Being the gateway to nearby Mount
Desert Island, the City's economy is also enhanced by the estimated 4
million visitors who pass through the City each year on their way to Acadia
National Park. The City enjoys a highly developed "downtown", three shopping
centers and eight banking offices. The Maine Coast Memorial Hospital is a
private, nonprofit acute care hospital located in Ellsworth which is
licensed to operate 64 beds and provides a full range of inpatient and
outpatient acute care medical services in a primary service area having a
population of approximately 38,000. Ellsworth has six radio stations and is
the home of "The Ellsworth American", a local weekly newspaper
established in 1851 with current circulation of 28,000.
The City of Ellsworth is an urban, commercial, industrial and
residential community with some rural characteristics. The City's area
includes tracts of forest and farmlands, open space and river front areas.
The City is comprised of Rural Residential, Urban Residential, Commercial or
Industrial zones, proposed zones for areas suitable for high density
development and has the distinction of being the "largest" city in Maine
with its 93.37 square miles of area.
Government
The City operates under a charter adopted in 1869, most
recently revised in 1991 (the "Charter"), providing for a Council-Manager
form of government with a seven-member City Council elected from the
registered voters of the City, at-large, for three-year staggered terms. The
Charter grants to the Council all powers to enact, amend, or repeal rules,
ordinances, orders or resolutions relating to the City's property, affairs
and government, to preserve the public peace, health and safety, to
establish personnel policies, giving effect to any vote of the City
authorizing the issuance of debt, and providing for an annual audit of the
City's accounts.
The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the
City.
Municipal Services
The City provides general governmental services for the
territory within its boundaries, including police and fire protection, a
library, highways, streets and sidewalks, parks and recreation areas. Public
education is provided for grades Kindergarten ("K") through 12. The City
operates its own water system and sewer/wastewater treatment system.
Public Safety
The Police Department is staffed by 13 full-time and two
part-time officers which include a Police Chief, one Lieutenant, one
Sergeant, one Detective, ten Officers, two Reserve Officers, and four
Dispatchers. The Police Department maintains seven vehicles. Fire
Department is operated by one Fire Chief, one Deputy Chief, six full-time
Engineers operating from one fire station and maintains six fire vehicles.
Public Works
The Public Works Department provides for maintenance and
repair of the City's 110 miles of public roads, for storm drain maintenance
and other road, parking lot and sidewalk maintenance. The department is
staffed with one superintendent and eight full-time employees.
Solid Waste
In 1989 the City built a Transfer Station where City
residents may dispose of their household refuse. While the City does not
provide curbside pickup of household solid waste, private disposal companies
provide this service to residents for a charge and convey the waste to the
Transfer Station.
Sewer Department
The Ellsworth Pollution Control Facility was constructed in
1977 and 1978 and is a Class III, Secondary, Rotating Biological Contractor
type plant with Anaerobic Sludge Digesters. Bonds issued in 1990 provided
$650,000 in funds for improvements to the treatment plant including
clarifier conversion, secondary clarification and a pump station. The
facility was constructed with an original design flow of 650,000 gallons per
day ("gpd") and a design loading of 1,200 pounds per day ("ppd") of
Biochemical Oxygen Demand ("BOD"). Concurrent with this facility a new sewer
system was constructed which replaced the majority of the City's original
system. The system includes approximately 20 miles of sewer collection line
and four sewage pumping stations. Treated wastewater is released into the
Union River at the plant site.
Water Department
The City purchased its municipal water system in 1985 due to
limitations on utility profits making the operation of the system
unfavorable to the previous operator. Bond proceeds in the consolidated
amount of $3,000,000, from the City's 1989 and 1990 bond issues, were used
to finance a new water supply source at Branch Lake Stream. The new system
includes a 12-inch main pipe to the City's downtown area, a new treatment
system and increased water pressure.
The Water Department is a separate department of the City and is
established as an Enterprise Activity in that the intent of the City is for
the department to provide services on a continuing basis, financed entirely
through user charges. One superintendent, and three employees staff the
department.
Ellsworth Public Library
The Ellsworth Public Library (the "Library") is domiciled in
a Federalist style building constructed in 1817 by Colonel Meltiah Jordan.
After a succession of owners Seth Tisdale purchased the building, thus its
name, the Tisdale House. In 1987, George Nixon Black purchased and remodeled
the house and on December 24, 1987 gave the property to the City with the
requirement “that these premises conveyed shall always be used for a public
library”. Bonds in the amount of $1,000,000 were issued in 1989 to provide
for an addition to the Library. In June 1991 the new addition was dedicated
increasing the facility from 2,720 square feet to 12,352 square feet.
The Library, a department of the City pursuant to Chapter VII
of the City's Charter, is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees who
are elected by the registered voters of the City, at-large, for three-year
staggered terms. Operational funds are provided by local tax dollars and a
modest endowment fund. The Friends of the Ellsworth Public Library raise
money, act as Library advocates and provide volunteers to supplement paid
staff. The Library's current collection includes approximately 25,000
volumes, 120 periodicals and a growing audio and video collection. Over
110,000 items were circulated in 1992. A Library Director oversees the
Library and supervises eight paid staff and volunteers.
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Ellsworth
Area Chamber of Commerce
High Street •
P.O. Box 267
Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 667-5584 •
info@ellsworthchamber.org
This
site and all contents within are
the property of the Ellsworth
Area Chamber of Commerce
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