Our Region

Northern Maine is a primary access point coming into and out of the United States.

It is in driving distance and a short flight away from major markets in Canada and the United States including Boston, New York, Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City. It borders two Canadian provinces, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Custom Stations throughout Northern Maine make the region a hub for international trade and commerce. It shares 15 customs stations maintained by the U.S. Customs Service. Seven of the stations are open 24 hours a day and include Bridgewater, Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Houlton, Limestone, Madawaska, and Van Buren.

 
Miles
Km
Hours
Boston, MA
394 miles
634 km
6.5 hrs
Hartford, CT
488 miles
785 km
8 hrs
New York, NY
603 miles
970 km
10 hrs
Philadelphia, PA
697 miles
1,121 km
11.75 hrs
 
 
 
 
Saint John, NB
172 miles
276 km
3.75 hrs
Moncton, NB
209 miles
336 km
4.5 hrs
Quebec, QC
259 miles
416 km
5 hrs
Halifax, NS
380 miles
611 km
7.5 hrs
Montreal, QC
398 miles
640 km
7.25 hrs

In Aroostook County, we understand that education is the cornerstone of success and prosperity. We are continually reinvesting in and seeking ways to enhance our excellent learning infrastructure. From K-12, to advanced technical training, to undergraduate programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Aroostook County offers residents ample opportunity for a lifetime of learning. The county is also host to State-financed customized training and apprenticeship programs to help workers adapt to the evolving labor market.

Primary & Secondary Education
The people of Aroostook County know that our children are our greatest responsibility and our wisest investment. Our schools have been rated among the best in the country, having received several state and national recognition awards. Aroostook also has the lowest high school drop out rate in New England and the highest percentage of students going on to higher education. Notable achievements include:

  • According to Education Week, Maine ‘s primary school system is ranked in the top ten in the country.
  • Maine is tied for 1st place in the nation in the proportion of 8th graders with high scores in reading.
  • Maine has been named as one of the five “smartest states” in the country based on the quality of its public elementary and secondary schools.
  • There is one computer available for instruction for every four public school students in Maine.

Higher Education

Husson University: Graduate and undergraduate programs in Business Administration, Accounting, Counseling, Criminal Justice and Nursing are offered in Presque Isle. Husson University’s Presque Isle site moved to the campus of Northern Maine Community College. This partnership provides students with the many amenities of a college campus, including library and technology resources. Husson’s offices are conveniently located on the second floor of the Christie Building.

Northern Maine Community College: Currently offers 25 full-time degree, diploma and certificate programs in technical and occupational areas to over 1,110 full-time and part-time students. The NMCC Division of Business and Industry works with area businesses to design training programs to meet their needs.

University of Maine at Presque Isle: Currently serves 935 full-time and 615 part-time students with 24 baccalaureate degree programs and 5 associate degree programs. Transfer programs to five baccalaureate degree programs are offered in conjunction with the University of Maine at Orono and the University of Southern Maine.

University of Maine at Fort Kent: Current enrollment is approximately 600–degree programs include education, forestry, and environmental sciences. The University also houses the Acadian Archives (Archives Acadiennes) where information about the culture and history of the Upper St. John Valley is preserved.

Northern Maine embodies what is an increasingly rare phenomenon in American life: a sense of balance. This is a place where you don’t have to sacrifice community to find opportunity. Where business is not miles away from pleasure. Where work and home and family can all have their place, and the time they deserve.

The values that shaped the history of New England are still an everyday part of life in Northern Maine. Friendliness, responsibility, integrity-these are the characteristics that define the region. The numbers agree:

  • Maine has the 4 th lowest crime rate in the U.S.
  • Maine is the #1 place in the U.S. to raise children.
  • Maine ‘s primary education system is #1 in the U.S.

Northern Maine possesses a natural beauty unlike anywhere else in America . It is something that enriches the lives of residents all year long and offers countless opportunities for recreation. In Northern Maine, the kind of outdoor pleasures other people have to drive hours to enjoy can be found right outside your door.

Northern Maine residents benefit from the comprehensive care of four major medical centers and associated facilities:

  • Houlton Regional Hospital: 78 bed facility with 24-hour emergency room service and twelve specialty clinics.
  • Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital: Member of Northern Light Health; Northern Maine’s largest healthcare organization with a 96 bed facility, 24-hour emergency service, numerous primary care centers and specialty services.
  • Cary Medical Center: 65-bed facility with 24-hour emergency service, state-of-the-art outpatient rehab center, long-term care facilities, a veterans home and services.
  • Northern Maine Medical Center: Modern 52- bed acute care facility and physician staffed 24-hour emergency room.

For more information on things to to in Aroostook County, visit the tourism website at: www.visitaroostook.com