Maine Plantations

United States Maine  Maine plantations  In Maine a plantation is a form of local self-government intended to help a town-sized area with a low population to transition toward full town status as they increase their population and government services. Plantations do not have their own representative in the Maine legislature. Most have meetings and keep records of meetings. Towns and plantations maintained records of their citizens' births, marriages, and deaths from their founding until 1922, even though statewide registration began in 1892. Look for Maine plantation records the same way you look for Maine town records. Some of Maine's populated coastal islands outside the borders of a town are organized as plantations. However, most of Maine's 34 plantations are in sparsely populated forests inland. Status changes. Plantations that increase in population may become a town. Also, some plantations have lost population and been changed to unincorporated townships without meetings or record-keeping. If an ancestor lived in a plantation that became a township, look for the records of the former plantation in a nearby town in the same county.

Modern Maine Plantations (listed by county)
* Maine plantations normally referenced without using that descriptor. '''Statistics. ''' Maine currently has organized 34 plantations, about 425 townships (unincorporated territories), 454 towns or cities, and three Indian reservations. The unorganized township territories include slightly over half the land area of Maine.

Discontinued Maine Plantations
Plantations which were discontinued usually transferred any records they had created to the nearest functioning town in the same county, or sometimes, to the Maine State Archives.

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 * Abbotstown Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Number 1 Plantation, became Temple, Maine in 1803.
 * Allagash Plantation (Aroostook Co.) created 1885; repealed 1933; became Allagash, Maine in 1978.
 * Alva Plantation (Aroostook Co.) created 1862; became Blaine, Maine in 1874.
 * Andover North Surplus Plantation (Oxford Co.) created 1840; now an unorganized territory (township).
 * Annsburg Plantation (Washington Co.) (also knowns as Annsborough) created 1841; became Deblois, Maine in 1852.
 * Appleton Plantation (Knox Co.) became Appleton, Maine in 1829.
 * Appleton Ridge Plantation (Knox Co.) see  Appleton Plantation above.
 * Argyle Plantation (Penobscot Co.) set off east part as Argyle, Maine in 1839; set off part to Old Town, Maine in 1843; became Alton, Maine in 1844.

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 * Bachelder's Grant Plantation (Oxford County) became part of Stoneham, Maine in 1834.
 * Bakerstown Plantation (Androscoggin County) existed 1779 as an area of Poland, Maine.
 * Ballstown Plantation (Lincoln County) set off east part as Jefferson, Maine in 1807; became Whitefield, Maine in 1809.
 * Bancroft Plantation (Aroostook County) created 1840; became Bancroft, Maine in 1889.
 * Barker Plantation (Aroostook County) created part of Nichols Academy Grant (also known as T1 R3 WELS) in 1853; became part of Reed Plantation, Maine.
 * Barnard Plantation (Piscataquis County) 1895-1982; became unorganized territory of Barnard Township, Maine.
 * Barretstown Plantation (Knox County) became Hope, Maine in 1804.
 * Beaverhill Plantation (Waldo Co.) became Freedom, Maine in 1803.
 * Belfast Academy Grant Plantation (Aroostook Co.) created 1840?; became Ludlow, Maine in 1864.
 * Benedicta Plantation (Aroostook Co.) created 1840 in T2 R5 and north half of T1 R5 (also known as Golden Ridge, or Silver Ridge). Also, created 1860 from west half of T2 R5 and became Benedicta, Maine in 1873.
 * Big Lake Plantation (Washington Co.) created 1840? or 1841? (also known as Grand Lake Stream, Hinkley, Number 3 R1, and Number 21); became unorganized territory of Big Lake Township, Maine.
 * Bigelow Plantation (Somerset Co.) created 1870, became Bigelow Plantation, Maine in 1895; surrendered its plantation organization 1940.
 * Blakesburg Plantation (Penobscot Co.) created 1824?; became Bradford, Maine in 1831.
 * Bloomfield Plantation (Franklin Co.) created from T1 R3 WBKP (Coplin Plantation) and T4 R3 BKP WKR (Wyman Township) in 1841; became part of Jackson Plantation, Maine in 1845; part became Coplin Plantation in 1866, and part became Wyman Township in 1895.
 * Blue Hill Bay Plantation (Hancock Co.) became Blue Hill, Maine in 1789.
 * Bostwick Plantation (Oxford Co.) became Newry, Maine in 1805.
 * Bowerbank Plantation (Piscataquis Co.) created 1888 and 1895; became Bowerbank, Maine in 1907.
 * Bridge's Plantation (Waldo Co.) became Kingville 1812; Joy 1815; Montgomery 1826; and Troy, Maine in 1827.
 * Bridgeton Plantation (Piscataquis Co.) (also known as Number 3 R1 BKP EKR) taxed 1812, 1814; became Wellington, Maine in 1828.
 * Bridgewater Plantation (Aroostook Co.) (also known as Alva, Bridgewater Academy Grant, Letter B, Monticello, and Portland Academy Grant) created 1844; became Bridgewater, Maine in 1858.
 * Bridgewater Academy Grant Plantation (Aroostook Co.) see  Bridgewater Plantation above.
 * Bridgton Plantation (Cumberland Co.) existed spelled as Bridgeton by 1779; became Bridgton, Maine in 1794.
 * Broadbay Plantation (Lincoln Co.) taxed in 1772; became the town of Waldoboro, Maine in 1773.
 * Brownfield Plantation (Oxford Co.) became the town of Brownfield, Maine in 1802.
 * Brownville Plantation (Piscataquis Co.), also known as Number 5 R8 Plantation, became Brownville, Maine in 1824.
 * Buchanan Plantation (Aroostook Co.), also known as Sheridan Plantation, was annexed to Ashland, Maine in 1901.
 * Buckstown Plantation (Hancock Co.) incorporated as the town of Buckstown 1792; name changed to Bucksport, Maine 1817.
 * Bucktown Plantation (Oxford Co.), also known as Number 5 Plantation, became Buckfield, Maine in 1793.

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 * E Plantation
 * Eustis Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Hanover Plantation, was first organized as Number 1 R4 WBKP Plantation in 1841; became part of Jackson Plantation in 1845; then seceded as from Jackson as Eustis Plantation in 1857; became town of Eustis, Maine in 1871.

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 * Flagstaff Plantation (Somerset Co.) created 1851, 1865, 1870, and 1895; became unorganized territory (a township) in 1951.

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 * Gardinerstown
 * Getchell Plantation (Franklin Co.) was an 1860 name of the land called Dallas Plantation, Maine (T2 R2 WBKP) by 1870.
 * Goshen Plantation (Kennebec Co.) existed prior to 1802 when it became part of the town of Vienna, Maine.
 * Grand Isle Plantation (Aroostook Co.) set off from Van Buren Plantation in 1859; incorporated as town of Grant Isle in 1869; name changed to Grand Isle, Maine in 1872.
 * Grant Isle Plantation (Aroostook Co.) see  Grand Isle Plantation above.

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 * Hamlen Plantation (Aroostook Co.) see  Hamlin Plantation below.
 * Hamlin Plantation (Aroostook Co.) set off from Van Buren Plantation in 1859; set off land to Van Buren in 1907; incorporated as town of Hamlin, Maine in 1976.
 * Hanover Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Number 1 R4 WBKP Plantation, was organized 1841; became part of Jackson Plantation in 1845; then seceded from there as Eustis Plantation in 1857; became town of Eustis, Maine in 1871.
 * Hingham Academy Grant (Washington Co.), also known as Codyville Plantation, organized in 1845; plantation organization surrendered by default 1871, but reconstituted three months later.

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 * Independence

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 * Jackman
 * Jackson Plantation (Franklin Co.) formed in 1845, went extinct in 1895 after it was gradually split into T4 R3 BKP WKR Wyman Township, T1 R3 WBKP Coplin Plantation, T2 R3 WBKP Lang Township, and T1 R4 WBKP Eustis, Maine.
 * Jerusalem Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Carrabasset Plantation, and as Number 3 R2 Plantation north of Kingfield, organized in 1855, 1858, 1869, 1873, and 1881; became town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine in 1971.

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 * Katahdin Iron Works Plantation

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 * Lang Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Langtown Mill, and The Landing, was first organized as part of Jackson Plantation in 1845; set off as Lang Plantation in 1866; but surrendered that organization in 1935, and is now an unorganized territory (township).
 * Letter K R2 Plantation (Aroostook Co.), organized in 1872; changed name to Conner Plantation 1877; incorporated as town of Connor, Maine 1913; and dissolved into an unorganized territory (township) in 1945.
 * Lexington (Somerset Co.) created a town 1833; made a plantation 1885; became a township 1939.
 * Little Duck Trap Plantation (Waldo Co.) see  Duck Trap Plantation above.
 * Little River Plantation (Franklin Co.) became Freeman 1808; incorporation surrendered 1937, now Freeman Township
 * Long Pond Plantation (Somerset Co.) created 1912; became unorganized territory (a township) in 1929.

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 * Megunticook Plantation (now Knox County) came from part of Waldo Patent (also known as Muscongus Patent). Afterward, Camden Plantation (also known as Cambden), existed prior to 1791 when it became the towns of Cambden (later Camden) and Rockport, Maine.
 * Milton Plantation (Oxford Co.) discontinued 1944, now Milton Township

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 * New Worcester Plantation (Penobscot Co.), also known as Number 9 Plantation, or China Plantation, created from Township 9 EPR became Orrington, Maine in 1788.
 * Number 1 Plantation (Franklin Co.) became Temple, Maine in 1803.
 * Number 1 R3 BKP EKR Plantation (Somerset Co.), also known as Caratunk Plantation, was organized as a plantation in 1840, 1893, and 1903; became the town of Caratunk, Maine in 1977.
 * Number 1 R3 WKR Plantation (Somerset Co.) was created from the unorganized township in 1840. Later, as Carrying Place Plantation it was last organized there in 1895. Since then it has become an unorganized territory (township).
 * Number 1 R4 WBKP Plantation (Franklin Co.), also known as Hanover Plantation, was organized 1841; became part of Jackson Plantation in 1845; then seceded from there as Eustis Plantation in 1857; became town of Eustis, Maine in 1871.
 * Number 2 and 3 R1 and 2 and 3 R2 Plantations (Franklin Co.) was a multi-township entity renamed Dallas Plantation, Maine in 1845; changed again to Rangeley Plantation in 1852; and then divided into four smaller pieces by 1859.
 * Number 2 R2 Plantation is an alternative name for what in now the Dallas Plantation, Maine.
 * Number 3 R2 Plantation north of Kingfield (Franklin Co.), also known as Carrabasset Plantation, and as Jerusalem Plantation organized in 1855, 1858, 1869, 1873, and 1881; became town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine in 1971.
 * Number 6 Plantation (Franklin Co.) became Berlin 1824; incorporation repealed 1842, now Township 6 North of Weld
 * Number 9 Plantation (Penobscot Co.), also known as New Worcester Plantation, or China Plantation, created from Township 9 EPR became Orrington, Maine in 1788.
 * Number 11 R1 WELS Plantation (Aroostook Co.) organized 1849; name changed to Cary (Plantation) in 1883.

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 * Oakfield

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 * Page's Mills Plantation

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 * Rangeley Plantation (T2 R1, T3 R1, T2 R2, and T3 R2) was a mega-plantation by 1840; name changed to Dallas Plantation 1845; name changed to Rangely Plantation 1852; the Town of Rangeley (T3 R2) was set off from a portion of the plantation in 1855; and in 1859 the remainder plantation was split into three more sub-pieces including present-day Rangeley Plantation (T3 R1).
 * Rangeley Plantation (T3 R1); the smaller version was organized in 1859 from a portion of the larger plantation, and still exists today.

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 * Saint Francis Plantation fckLR*Sandy River Plantation (T1) organized in 1793 from Township Number 1; incorporated as town of Farmington, Maine in 1794.
 * Sandy River Plantation (T2 R1 WBKP) organized prior to 1845 at first as part of a mega-plantation; since 1859 diminished to size of T2 R1.

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 * Talmadge

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 * Unity Plantation (Franklin Co.) became New Sharon, Maine in 1794.

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 * Van Buren Plantation (Aroostook Co.) organized in 1843 was much reduced by three set offs (Letter L R2 Cyr Plantation 1857; Township 18 R3 Grand Isle 1859; Letter G R1 Hamlin 1859) before it became the town of Van Buren, Maine in 1881, formerly known as Township Letter M R2 WELS.

- W -


 * Wade
 * Wyman's Plantation (Kennebec Co.) existed prior to 1802 when it became part of the town of Vienna, Maine.
 * Wyman Township (Franklin Co.), part of Bloomfield Plantation (1841) and Jackson Plantation (1845) until Jackson went extinct 1895. Part of Wyman was used to form part of Carrabassett Valley in 1971.