ISLESBORO IS A VIBRANT ISLAND COMMUNITY SITUATED IN UPPER PENOBSCOT BAY. THE NARROW, 14-MILE ISLAND, IS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES OFFSHORE. IT’S SERVICED BY THE MAINE STATE FERRY SERVICE, VIA THE M/V MARGARET CHASE SMITH, WHICH PROVIDES DAILY FERRY RUNS FROM GRINDLE POINT TO LINCOLNVILLE BEACH.

WITH ISLE AU HAUT TO THE EAST, WALDO COUNTY TO THE WEST, ISLESBORO DIVIDES EAST AND WEST PENOBSCOT BAY WHICH IS NOTED FOR SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COASTAL SAILING IN THE US.

OVERTIME, ISLESBORO’S NAME HAS EVOLVED. THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF ISLESBORO WERE PENOBSCOT AND MI’KMAQ NATIVES AND THEY CALLED ISLESBORO PITAUBEGWIMENAHANUK, MEANING “THE ISLAND THAT LIES BETWEEN TWO CHANNELS”. IT WAS ALSO CALLED LONG ISLAND AND ISLESBOROUGH BEFORE IT WAS EVENTUALLY NAMED ISLESBORO.

THE ISLAND WAS INCORPORATED IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY AFTER BEING SETTLED BY FISHERMEN AND FARMERS. WITH MANY HARBORS AND COVES, THE ISLAND WAS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL SHIPPING FLEETS IN THE BAY DURING THE 19TH CENTURY.

EARLY FISHERMEN SET NETS FOR SALMON AND HADDOCK, AND COD WAS CAUGHT IN TRAWLS. THE FISH WEIR INDUSTRY DEVELOPED AROUND 1915 AND CONTINUED INTO THE LATE ‘40s, WHEN THE HERRING MARKET FADED AND THE COST OF YEARLY REBUILDING INCREASED, THE WEIR BECAME OBSOLETE. CLAMMING HAS BEEN A SMALL, BUT ENERGETIC, ISLAND INDUSTRY, HOWEVER, CLAM POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED DUE TO THE INVASION OF GREEN CRABS. LOBSTERING REMAINS A CONTINUING INDUSTRY BUT IS RAPIDLY CHANGING DUE TO THE WARMING OF THE OCEAN WATERS.