The tranquil City of Presque Isle (French for “peninsula”) lies in the stark and rugged splendor of northeast Maine in Aroostook County, the largest county, in terms of geographic size, east of the Mississippi. Presque Isle was the first city established in the county and remains the most important city here.

Situated on the Aroostook River, Presque Isle is adjacent to the Canadian border and the province of New Brunswick to the east. That province’s capital city of Fredericton is about 70 miles southeast of Presque Isle. The state capitol of Augusta is about 160 miles southwest.

Presque Isle has evolved like very few American communities have. Originally settled in the early 1800’s, Presque Isle grew in its early history as a potato producing and distribution center. With the onset of World War II, Presque Isle’s became a critical war center when the local airport was appropriated as an airbase for military planes heading over across the Atlantic and into Europe. After the war, the Presque Isle Air Force base shut down in 1961 and was turned into an industrial park that continues to support a diverse array of industries including manufacturing, transportation, and pulp and paper.

Another rising industry in Presque Isle is tourism. With pristine wilderness encompassing a sizable portion of this region, there is so much to explore. Attractions include Aroostook State Park, Arnold Brook Pond, Squa Pan Lake and Eagle Lake.