The Eastport Area communities are built upon unique character and values, and are committed to preserving their heritage and natural beauty. We invite you to share these attributes while on your vacation, retirement, to raise your family, or as the location of your business. We hope you enjoy life here as much as we do.

Authentic "Down East"

" The Real Down East at its finest" describes eastern Washington County. The Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce represents the quaint, rural communities that stretch along US Route 1 and Route 214, from Edmunds, Dennysville, Charlotte, Pembroke, Perry, and Robbinston, to the spectacular drive on Route on 190 through the Passamaquoddy Tribe's Pleasant Point Indian Reservation to the Moose Island City of Eastport

These communities are rich in history, with settlements dating back as early as 1763. Trading, ship building, and the ironworks were the early industries, with the sardine industry a major provider after the turn of the century. Many sardine factories dotted the coast, and even today many fishermen still tend herring weirs-a Native American invention-seen in the coves along the shore.

The area has miles of beautiful cobble beaches, tidal covers, rivers, streams, and inland lakes, and is truly one of the last unspoiled stretches of Maine coast. While visiting our area, take time to drive down a side road. Some of our most beautiful sights are waiting for you "off the beaten path."

Rich in History

Eastport is a small port city, population 2,000 or so (depending on the time of the year!) located on Moose Island. It is connected with the mainland by a short causeway. The community is rich in history and natural beauty on one of the last unspoiled stretches of the Maine coast.

The sun rises first in Eastport, making it the most eastern city in the United States. It also boasts the most northeasterly commercial shipping port in the US, hence the name Eastport. Eastport ships cargoes of paper products as well as some logs and granite to various international destinations. Once the site of a booming sardine fishing and canning industry, Eastport has evolved into the leading center of the aquaculture industry on the East Coast. It produces millions of pounds of fresh farm raised Atlantic salmon each year. Other industries include a U.S. military chemical warfare uniform production plant and the traditional fishing industry.

Tourism is also a growing industry, for there is great natural beauty to our area. On any given day (provided the season is right) one can see fascinating wildlife such as whales, porpoises, seals, bald eagles, osprey, ducks and sea birds. We even had a moose swim to town a couple years back! The unique maritime history of the area provides much to explore. Eastport is home to the world's second largest whirlpool, the "Old Sow". Eastport is the only US owned principality that has been under rule by a foreign government. It was held from 1814 to 1818 by British troops under King George following the conclusion of the War of 1812.

Currently, Eastport has a surprising amount to offer for a community so remote on the coast. There is a large community of artists living here year-round or as summer residents; a number of art galleries; an arts center, which offers a concert series, and art classes. A large co-op gallery, a very active community theater, and two museums provide culture to the inquisitive. Recreational opportunities include a tennis court, mini-golf, softball diamonds, ice-skating rinks, basketball courts, two golf courses within an hour's drive, hiking trails, sailing, whale watching, birding, and fresh and salt water fishing.

We have a fine school system with a new elementary school and a regional high school. The Marine Technology Center, a branch of the Washington County Technical College, offers training in boat building and refurbishing/painting as well as commercial fishing. The University of Maine at Machias is only 45 minutes away.

The municipal airport, with a 4,000 foot paved and lighted runway capable of receiving corporate jets also offers charter flights to Bangor, Portland, Boston and beyond as well as sight seeing flights.

There is a fully staffed medical center and a dialysis center on the island. There are two small hospitals nearby and a major medical center with excellent staff and facilities. The major medical center is Eastern Maine Medical Center. It is in Bangor which is two and a half hours away. Eastport has an ambulance service. Our fire department is volunteer, but very professional. We also have a fully staffed police department who take their jobs seriously, but always have time to stop and chat with people. Eastport has seven churches, two gas stations (one is full service), a large grocery store, two convenience stores, a pharmacy, several real estate brokers, an abundance of beauty parlors and several restaurants, both seasonal and year round.
On Route 190 just three miles outside Eastport is the Pleasant Point Indian Reservation home of the Passamaquoddy tribe, which you pass through to reach Eastport. It is a modern settlement with more than 700 descendants of the people who occupied this land before the first Europeans arrived in the 15th and 16th centuries.