Waldo County, Maine, USA

Waldo County is located in midcoast Maine, extending from the shores of Penobscot Bay westward into the forested hills and river valleys of central Maine. It is bordered by Penobscot County to the north, Hancock County across Penobscot Bay to the east, Knox County to the south, Lincoln County to the southwest, Kennebec County to the west and Somerset County to the northwest. Belfast, situated on Passagassawakeag Bay, is the county seat and largest municipality, while other communities include Searsport, Lincolnville, Stockton Springs, Winterport and Unity. The county’s coastline features sheltered harbors, tidal estuaries and working waterfronts, while its interior consists of rolling uplands, numerous lakes and extensive forests. U.S. Route 1 follows the coast through Belfast and Searsport, connecting the county with the rest of Maine’s midcoast region. Waldo County’s economy is supported by commercial fishing, maritime commerce, tourism, agriculture, forestry, healthcare, education and small manufacturing. The county encompasses approximately 730 square miles of land and had 39,607 residents at the 2020 census.