Houlton, Maine
Houlton | |
|---|---|
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Seal | |
| Nickname: Capital of Aroostook | |
| Motto(s): Valuing the past, planning for the future Worth a visit, worth a lifetime | |
Location of Houlton, Maine | |
Houlton Location in the state of Maine Houlton Houlton (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 46°08′20″N 67°51′20″W / 46.13889°N 67.85556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Aroostook |
| Settled | 1807 |
| Incorporated | March 8, 1831 |
| Villages | Houlton Carys Mills |
| Area | |
• Total | 36.73 sq mi (95.13 km2) |
| • Land | 36.71 sq mi (95.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.019 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,055 |
| • Density | 165/sq mi (63.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 04730, 04761 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-33980 |
| GNIS feature ID | 582525 |
| Website | www.houlton-maine.com |
Houlton is a town in and the county seat of Aroostook County, Maine, United States, on the Canada–United States border. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 6,055. It is perhaps best known for being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and as the birthplace of Samantha Smith, a goodwill ambassador as a child during the Cold War. The town hosts the annual Houlton Agricultural Fair.
Its nickname is the "Shire Town". The Houlton High School sports teams are named "The Shiretowners". The Meduxnekeag River flows through the heart of the town, and the border with the Canadian province of New Brunswick is 3 mi (4.8 km) east of the town's center. Houlton was the home of Ricker College, which closed in 1978.
The primary settlement and center of the town is designated as a CDP with the same name. The headquarters of the federally recognized Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians is based here.