About our Region
Just three hours north of Portland, Maine, exceptionally beautiful Moosehead Lake is worth a trip from anywhere. Its the “perfect lake of the woods” that dazzled 1800s writer/explorer Henry David Thoreau. The awe-inspiring and magnificent setting attracts today’s adventure seekers. Welcome to America’s Crown Jewel!
All About Us
Our region is defined as the 25-mile radius from the center of Moosehead Lake and falls within two counties: Piscataquis and Somerset. The Town of Greenville on the lake’s southernmost point is the region’s gateway. It is the region’s most populated community (about 1,625) and it’s service center. State agencies with satellite offices in Greenville include Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Maine Forest Service. Other towns are Beaver Cove, Shirley, Monson, and Rockwood. While the town of Jackman lies just outside the radius, it is on the main route to the region for visitors from Quebec.
Our Region’s Assets
Greenville Consolidated School
The Greenville School (K-12) is consistently ranked among Maine’s top high schools. Its unique, small class environment means students are given individualized support in their journey to lifelong success. Exciting developments include the construction of a new childcare center on school grounds with space for 70 children, pre-K classrooms, and a new community recreation center with education classroom, kitchen with concession stand, and a gym. Groundbreaking is anticipated in 2025. Childcare and recreation projects like these are vital for workforce participation and economic development.
Learn more about our school at ghslakers.org and the childcare project at mooseheadcaringforkidsfoundation.org
Northern Light CA Dean Hospital
In February this year, Northern Light Health opened a brand new C.A. Dean Hospital facility in Greenville. The new facility houses a 24/7 emergency department, imaging and lab services, and patient rooms. A new ambulance station and federally approved helipad are also in operation. Part of the Northern Light Health system, this nationally ranked, award winning hospital is able to quickly respond to emergencies in remote areas via helicopters and landing pads set up around Moosehead Lake. C.A. Dean is also the home to Northwoods Healthcare, a primary care practice with offices in Greenville, Monson and Sangerville. CA Dean Hospital is a significant asset for rural regions like ours.
Learn more at https://northernlighthealth.org/CADeanPromise
Greenville Municipal Airport
Greenville Municipal Airport is an active public airport owned by the Town of Greenville and supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Opened in 1942, the airport has two runways, maintenance capability, and a brand new fuel system. Its growing popularity means there is a waiting list for aircraft hangars. It is a significant economic driver for the region. Benefits include:
- Public Health. The airport provides access to LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only air ambulance service, for emergencies not handled by our local hospital.
- With 20-25 aircraft based here on average, our airport is a vital business and tourism gateway for the region. More than 80 airplanes used the airport during the 2024 solar eclipse while the International Seaplane Fly-In at Moosehead Lake welcomes about 100 land aircraft and 75 seaplanes each year.
- Economic engine. The airport is home to aircraft maintenance and inspection businesses. In 2024 so far, the airport has sold 38,000 gallons of fuel and made $222,000 in sales. The FAA has approved developing more airport hangars to meet high demand.
Learn more about our airport at https://greenvilleme.gov/municipal-airport/
Recreation
Nearly 40 miles long and 22 miles wide, Moosehead Lake is Maine’s biggest lake and one of the largest freshwater lakes in the U.S. Home to more than 80 islands, its historic wilderness has earned it the title America’s Crown Jewel. Just three hours north of Portland, Maine, the entire Moosehead Lake Region is a prime destination for recreation ensuring that the quality of life for our business community is second to none. Outstanding features include:
- Nearly 600,000 acres of land in our region are conserved. Most land cover is forested.
- Hundreds of miles are devoted to snowmobile, ATV, hiking, Appalachian Trail, mountain biking, canoeing, and paddling.
- Big Moose Mountain. Located 5 miles north of Greenville overlooking Moosehead Lake, our ski mountain features natural snowpack, lift service on a triple chair to the lower mountain, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
- Dark skies. Our region has one of the best star views in the Northeast. With our vast, remote landscape and little light pollution, the sky is cloaked in darkness allowing the stars to shine bright.
- Mountain biking. The Moosehead Outdoor Alliance is designing, creating, and maintaining world-class mountain biking trail systems in our region.
- State Parks/Public Lands. Our region boasts access to beautiful lands for hiking, swimming, snowmobiling, camping, paddling, and more including Lily Bay State Park and Mt. Kineo State Park. Little Moose Public Reserved Land features numerous outstanding hikes while a couple hours from Moosehead Lake is Baxter State Park, home to Mt. Katahdin, Maine’s highest mountain (5,269 feet).
Living so close to nature adds to the economic value of working here. Our region boasts strengths in tourism and recreation, forestry, and more.
Learn about our unique recreation opportunities and how they stimulate our business community at https://destinationmooseheadlake.com/
Public Safety
A brand new public safety building was opened in 2024 and houses the Greenville Police and Fire departments and a community meeting room. As a major service hub, Greenville provides mutual assistance for public safety to other communities in the region.
Working Remotely
Our board has members who work remotely full-time or part-time and, while the exact number of remote workers in the community is unknown, anecdotal evidence suggests it is a significant number. Some people who have retired to the Moosehead Lake region work remotely part-time. Through the company Premium Broadband the towns of Abbott, Monson, Greenville, Greenville Junction, Rockwood and Jackman have fiber optic internet access and on the east side of Moosehead Lake the towns of Beaver Cove and Kokajo should have access to fiber optic service beginning in 2025. This fiber optic service is reliable according to those who use it. There is also reliable DSL service available throughout the Moosehead Lake region now, and some remote workers also are pleased with their Starlink service.
For those who need to travel occasionally in person, Bangor Airport is 70 miles away from Greenville, and takes about 90 minutes by car. Bangor Airport have direct flights to multiple airports in New York, as well as Newark, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Orlando and Sanford, Florida. The airport in Portland, Maine has an ever larger number of destinations and is 157 miles from Greenville, taking roughly 3 hours driving time.
Positive Economic Trends
Our region is growing! The Maine State Economist Office reports that Greenville saw 6.3% population growth from 2020 to 2022 followed by Shirley (5.1%) and Monson (4.3%).
Piscataquis County saw the largest decline in poverty in Maine between 2017 and 2022 and the most growth statewide in median household income.
Both Piscataquis and Somerset counties had gains in people age 25+ with Bachelor’s degrees while Somerset had the largest increase in Maine for high school diploma/equivalency.
Our region’s top private employment sectors are manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality.