Caribou, Maine

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Caribou, Maine
City
Downtown (2026)
Downtown (2026)
Template:Infobox settlement/columns
Location of Caribou, Maine
Location of Caribou, Maine
Coordinates: 46°52′00″N 68°00′45″W / 46.86667°N 68.01250°W / 46.86667; -68.01250Coordinates: 46°52′00″N 68°00′45″W / 46.86667°N 68.01250°W / 46.86667; -68.01250
CountryFile:Flag of the United States.svg United States
StateTemplate:Country data Maine
CountyAroostook
Government
 • MayorJody Smith[1]
Area
 • TotalTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • LandTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • WaterTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
ElevationTemplate:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,396
 • DensityTemplate:Infobox settlement/densdisp
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code23-10565
GNIS feature ID582389[3]
Websitecariboumaine.org

Caribou is the second largest city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. Its population was 7,396 at the 2020 census. The city is a service center for the agricultural and tourism industries, and the location of a National Weather Service Forecast Office.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 80.10 square miles (207.5 km2), of which 79.26 square miles (205.3 km2) is land and 0.84 square miles (2.2 km2) is water.[4]

Climate

Caribou has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with very cold, snowy winters, and mild to warm summers, and is located in USDA hardiness zone 4b/4a.[5] The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 11.7 °F (−11.3 °C) in January to 66.7 °F (19.3 °C) in July.[6] On average, there are 38 nights annually that drop to 0 °F (−18 °C) or below, and 91 days where the temperature stays below freezing, including 69 days from December through February.[6] Although 1991–2020 averaged 2 days annually with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C), more than 35 percent of all years on record have not seen such temperatures.[6] Extreme temperatures range from −41 °F (−41 °C) on February 1, 1955, up to 96 °F (36 °C) as recently as June 19, 2024.[6] June 19, 2024 saw a heat index of 103 °F during a heat wave that hit the Midwest and New England.[7]

File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Caribou Area, ME(ThreadEx).svg
Climate chart for Caribou

The average first freeze of the season occurs on September 23, and the last May 15, resulting in a freeze-free season of 130 days; the corresponding dates for measurable snowfall, i.e. at least 0.1 in (0.25 cm), are October 23 and April 25.[6] The average annual snowfall for Caribou is approximately 118.2 inches (3.0 m), while snowfall has ranged from 68.5 inches (1.74 m) in 1961–1962 to 196.5 inches (4.99 m) in 2007−2008; the record snowiest month was December 1972 with 59.9 inches (1.52 m), while the most snow in one calendar day was 28.6 inches (73 cm) on March 14, 1984.[6] Measurable snowfalls typically occur from early November to early April. A snow depth of at least 10 in (25 cm) is on average seen 78 days per winter, including 63 days from January to March,[8] when the snow pack is typically most reliable.

Template:Weather box Template:Graph:Weather monthly history

Demographics

File:Caribou maine.jpg
Trucks outside a starch factory in October 1940

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Caribou had a population of 7,396. The median age was 48.4 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.[9][10]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]

There were 3,361 households in Caribou, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.1% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]

There were 3,782 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.6%.[9]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[10]
Race Number Percent
White 6,884 93.1%
Black or African American 48 0.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native 94 1.3%
Asian 52 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 3 0.0%
Some other race 39 0.5%
Two or more races 276 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 90 1.2%

2010 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 8,189 people, 3,559 households, and 2,206 families residing in the city. The population density was 103.3 inhabitants per square mile (39.9/km2). There were 3,914 housing units at an average density of 49.4 per square mile (19.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.0% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.01% of the population.

There were 3,559 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 44 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 8,312 people, 3,517 households, and 2,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 104.8 inhabitants per square mile (40.5/km2). There were 3,858 housing units at an average density of 48.7 per square mile (18.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.22% White, 0.01% African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 3,517 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city 22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.6% was from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,485, and the median income for a family was $38,378. Males had a median income of $29,202 versus $20,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,061. About 8.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The school district for this community is Regional School Unit 39.[14]

Notable people

References

  1. "City Council - City of Caribou, Maine". Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Template:GNIS
  4. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  5. United States Department of Agriculture. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States National Arboretum. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)
  7. "It's hotter in northern Maine than Miami right now". Bangor Daily News. AP. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  8. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NOAA KCAR
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  11. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Aroostook County, ME (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2 (PDF p. 3/4). Retrieved July 12, 2025. - Text list
  15. "After 10 years, Caribou's new $54M school finally opens in the middle of a pandemic". Bangor Daily News. December 14, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  16. Ting, Dennis (March 3, 2014). "Politics: The family business". CNN. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  17. "COLLINS, Susan Margaret". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  18. "BNSC - Paryse Martin". National Biennial of Contemporary Sculpture. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  19. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "2013 Astronaut Class". NASA. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.

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