Learn more in the Vinalhaven Community Profile here
Vinalhaven is the largest island in Penobscot Bay both geographically and demographically. The community is clustered around the busy commercial port of Carver’s Harbor, where over 200 lobster boats are moored. The history of Vinalhaven goes all the way back to the Native Americans who visited the island almost 5,000 years ago. The island was settled by the English in the 1700s and, in 1846, the communities of Vinalhaven and neighboring North Haven officially split to become separate island communities. Vinalhaven became a leading producer of granite in the 1800s, and is sustained today by the lobster-rich waters of Penobscot Bay.
Quick Facts
- Year-Round Population, 2010 U.S. Census: 1,165
- Summer Population Estimate: 2,200
- Acres: 14,392
- Mainland ferry terminal: Rockland
- Estimated distance between mainland and island ferry docks: 15 miles
- Ferry service: Maine State Ferry Service
- School: Vinalhaven School (K–12)
- Form of town government: Independent Town
