Forest City, Maine

Forest City is an unorganized township in northern Washington County, Maine, located right on the Canadian border and famous for its international lakeside community.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Transfer Station
(UT residents utilize nearby facilities via regional agreement)
Current hours and rules

Library
Danforth Public Library

Fire & Emergency Services
Danforth Fire Department
Washington County Sheriff

School
East Grand School

About Forest City, Maine

First organized as a town in 1887 before surrendering its charter in 1924, Forest City Township functions as a unique, remote border settlement in the northernmost section of Washington County. Covering 46 square miles of heavily wooded terrain and home to a tiny, fluctuating population of roughly 12 year-round residents, the territory expands significantly during the summer season as seasonal camp owners and vacationers arrive. The geographic identity of the township is defined entirely by its frontier location on the shores of East Grand Lake and Mud Lake, situated right across the international boundary line from its twin village of Forest City, New Brunswick.

Historically, the area boomed during the late 19th century as a bustling lumber hub and the site of a major leather tannery operated by F. Shaw & Brothers. Today, the community is a peaceful, tightly knit wilderness retreat where property lines on both sides of the border remain closely interconnected. Positioned at the very end of the remote Forest City Road, the quiet local lifestyle revolves around regional timber management and historic sporting camps, drawing in a steady stream of outdoor enthusiasts for guided fishing, hunting, and boating on the grand lakes.

Directory updated August 2026