Plantation (Maine)
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Maine
, a plantation is a type of minor civil division
falling between township
(or unorganized territory
) and town
. The term, as used in this sense in modern times, appears to be exclusive to Maine.
A plantation is essentially a previously unorganized township that the state legislature has granted a limited form of self-government that is similar to, but simpler than, a town. Plantations are typically found in sparsely populated areas.
No other New England
state currently has an entity equivalent to a plantation. In colonial times, Massachusetts also used the term “plantation” for a community in a pre-town stage of development – in fact, Maine probably originally got the term from Massachusetts
, as Maine was once part of Massachusetts – but the term has been out of wide use there since the 18th century. Similarly, the term was used in colonial Rhode Island, and a vestige of the term remains in the official state name, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Massachusetts also once had “districts”, which served much the same purpose. Districts were typically municipalities that had been formed by breaking off from existing towns. They were considered to be incorporated, but lacked the full privileges of a town. Maine and Rhode Island are also known to have made limited use of the district concept. Districts have not been at all common since the first half of the 19th century, and there have not been any districts of this type anywhere in New England in over a century.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, a plantation is a type of minor civil division
Minor civil division
Minor civil division is a term used by the United States Census Bureau to designate the primary governmental and/or administrative divisions of a county, such as a civil township, precinct, or magisterial district...
falling between township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
(or unorganized territory
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...
) and town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
. The term, as used in this sense in modern times, appears to be exclusive to Maine.
A plantation is essentially a previously unorganized township that the state legislature has granted a limited form of self-government that is similar to, but simpler than, a town. Plantations are typically found in sparsely populated areas.
No other New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
state currently has an entity equivalent to a plantation. In colonial times, Massachusetts also used the term “plantation” for a community in a pre-town stage of development – in fact, Maine probably originally got the term from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, as Maine was once part of Massachusetts – but the term has been out of wide use there since the 18th century. Similarly, the term was used in colonial Rhode Island, and a vestige of the term remains in the official state name, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Massachusetts also once had “districts”, which served much the same purpose. Districts were typically municipalities that had been formed by breaking off from existing towns. They were considered to be incorporated, but lacked the full privileges of a town. Maine and Rhode Island are also known to have made limited use of the district concept. Districts have not been at all common since the first half of the 19th century, and there have not been any districts of this type anywhere in New England in over a century.
See also
- List of Plantations in Maine
- Plantation (settlement or colony)Plantation (settlement or colony)Plantation was an early method of colonization in which settlers were "planted" abroad in order to establish a permanent or semi-permanent colonial base. Such plantations were also frequently intended to promote Western culture and Christianity among nearby indigenous peoples, as can be seen in the...
Further reading
- James J. Haag, "A Study of Plantation Government in Maine." Orono, ME: Bureau of Public Administration, University of Maine, 1973.