Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County, Maine, on Penobscot Bay at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River. The what river? The Passagassawakeag River? Belfast was settled in 1770 by Scottish-Irish families; the name Belfast, like the Northern Ireland city, was chosen by a coin-toss. Unfortunately, the coin toss did nothing to change the river's oddball name.
Hundreds of wooden sailing ships were built in Belfast in the 1800s, and prosperous shipbuilders and merchants constructed houses with the cutting-edge architecture of the day
Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County, Maine, on Penobscot Bay at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River. The what river? The Passagassawakeag River? Belfast was settled in 1770 by Scottish-Irish families; the name Belfast, like the Northern Ireland city, was chosen by a coin-toss. Unfortunately, the coin toss did nothing to change the river's oddball name.
Hundreds of wooden sailing ships were built in Belfast in the 1800s, and prosperous shipbuilders and merchants constructed houses with the cutting-edge architecture of the day. You can visit the homes of former sea captains with "widow's walks," many of which are included on the National Register of Historic Places. When two disastrous fires consumed much of the downtown area in the mid 1800s, merchants rebuilt with brick. In the 1900s when the sea trade began to wane, Belfast residents switched to shoe making and canning for work. By 1980, the arts flourished and the finest houses and commercial buildings were restored.
Moving to Belfast
Apartments for rent in Belfast are plentiful and charming. If you prefer to be close to town, there are studio apartments for rent as well as rental houses. If you want more privacy and aesthetics, you can find a month to month home for rent on the waterfront or lakefront. Look for a home with a fireplace, sit on the porch and smell the seaweed, watch the waves, or play on the beach near your home. Since it is such a small town, be sure to have all your papers ready when you find the right spot. Bank statements, letters of reference, a credit report, rental history and anything else to assure the landlord you'll fit right in in Belfast.
Living in Belfast
Belfast today, with a population of 6,657, is a quaint seacoast town with an active social and cultural life. Many of today's residents work in education, health, social services, finance, insurance, real estate, manufacturing, sales, and self-employment trades.
The folks in Belfast know how to combine heritage with fun. Every year at the Belfast Harbor Fest, they hold the Cardboard Boat Challenge where teams of contestants build and race cardboard boats. Trophies are awarded for the most creative boat, the best team spirit... and the most spectacular sinking. Belfast residents also hold the National Boat Building Contest, where teams of two build a boat in four hours and launch them into a relay race.
For sightseeing and fishing, the bridge at the head of Belfast Harbor is a popular spot for shore-based anglers. You can fish from the bridge or watch lobster fishermen hauling traps. Just off the Belfast shoreline are weed beds that harbor bait fish, which in turn attract striped bass. Boaters have difficulty reaching these weed beds at low tide because of rocks and shallow water, but shore-based anglers can fish here during any phase of the tide. Nearby picnic areas make for great all-day outings, and the lighthouses are spectacular.
Fishing charters can help you find striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel; if you prefer to watch nature instead of catch it, take an offshore trip and see seals, porpoises, eagles, and a number of other sea birds. From the deck of a boat, you can hold up your sandwich and a watch a gull swoop down and snatch it from your hand--along with a finger or two, if you're not careful.
