Mapping Boundaries
People who live in Downeast Maine are very clear that rural living is important to their identity . Their entire way of life is built within the context of intact natural resources , open spaces , and long-standing cultural traditions . The idea to form a National Heritage Area began with a group of wild blueberry farmers in Washington County committed to preserving a landscape and economic sector inherent only to this part of the world , and a lifestyle deeply valued by the people who live here . As the process ensued it became clear that wild blueberries are intricately connected to and do not stand apart from the greater story of our glacial landscape , intact natural resources , community values , and outdoor recreation resources .
People do not want their communities to become crowded and the rural aspects of life to become degraded . A common refrain across the region , especially further east , is “ We don ’ t want to become Bar Harbor .” Another common concern in Washington County is that , as the traditional primary attraction for tourism , Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park receive the majority of attention - from visitors , developers , funders , promotion entities , and more . Because Washington and Hancock Counties are linked together as one of the eight tourism regions designated by the State of Maine , known as DownEast Acadia , even the most reliable economic information is skewed toward what happens on Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park . Many people assume this is because of Acadia National Park and ignore the significance of a shared French history from Castine to Calais and St Croix Island . Designation of the region as the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area is designed to promote all of the two-county region and spread attention , visitors , and resources more evenly throughout .
Washington and Hancock Counties differ greatly from each other in population density and the personal wealth of residents . However , their history , economy , landscape elements , cultural and natural resources , transportation routes , and community members are inextricably bound together . And people at both ends of the region are interested in collectively shaping the future of Downeast Maine in ways that protect these elements .
People at both ends of the region are interested in collectively shaping the future of Downeast Maine ...
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