1981 Map of Branch Lake

About this map

The glaciated terrain of central Hancock County is defined by a dense network of lakes and islands, anchored by the expansive Branch Lake and the twin basins of Upper Patten Pond and Lower Patten Pond. Settled hamlets like North Ellsworth and West Ellsworth follow the high ground along the winding roads, while the Maine Central rail line cuts across the northern landscape near Nicolin Cemetery. The topography transitions from the low wetlands of Carlisle Meadow to the distinct heights of Flying Moose Mountain and Oak Hill, reflecting the varied elevation that shaped historical settlement patterns. Genealogical researchers will find value in the scattered burial grounds like West Surry Cemetery and Hillside Cemetery, which mark the small communities and family plots established along the shorelines and stony ridges of this coastal Maine interior during the early 1980s.