Down East
Swan's Island
Swan’s Island may be reached via a 40-minute ferry ride from Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island, multiple times a day, throughout the year. Approximately 350 people live on Swan’s year-round, and the resident population rises to 1,000 or more in the summer.
Our People
Some of our talented people working in this area.
![]() | Katie Chapman Swan's Island Alternative Energy and Healthcare Fellow |

The island’s grammar school serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade, and a separate pre-school serves younger children. Some Island students are home-schooled.
Swan’s Island is primarily supported by lobster fishing, although residents also earn livelihoods and/or supplement their incomes by doing construction work, commuting to jobs on the mainland, or caretaking for seasonal properties.
Swan’s Island residents are pleased to have a new store that offers a healthy selection of staples during regular weekly hours, with sandwiches on Fridays only.
The historical society has a link from the town website that shows genealogy, artifacts and historical pictures, and a museum display is kept at the library. Other Island museums include Seaside Hall and the Lobster and Marine Museum.
The Town Office and Post Office are housed in the same building (recently renovated!) and offer services Monday through Friday.
The Millpond Park Health Clinic opened in 2008, hosting mainland doctors who come and serve patients.
Swan’s Island has begun investigating wind power as the means to stabilize or alleviate high electricity costs. http://www.swansisland.org/windpower/
The Swan’s Island Library is an excellent space; in the past, the building was used as a school, a home and a theatre. The library offers wireless DSL, computers, board games, and programming such as winter coffee hours and movie nights.
The Town Office website is quite helpful: www.swansisland.org
News |
| May 23, 2008 | | Island Institute Announces Maine Island Scholarship Awards |
| Nov 14, 2006 | | Maine Islands Coalition Minutes November 14, 2006 |
| Mar 05, 2004 | | Maine Islands Coalition Minutes March 5, 2004 |

