Nestled in the St. Croix Valley, Calais is located on the St. Croix River on Washington County's eastern border. The city is situated across the river from St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Calais is centrally located to Downeast Maine and Atlantic Canada. This area, with its small villages and towns scattered on many lakes and the shore of the Passamaquoddy Bay, features some of the most unspoiled scenery in Maine. Explore and discover secluded tidal inlets, tranquil pine forests, and the un-crowded pleasures of coastal life.

Calais, with 4,000 residents, is an ideal location for a Two-Nation Vacation. From this central base, visitors can take day trips to a multitude of interesting and historical spots. Anyone wishing to trace our heritage will be pleased at the wealth of information available and the number of historical buildings found locally.

Information courtesy Saint Croix Chamber of Commerce.

The first settlers arrived in Calais in the 1770s. William Swain of Massachusetts and David Farrell from Ireland were among the first individuals mentioned. Daniel Hill of Jonesport was the first permanent settler in 1779. Washington County was organized June 25, 1789 by order of the General Court of Massachusetts and divided into townships. Calais, containing 19,392 acres, was listed as Township #5. On June 27, 1789 the Township was sold to Waterman Thomas of Waldoborough, Maine for 672 pounds, 8 shillings, 3 pence. It remained Township #5 until 1806, when by an “Act of the Legislature and in accordance with the wishes of its people” the Township received the name of Calais. Incorporation as a town came in 1809 and as a city in 1851.


The population of Calais is said to have been 16 in 1790, and grew to 5,944 by 1870. The Calais Fire of 1870 destroyed most of downtown and its piers. During 1874, one hundred seventy-six vessels (sailing ships) were owned or hailed from Calais, and 25 from St. Stephen.

Information courtesy Saint Croix Chamber of Commerce.

Use NOAA Chart 13398.

Calais is about a 45-nautical-mile-long journey from the mouth of the Saint Croix River around Deer Island.

Local Notices to Mariners are now available exclusively online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Each year Calais and St. Stephen join to celebrate the genuine friendship between the two communities. A weeklong International Festival is held every August to recognize this relationship, and activities abound on either side of the border.

See the “Helpful Links” section at the bottom of this page for detailed information.

Information courtesy Saint Croix Chamber of Commerce.

St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce

Calendar of Events