Maps & Stats of the Northern Forest

The Center defines the Northern Forest as a 30-million-acre area encompassing all or part of 40 counties in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. This definition has evolved from the 26-million-acre area included in the 1990 US Forest Service Northern Forest Lands Study as new research and projects expanded to include adjacent communities and counties with similar resources and challenges.

The maps below reflect the scope of the Northern Forest included in The Center’s current and past work.

Northern Forest Locator Map
Northern Forest Topographic Map
Northern Forest County Map for the Sustainable Economy Initiative
Northern Forest Center 2010 Program Map

Northern Forest by the Numbers

These data are gleaned from a variety of sources and timeframes. They’re provided here to help create a picture of the region. If you notice an out of date number, we’d be glad to know about it!

Acres	30 million
Population	2 million+
Communities	1,140 (counties defining the Sustainable Economy Initative)
Lakes	4,000+
Rivers	4,000 miles canoeable
Mountains	600 higher than 2,000 ft.
Counties	33 (counties defining the Sustainable Economy Initiative)
People over 65	13.9% in Northern Forest, vs. 12.1% in US (2005 data)
Change in population between 25 - 34 years old	-22.2% in Northern Forest, vs. -10.2% in US (2005 data)
Average salary	$29,984 in Northern Forest, vs. $40,114 in US (2005 data)

Extensive statistical information is available from the Sustainable Economy Initiative. Studies include society and economy, agriculture, creative economy, energy, forestry and forest products, the knowledge-based economy, and nature and heritage tourism. Detailed maps of the Northern Forest include population, education, work and school enrollment, poverty and income, second homes and a variety of base maps, including transportation, cultural and recreational amenities and land cover.