Today the Bangor Daily News begins a six-part series focusing on the flight of people from northern Maine, one of the major reasons why the state is becoming a demographic disaster zone.

In analyzing 2002 Census data for previous stories, we discovered that three northern Maine counties – Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington – lost population in the 1990s for the first time in three decades. Coupled with the continued long-term decline in population in Aroostook County, the loss in those northern four counties was a major contributor to the demographic problems that are gradually eroding the state’s ability to be a national player economically and politically.

Key indicators of decline, of which outmigration is becoming an increasingly troublesome contributor, include these Census facts:

. Maine has the fifth slowest growing population in the country.

. We have the fourth oldest population.

. We see the smallest percentage of racial minorities on our streets of any state.

In order to determine the role of out-migration in this ever-growing crisis, the NEWS examined Internal Revenue Service data that tracked county-to-county moves of taxpayers and their families between 1995 and 2000. We examined the data for the state’s eight northern counties, which roughly correspond to the newspaper’s circulation area.

What we found confirmed our suspicions: The northern four counties – Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington – experienced a deficit of about 11,000 people in the latter half of the 1990s. In other words, 11,000 more people moved out than moved into those counties.

The other four counties – Hancock, Waldo, Knox and Somerset – all saw increases in population in the 1990s and experienced a surplus of movers. Nevertheless, even when this surplus was taken into account, the northern eight counties taken as a whole experienced a net loss of 5,000 to out-migration in the last five years of the decade.

The IRS data revealed the destinations of most people leaving northern eight Maine. The top five choices in order were the Portland, Boston, Lewiston, Tampa, Fla. and Hartford, Conn. metropolitan areas.

Using personal contacts and responses to a query on our web page, we contacted ex-Mainers and visited them in their homes and offices. We asked them why they left and what it is about their new homes that they like. Their comments and experiences form the basis for much of this series. We also talked to people about why they chose to return to places like Fort Fairfield, Milo and Lubec – in the heart of the demographic decline.

Many NEWS staffers contributed to this series. Former reporter Michael Moore developed the original migration numbers from the raw IRS data. We sent project reporter Jeff Tuttle and photographer Linda Coan O’Kresik to Portland, Boston and Tampa, as well as to several northern Maine communities, to record the thoughts and images of people who left and some who chose to return. O’Kresik also accompanied reporter Dawn Gagnon to the Hartford area to tell the story of the Franco-American migration there from the St. John River Valley that has gone on, with steadily dwindling numbers, since World War II. Former project reporter Susan Young developed some of the background research that appears in part one of the series.

O’Kresik and Photo editor Scott Haskell prepared the photographs that appear with each story. Graphics director Eric Zelz designed the series, while artist Mary Ford designed the maps and other graphics that help explain the text each day. Jim Emple was the project’s copy editor. Librarian Charlie Campo provided research materials.

Wayne E. Reilly, project editor