Today

Original airport hanger was built in 1936.

With an airport and a business park, the town of Trenton is bustling yet beautiful with inspiring views.

“I get to get up in morning, and see the bay and Cadillac Mountain with a hot cup of coffee,” said Trenton native George Hopkins, whose Route 230 home overlooks Goose Cove. “I really enjoy getting up in the morning.”

“I love Trenton,” Hopkins said. “I like the people. It’s a great place to live.”

Hopkins said Trenton today is a lot different from what it was years ago but still “I wouldn’t swap Trenton for anything.”

“I don’t think people ‘neighbor’ as much as they used to because they’re trying to make a living,” said Hopkins.

 “I think we’re a community where folks like to live,” said Selectman Jim Cameron. “It’s pretty much a family-oriented community.”

Cameron, whose Trenton roots go back a couple of generations, moved to Trenton in 1978 from Bar Harbor. Since then, he’s seen the town’s population grow by a third.

In recent years, Trenton has experienced commercial and industrial growth, “which has been well-controlled, we feel,” said Cameron.

Still, traffic is an issue in Trenton because Route 3, the main route for travelers to and from MDI, runs through town.

Trenton is home to the only commercial airport in Hancock County and an eight-lot business park.

The airport brings commerce and employs a lot of people, said Hopkins.

But, Hopkins said the subject of traffic “hits a nerve.”

“I try to keep calm as possible, but I tell you something. It really is an ordeal,” said Hopkins.

“It’s really frustrating, we really need a light out there,” said Hopkins of the Route 230/Route 3 intersection.

“Now it’s really tough,” said Hopkins. “Route 230 is like Grand Central Station. It’s really bad for the people who live on Route 230.”

However, the well-beaten path of Route 3 provides views of Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain. Trenton is trying to control the growth and development along the Route 3 strip to maintain the scenic vista, Cameron said.

Trenton has revised its land use ordinance so that developers must have road frontage of at least 1,000 feet in order to build, said Cameron.

Another reason for plenty of open space between Route 3 developments is that Trenton does not have town sewer and water lines. Businesses must rely on wells and septic systems, which can be a “deterrent for some types of development,” said Cameron.

“We seem to be a pretty popular community,” said Cameron. “We have a good school system. We have taxes in line for a community our size.”