MOUNT DESERT, de-zert' or dez'ert. The largest of the numerous islands on the coast of Maine. It belongs to Ilancock County, and is sep arated from the mainland on the northwest by a channel from one-half to two miles wide, and on the northeast by Frenchman's Bay (Slap: Maine, G 7). It is 15 miles long and S miles broad, with an area of about 100 square miles. Its outline is very irregular, a long, narrow bay or fiord almost separating the island into two halves. The surface is rugged and mountainous, rising to a height of over 1500 feet, and present ing a line of bold cliffs along the northeast coast. The island is surrounded by a number of rocky islets, and there are several beautiful lakes in the interior, giving a varied character to the scenery, which has made Mount Desert a favorite summer rosort. The island has three convenient harbors. Bar Harbor, Northeast, and Southwest, and numerous villages, varying in popularity as summer resorts, the most noted being Bar Harbor. First discovered by l'ham
plain. who gave the island its name. Mount Desert was settled in 1608 by French Jesuits, their colony of Saint Sauveur on Somes Sound, however. being destroyed eight years later by an expedition from Virginia. A permanent set t lenient here (Somesville, which is thus the old est on the island) was effected by the English hi 1761 The town of ?Mount Desert was incorpo rated in 1739. Since that date the towns of Eden, Cranberry Isles (three miles from South west. Harbor), and Tremont have been formed from the original district and incorporated, re speetively, in 1796, 1830. VI Ild 1848. Population, Cranberry Isles, in 1900, 374: Eden. in 1890, 1946: in 1900, 4379: Mount Desert, in NM), 1600; Tremont, in 1900. 2010.