Brownfield, Maine
Encyclopedia
Brownfield is a town
in Oxford County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center
.
, whose main village was located at what is today Fryeburg. It was granted on January 23, 1764 by the Massachusetts General Court
to Captain Henry Young Brown for his services in the French and Indian Wars
. Settlement began about 1765. Brown was required to settle 38 families by June 10, 1770, with a minister recruited by 3 years after that. Unfortunately, a portion of the original grant was found to lie in New Hampshire
.
Replacement land in Maine was granted to Brown on June 25, 1766. It was called Brownfield Addition, one part of which now lies within Hiram
and Denmark
. The township was first organized as Brownfield Plantation, named in honor of its principal proprietor. On February 20, 1802, it was incorporated as Brownfield. By the War of 1812
, it had nearly 900 residents.
Farming was the chief occupation, with the Saco River
providing water power for industry. Products of the mills included flour
, long lumber
, barrel
staves, rocking chair
s, clothing
, carriage
s, sleighs and harness. After the Civil War
, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad passed through the town, following the general course of the river.
But the Great Fires of 1947 would destroy 85% of Brownfield. In an effort to replace lost commerce, a ski resort
was proposed for Burnt Meadow Mountain. It opened in 1971 with a 3400 feet (1,036.3 m) T-bar lift
, but after being renamed Zodiac Skiway in 1980, closed in 1982. Today, the T-bars are still hanging in place.
, the town has a total area of 46.2 square miles (119.7 km²), of which, 44.9 square miles (116.3 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (2.77%) is water. Situated beside the New Hampshire border, Brownfield is drained by the Saco River
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,251 people, 512 households, and 352 families residing in the town. The population density
was 27.9 people per square mile (10.8/km²). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 17.6 per square mile (6.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 512 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,304, and the median income for a family was $39,886. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $22,778 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,037. About 4.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Oxford County
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center
Stone Mountain Arts Center
Stone Mountain Arts Center , located in Brownfield, Maine, is an intimate performance hall situated in the foothills of the White Mountains...
.
History
The area was once territory of the Pequawket Abenaki IndiansIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, whose main village was located at what is today Fryeburg. It was granted on January 23, 1764 by the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
to Captain Henry Young Brown for his services in the French and Indian Wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
. Settlement began about 1765. Brown was required to settle 38 families by June 10, 1770, with a minister recruited by 3 years after that. Unfortunately, a portion of the original grant was found to lie in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Replacement land in Maine was granted to Brown on June 25, 1766. It was called Brownfield Addition, one part of which now lies within Hiram
Hiram, Maine
Hiram is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,423 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of Hiram, East Hiram, South Hiram and Durgintown...
and Denmark
Denmark, Maine
Denmark is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,004 at the 2000 census. A number of recreationally-used ponds and lakes are located within the town.-History:...
. The township was first organized as Brownfield Plantation, named in honor of its principal proprietor. On February 20, 1802, it was incorporated as Brownfield. By the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, it had nearly 900 residents.
Farming was the chief occupation, with the Saco River
Saco River
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000...
providing water power for industry. Products of the mills included flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
, long lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, barrel
Barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container, traditionally made of vertical wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. Traditionally, the barrel was a standard size of measure referring to a set capacity or weight of a given commodity. A small barrel is called a keg.For example, a...
staves, rocking chair
Rocking chair
A rocking chair or rocker is a type of chair with two curved bands of wood attached to the bottom of the legs . The chair contacts with the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting his/her weight or pushing lightly with his/her feet...
s, clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
, carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
s, sleighs and harness. After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad passed through the town, following the general course of the river.
But the Great Fires of 1947 would destroy 85% of Brownfield. In an effort to replace lost commerce, a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
was proposed for Burnt Meadow Mountain. It opened in 1971 with a 3400 feet (1,036.3 m) T-bar lift
T-bar lift
A T-bar lift, also called T-bar, is a mechanised system for transporting skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope...
, but after being renamed Zodiac Skiway in 1980, closed in 1982. Today, the T-bars are still hanging in place.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 46.2 square miles (119.7 km²), of which, 44.9 square miles (116.3 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (2.77%) is water. Situated beside the New Hampshire border, Brownfield is drained by the Saco River
Saco River
The Saco River is a river in northeastern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine in the United States. It drains a rural area of of forests and farmlands west and southwest of Portland, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Saco Bay, from its source. It supplies drinking water to roughly 250,000...
.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,251 people, 512 households, and 352 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 27.9 people per square mile (10.8/km²). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 17.6 per square mile (6.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 512 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,304, and the median income for a family was $39,886. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $22,778 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,037. About 4.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
Notable people
- Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor
- Paris GibsonParis GibsonParis Gibson was an American entrepreneur and politician.Gibson was born in Brownfield, Maine. An 1851 graduate of Bowdoin College, he served as a member of the Montana State Senate and as a Democratic member of the United States Senate between 1901 and 1905.-Career:In 1853 he was elected to the...
, entrepreneur, senator - Robert GoodenowRobert GoodenowRobert Goodenow was a U.S. Representative from Maine, brother of Rufus King Goodenow.Born in Henniker, New Hampshire, Goodenow moved with his parents to Brownfield, Maine, in 1802....
, congressman - Rufus K. GoodenowRufus K. GoodenowRufus King Goodenow was a United States Representative from Maine. Born in Henniker, New Hampshire on April 24, 1790, he moved with his parents to Brownfield, Maine in 1802. He received limited schooling, subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits...
, congressman - Carol NoonanCarol NoonanCarol Noonan is an American folk singer/songwriter from New England, USA.She began her career as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Knots and Crosses. "Crosses" was formed in the late 1980s by Carol Noonan , Alan Williams and Rick Harris all were students at the New England Conservatory...
, singer and songwriter - Augustus G. Paine, Sr.Augustus G. Paine, Sr.Augustus Gibson Paine, Sr. was an American financier.- Biography :He was born in Brownfield, Maine and after living in Boston for a time, came to New York City in 1862...
, financier