Byron, Maine
Encyclopedia
Byron is a town
in Oxford County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 121 at the 2000 census. Home to Coos Canyon on the Swift River, Byron includes the village of Houghton.
poet Lord Byron. Nicknamed Hop City, agriculture
was the principal occupation. Crops included wheat
, corn
, potato
es and oat
s. Lumbering was extensive in winter, with two sawmill
s operating. The Rumford Falls & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was completed in 1896, carrying freight, tourists and "rusticators" from Rumford up the Swift River valley through Byron and Houghton to Mooselookmeguntic Lake
.
The Swift River is a popular place to either pan
for gold
or swim at Coos Canyon, a 32 foot (10 meter) high gorge where the water depth occasionally exceeds 20 feet (6 meters). Just down river from the gorge is a small local beach, called Toby's Beach. And a 20 foot ledge, popular during the summer, for daring jumpers.
There is a beautiful camping area off state route 17, across from Coos Canyon.
, the town has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136 km²), of which, 51.8 square miles (134.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.39%) is water. Set on either side of a narrow, uneven intervale in the Western Maine Mountains
, Byron is drained by the Swift River.
The town is crossed by state route 17. It borders the towns of Roxbury
to the south, Andover
to the west, and unincorporated townships to the north and east.
of 2000, there were 121 people, 50 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2.3 people per square mile (0.9/km²). There were 199 housing units at an average density of 3.8 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.87% White and 4.13% Asian.
There were 50 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,334. There were 12.1% of families and 9.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 14.3% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
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 121 at the 2000 census. Home to Coos Canyon on the Swift River, Byron includes the village of Houghton.
History
It was settled as Township No. 8, then incorporated on January 24, 1833 as Byron, named for the EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
poet Lord Byron. Nicknamed Hop City, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
was the principal occupation. Crops included wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es and oat
Oat
The common oat is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name . While oats are suitable for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats, one of the most common uses is as livestock feed...
s. Lumbering was extensive in winter, with two sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s operating. The Rumford Falls & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was completed in 1896, carrying freight, tourists and "rusticators" from Rumford up the Swift River valley through Byron and Houghton to Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Mooselookmeguntic Lake is located in Franklin County and Oxford County, Maine, in the United States. It is part of the Androscoggin River watershed....
.
The Swift River is a popular place to either pan
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
or swim at Coos Canyon, a 32 foot (10 meter) high gorge where the water depth occasionally exceeds 20 feet (6 meters). Just down river from the gorge is a small local beach, called Toby's Beach. And a 20 foot ledge, popular during the summer, for daring jumpers.
There is a beautiful camping area off state route 17, across from Coos Canyon.
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 52.5 square miles (136 km²), of which, 51.8 square miles (134.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.39%) is water. Set on either side of a narrow, uneven intervale in the Western Maine Mountains
Western Maine Mountains
The Western Maine Mountains region spans most of Maine's western border with New Hampshire. A small part of the scenic White Mountain National Forest is located in this area. This is essentially all of Oxford County and northern York County and Cumberland Counties. Notable towns include Bethel,...
, Byron is drained by the Swift River.
The town is crossed by state route 17. It borders the towns of Roxbury
Roxbury, Maine
Roxbury is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 384 at the 2000 census. Ellis Pond is popular with recreational fishermen.-History:...
to the south, Andover
Andover, Maine
Andover is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 864 at the 2000 census. Set among mountains and crossed by the Appalachian Trail, Andover is home to the Andover Earth Station and Lovejoy Covered Bridge.-History:...
to the west, and unincorporated townships to the north and east.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 121 people, 50 households, and 38 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 2.3 people per square mile (0.9/km²). There were 199 housing units at an average density of 3.8 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.87% White and 4.13% Asian.
There were 50 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% 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, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $16,250 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 $20,334. There were 12.1% of families and 9.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 14.3% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.