Chelsea, Maine
Encyclopedia
Chelsea is a town
in Kennebec County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 2,559 at the 2000 census.
. The town was named after the town of Chelsea, Massachusetts
. The zip code of the town was used in the film The Shawshank Redemption
as the zip code of the fictional town of Shawshank, Maine, the location of the prison that served as the film's main setting.
, the town has a total area of 19.9 square miles (51.5 km²), of which, 19.5 square miles (50.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (2.01%) is water. Chelsea is on the east bank of the Kennebec River
.
Chelsea is bordered by the cities of Hallowell
to its west, and Augusta
to its north, and the towns of Farmingdale to its southwest, Randolph
and Pittston
to its south, and Whitefield
to its east.
of 2000, there were 2,559 people, 959 households, and 701 families residing in the town. The population density
was 131.2 people per square mile (50.7/km²). There were 1,015 housing units at an average density of 52.0 per square mile (20.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 959 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,905, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $30,793 versus $23,781 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,591. About 13.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 21.7% 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 Kennebec County
Kennebec County, Maine
Kennebec County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 122,151. Its county seat is Augusta. The center of population of Maine is located in Kennebec County, in the city of Augusta....
, 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 2,559 at the 2000 census.
History
Chelsea was incorporated as a town on March 1, 1851 separating from a portion of HallowellHallowell, Maine
Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-History:The city is named for Benjamin Hallowell, a Boston merchant and one of the Kennebec Proprietors, holders of land originally granted to the Plymouth Company by the British monarchy in...
. The town was named after the town of Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
. The zip code of the town was used in the film The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman....
as the zip code of the fictional town of Shawshank, Maine, the location of the prison that served as the film's main setting.
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 19.9 square miles (51.5 km²), of which, 19.5 square miles (50.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (2.01%) is water. Chelsea is on the east bank of the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
.
Chelsea is bordered by the cities of Hallowell
Hallowell, Maine
Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-History:The city is named for Benjamin Hallowell, a Boston merchant and one of the Kennebec Proprietors, holders of land originally granted to the Plymouth Company by the British monarchy in...
to its west, and Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
to its north, and the towns of Farmingdale to its southwest, Randolph
Randolph, Maine
Randolph is a town and a census-designated place in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,911 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Randolph, Massachusetts.-Geography:Randolph is located at ....
and Pittston
Pittston, Maine
Pittston is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,548 at the 2000 census. The town was named for the family of John Pitt, who were early settlers....
to its south, and Whitefield
Whitefield, Maine
Whitefield is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,273 at the 2000 census. Whitefield is named for the celebrated British evangelist George Whitefield, who inspired the colonists before the town was settled in 1770, mainly by Irish Catholics...
to its 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 2,559 people, 959 households, and 701 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 131.2 people per square mile (50.7/km²). There were 1,015 housing units at an average density of 52.0 per square mile (20.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.99% White, 0.27% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.08% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 959 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% 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 26.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,905, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $30,793 versus $23,781 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 $17,591. About 13.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.