Lisbon, Maine
Encyclopedia
Lisbon is a town
in Androscoggin County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 9,077 at the 2000 census
. It is included in both the Lewiston
-Auburn
, Maine metropolitan statistical area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England city and town area
. Lisbon includes the village of Lisbon Falls
.
, a township within the Kennebec Purchase. But because travel to attend town meetings was difficult, on June 22, 1799 the General Court
of Massachusetts
divided Bowdoin in two to create Thompsonborough. Residents, however, soon grew dissatisfied with the long name. Consequently, it would be renamed in 1802 as Lisbon, after Lisbon in Portugal
. In 1808, Lisbon annexed the remainder of Little River Plantation (part of the Pejepscot Purchase) as Lisbon Falls
. In 1840, part of Lisbon was set off as Webster.
With fertile and easily cultivated soil, farming was an early industry. Sawmill
s and gristmill
s were built using water power from the streams. Larger brick mills followed to manufacture textile
s. In 1864, the Worumbo Mill
was established to produce woolen
s, and would remain a principal employer until it burned in 1987. Today, the small mill town
is largely a bedroom community for companies like Bath Iron Works
.
, the town has a total area of 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²), of which, 23.6 square miles (61.1 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.28%) is water. Lisbon is drained by the Sabattus River
, Little River and Androscoggin River
.
of 2000, there were 9,077 people, 3,608 households, and 2,485 families residing in the town. The population density
was 384.5 people per square mile (148.4/km²). There were 3,789 housing units at an average density of 160.5 per square mile (62.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.41% White, 0.65% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 3,608 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,115, and the median income for a family was $42,614. Males had a median income of $32,107 versus $21,099 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,263. About 6.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% 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 Androscoggin County
Androscoggin County, Maine
Androscoggin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the county's population was 107,702. Its county seat is Auburn...
, 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 9,077 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is included in both the Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
-Auburn
Auburn, Maine
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 23,055 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan...
, Maine metropolitan statistical area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England city and town area
New England City and Town Area
A New England City and Town Area or NECTA is a geographic and statistical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, for use in describing aspects of the New England region of the United States...
. Lisbon includes the village of Lisbon Falls
Lisbon Falls, Maine
Lisbon Falls is a census-designated place in the town of Lisbon, located in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population of Lisbon Falls was 4,420 at the 2000 census...
.
History
The community was originally part of BowdoinBowdoin, Maine
Bowdoin is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,727 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
, a township within the Kennebec Purchase. But because travel to attend town meetings was difficult, on June 22, 1799 the 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...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
divided Bowdoin in two to create Thompsonborough. Residents, however, soon grew dissatisfied with the long name. Consequently, it would be renamed in 1802 as Lisbon, after Lisbon in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. In 1808, Lisbon annexed the remainder of Little River Plantation (part of the Pejepscot Purchase) as Lisbon Falls
Lisbon Falls, Maine
Lisbon Falls is a census-designated place in the town of Lisbon, located in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population of Lisbon Falls was 4,420 at the 2000 census...
. In 1840, part of Lisbon was set off as Webster.
With fertile and easily cultivated soil, farming was an early industry. 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 and gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s were built using water power from the streams. Larger brick mills followed to manufacture textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s. In 1864, the Worumbo Mill
Worumbo Mill
Worumbo Mill is an historic mill on the bank of the Androscoggin River in Lisbon Falls, Maine.The mill was built in 1864 and added to the National Historic Register in 1973....
was established to produce woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
s, and would remain a principal employer until it burned in 1987. Today, the small mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
is largely a bedroom community for companies like Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
.
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 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²), of which, 23.6 square miles (61.1 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.28%) is water. Lisbon is drained by the Sabattus River
Sabattus River
The Sabattus River is an tributary of the Androscoggin River in Maine. It rises at the outlet of Sabattus Pond in the town of Sabattus and flows south into the town of Lisbon, reaching the Androscoggin just southeast of Lisbon Center and about upstream of Lisbon Falls...
, Little River and Androscoggin River
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is long and joins the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine before its water empties into the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is in area...
.
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 9,077 people, 3,608 households, and 2,485 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 384.5 people per square mile (148.4/km²). There were 3,789 housing units at an average density of 160.5 per square mile (62.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.41% White, 0.65% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.31% 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 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 3,608 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,115, and the median income for a family was $42,614. Males had a median income of $32,107 versus $21,099 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 $17,263. About 6.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- William DunnWilliam Dunn (Medal of Honor)William Dunn was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.-Military service:...
, sailor - Howard GerrishHoward GerrishHoward H. Gerrish was an author and teacher whose influence extended widely through the technology and electronics community of the early 1960s-80s. He authored and co-authored numerous books that taught, and continue to teach, electronics...
, author and teacher - John GouldJohn Gould (columnist)John Thomas Gould was an American humorist, essayist, and columnist who wrote a column for the Christian Science Monitor for over sixty years from a farm in Lisbon Falls, Maine...
, columnist - Garrett MasonGarrett Mason (politician)Garrett Paul Mason is an American politician. Mason is a Republican State Senator from Maine's 17th District, representing part of Androscoggin County, including his residence in Lisbon Falls. In 2003, he graduated from Calvary Christian Academy in Turner. In 2006, Mason graduated from...
, politician - Greg MooreGreg Moore (ice hockey)Greg Moore is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Augsburger Panther of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga . He previously played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.-Playing career:Moore was drafted in the 5th round, 143rd...
, hockey forward - James Tierney, politician