New Portland, Maine
Encyclopedia
New Portland is a scenic town in Somerset County
, Maine
, United States
nestled among some of the foothills, and within sight, of the Appalachian Mountains. It is perhaps best known for its Wire Bridge, a cable suspension bridge completed in 1866 that is the last remaining bridge of its type in Maine, and possibly the U.S. Much of North New Portland's Main Street burned to the ground in the fire of 1919, including a hotel. The annual town fair draws large crowds from around, and is held in September. The population was 785 at the 2000 census. The town was given to the residents of Falmouth (now Portland
, Maine
) by the Massachusetts legislature to repay them for their loss when the British fleet burned Falmouth in 1775.
, the town has a total area of 43.8 square miles (113.4 km²), of which, 43.4 square miles (112.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.80%) is water. The town is situated on Route 27 adjacent to Kingfield and a short drive to the popular Sugarloaf ski resort. The scenic Carrabassett River flows through the West New Portland village and East New Portland village, whereas the Gilman Stream flows through the North New Portland village. The Carrabassett River is rocky and in places swift, whereas Gilman Stream is a slower river, amenable to kayaking and canoeing.
of 2000, there were 785 people, 329 households, and 227 families residing in the town. The population density
was 18.1 people per square mile (7.0/km²). There were 564 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.34% White, 1.27% Native American, 0.13% from other races
, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 329 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,521, and the median income for a family was $35,284. Males had a median income of $26,354 versus $17,014 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,596. About 8.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 52,228. Its county seat is Skowhegan.-History:...
, 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...
nestled among some of the foothills, and within sight, of the Appalachian Mountains. It is perhaps best known for its Wire Bridge, a cable suspension bridge completed in 1866 that is the last remaining bridge of its type in Maine, and possibly the U.S. Much of North New Portland's Main Street burned to the ground in the fire of 1919, including a hotel. The annual town fair draws large crowds from around, and is held in September. The population was 785 at the 2000 census. The town was given to the residents of Falmouth (now Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, 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...
) by the Massachusetts legislature to repay them for their loss when the British fleet burned Falmouth in 1775.
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 43.8 square miles (113.4 km²), of which, 43.4 square miles (112.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.80%) is water. The town is situated on Route 27 adjacent to Kingfield and a short drive to the popular Sugarloaf ski resort. The scenic Carrabassett River flows through the West New Portland village and East New Portland village, whereas the Gilman Stream flows through the North New Portland village. The Carrabassett River is rocky and in places swift, whereas Gilman Stream is a slower river, amenable to kayaking and canoeing.
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 785 people, 329 households, and 227 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 18.1 people per square mile (7.0/km²). There were 564 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.34% White, 1.27% Native American, 0.13% 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 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 329 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% 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, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,521, and the median income for a family was $35,284. Males had a median income of $26,354 versus $17,014 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 $14,596. About 8.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.