Starks, Maine
Encyclopedia
Starks is a town in Somerset County
, Maine
, United States
. The town was named after General John Stark
of the Revolutionary War. The population was 578 at the 2000 census.
, the town has a total area of 31.9 square miles (82.6 km²), of which, 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
of 2000, there were 578 people, 224 households, and 159 families residing in the town. The population density
was 18.4 people per square mile (7.1/km²). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 10.2 per square mile (4.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.17% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 1.04% from two or more races.
There were 224 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,313, and the median income for a family was $33,462. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $20,357 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,764. About 12.1% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Starks continues to serve as a focal point among proponents of marijuana legalization in New England
. A local farmer, Harry Brown, has hosted weekend festivals, concerts, and rallies to support the repeal of cannabis
prohibition on his hillside since 1991.
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...
. The town was named after General John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
of the Revolutionary War. The population was 578 at the 2000 census.
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 31.9 square miles (82.6 km²), of which, 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
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 578 people, 224 households, and 159 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 18.4 people per square mile (7.1/km²). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 10.2 per square mile (4.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.17% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 1.04% from two or more races.
There were 224 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,313, and the median income for a family was $33,462. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $20,357 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 $13,764. About 12.1% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Marijuana Legalization
In 1992, the town of Starks, Maine made the first legal vote for marijuana legalization since the 1970s. Two ordinances written by Dave Wilkinson from neighboring Chesterville were voted on by thirteen Maine towns in the spring on 1992, an event which dominated the local news for a few weeks. One ordinance required that helicopters should not fly lower than 2000 feet over the town except in emergency. The other permitted the cultivation and possession of two pounds dry weight of cannabis. Don Christen and Maine Vocals lobbied hard for votes. When Starks became the only town to pass both ordinances, Starks became national news. Dave Wilkinson and other activists went to New York to appear on the "Faith Daniels Show," the high point of the media attention. The following year, the ordinances were repealed, but not before they gave Starks the most fame it ever had.Starks continues to serve as a focal point among proponents of marijuana legalization in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. A local farmer, Harry Brown, has hosted weekend festivals, concerts, and rallies to support the repeal of cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
prohibition on his hillside since 1991.