Sweden, Maine
Encyclopedia
Sweden is a town in Oxford County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 324 at the 2000 census. Set among hills, forests and ponds, Sweden includes the village of East Sweden.
(now Fryeburg). Pequawket was attacked during Dummer's War
on May 8, 1725 by Captain John Lovewell
and his company of soldiers. Lovewell was killed in the battle, after which the tribe fled to Canada
for safety. Called New Suncook Plantation, it was granted by the Massachusetts General Court
in 1774 to the officers and soldiers (or heirs) for their services to the state. In 1800, the town was incorporated as Lovell
after Captain Lovewell.
The southeast portion of Lovell (which would become Sweden) was first settled in 1794 by Colonel Samuel Nevers from Burlington, Massachusetts
. He was followed in 1795-1796 by Benjamin Webber from Bedford
, Jacob Stevens from Rowley
, Andrew Woodbury and Micah Trull from Tewksbury
, and Peter Holden from Malden
. On the plan which accompanied the petition for incorporation of the southeast portion, it was labeled Southland. It was set off as Sweden on February 26, 1813. The surface of the town is somewhat broken, but had good soil for farming, particularly the cultivation
of grain
s. Other industries included a sawmill
that produced short and long lumber
, in addition to shooks. The town also had a carriage
factory.
, the town has a total area of 29.7 square miles (76.9 km²), of which, 28.8 square miles (74.6 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (3.13%) is water. It is drained by Plummer Brook and the Kezar River.
The town is crossed by state route 93. It borders the towns of Waterford
to the northeast, Lovell
to the northwest, Fryeburg to the southwest, and Bridgton to the southeast.
of 2000, there were 324 people, 132 households, and 97 families residing in the town. The population density
was 11.3 people per square mile (4.4/km²). There were 266 housing units at an average density of 9.3 per square mile (3.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.77% White, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,781, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,991. About 12.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 35.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 324 at the 2000 census. Set among hills, forests and ponds, Sweden includes the village of East Sweden.
History
This was once territory of the Abenaki tribe whose main village was at PequawketPequawket
The Pequawket are a Native American subdivision of the Abenaki people who formerly lived near the headwaters of the Saco River in Carroll County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine...
(now Fryeburg). Pequawket was attacked during Dummer's War
Dummer's War
Dummer's War , also known as Lovewell's War, Father Rale's War, Greylock's War, the Three Years War, the 4th Indian War or the Wabanaki-New England War of 1722–1725, was a series of battles between British settlers of the three northernmost British colonies of North America of the time and the...
on May 8, 1725 by Captain John Lovewell
John Lovewell (Junior)
John Lovewell was a famous Ranger in the 18th century who fought during Dummer's War . He lived in present-day Nashua, New Hampshire...
and his company of soldiers. Lovewell was killed in the battle, after which the tribe fled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for safety. Called New Suncook Plantation, it was granted by the Massachusetts 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...
in 1774 to the officers and soldiers (or heirs) for their services to the state. In 1800, the town was incorporated as Lovell
Lovell, Maine
Lovell is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census. Lovell is the site of Kezar Lake, a resort area.-History:...
after Captain Lovewell.
The southeast portion of Lovell (which would become Sweden) was first settled in 1794 by Colonel Samuel Nevers from Burlington, Massachusetts
Burlington, Massachusetts
Burlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,498 at the 2010 census.- History :It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, however this has never been confirmed....
. He was followed in 1795-1796 by Benjamin Webber from Bedford
Bedford, Massachusetts
Bedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is within the Greater Boston area, north-west of the city of Boston. The population of Bedford was 13,320 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, Jacob Stevens from Rowley
Rowley, Massachusetts
Rowley is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Rowley.-History:...
, Andrew Woodbury and Micah Trull from Tewksbury
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Tewksbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,961 at the 2010 census.- History :Tewksbury was first settled in 1637 and was officially incorporated in 1734 from Billerica. Like Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, it is named after the town of Tewkesbury,...
, and Peter Holden from Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
. On the plan which accompanied the petition for incorporation of the southeast portion, it was labeled Southland. It was set off as Sweden on February 26, 1813. The surface of the town is somewhat broken, but had good soil for farming, particularly the cultivation
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
of grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
s. Other industries included a 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....
that produced short and long lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, in addition to shooks. The town also had a carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
factory.
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 29.7 square miles (76.9 km²), of which, 28.8 square miles (74.6 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (3.13%) is water. It is drained by Plummer Brook and the Kezar River.
The town is crossed by state route 93. It borders the towns of Waterford
Waterford, Maine
Waterford is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,455 at the 2000 census. It is a recreation area noted for historic architecture and scenic beauty.-History:...
to the northeast, Lovell
Lovell, Maine
Lovell is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census. Lovell is the site of Kezar Lake, a resort area.-History:...
to the northwest, Fryeburg to the southwest, and Bridgton to the southeast.
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 324 people, 132 households, and 97 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 11.3 people per square mile (4.4/km²). There were 266 housing units at an average density of 9.3 per square mile (3.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.77% White, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,781, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $24,375 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 $14,991. About 12.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 35.0% of those age 65 or over.