Unity, Maine
Encyclopedia
Unity is a town
in Waldo County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 1,889 at the 2000 census
. The town is the service center for the northern portion of Waldo County. Outside the county, it is best known as the home of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Unity College
, which the townspeople founded in 1965 to offset the economic effects of the declining chicken farming industry. As of 2007, the college is the town's largest employer.
, the town was known as Twenty-Five Mile Pond Plantation. The name came from its being located on a pond twenty five miles from Fort Halifax in Winslow
. The name was changed to Unity upon incorporation as a town in 1804.
During 2008-2009, eight Amish
families have been welcomed into the community.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 41.8 square miles (108.3 km²), of which, 39.5 square miles (102.4 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it (5.45%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,889 people, 713 households, and 419 families residing in the town. The population density
was 47.8 people per square mile (18.4/km²). There were 926 housing units at an average density of 23.4 per square mile (9.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.72% White, 0.32% Black or African American
, 0.42% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.11% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 713 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median
age is 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,927, and the median income for a family was $36,696. Males had a median income of $29,398 versus $22,708 for females. The per capita
income for the town is $15,086. About 18.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 16.1% 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 Waldo County
Waldo County, Maine
Waldo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 38,786. Its county seat is Belfast.Waldo County was founded on 7 February 1827 from a portion of Hancock County...
, 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 1,889 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...
. The town is the service center for the northern portion of Waldo County. Outside the county, it is best known as the home of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Unity College
Unity College (Maine)
Unity College is a private, liberal arts college in Unity, Waldo County, Maine. It is located southwest of Bangor, Maine and from the Maine coast. The college offers an undergraduate education that emphasizes the environment and natural resources throughout the academic program. In 2007 the...
, which the townspeople founded in 1965 to offset the economic effects of the declining chicken farming industry. As of 2007, the college is the town's largest employer.
History
When originally settled by QuakersReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, the town was known as Twenty-Five Mile Pond Plantation. The name came from its being located on a pond twenty five miles from Fort Halifax in Winslow
Winslow, Maine
Winslow is a town and census-designated place in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, along the Kennebec River. The population was 7,743 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. The name was changed to Unity upon incorporation as a town in 1804.
During 2008-2009, eight Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
families have been welcomed into the community.
Geography
United 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 41.8 square miles (108.3 km²), of which, 39.5 square miles (102.4 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it (5.45%) 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 1,889 people, 713 households, and 419 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 47.8 people per square mile (18.4/km²). There were 926 housing units at an average density of 23.4 per square mile (9.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.72% White, 0.32% Black or African American
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...
, 0.42% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.11% 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 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 713 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 22.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
age is 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,927, and the median income for a family was $36,696. Males had a median income of $29,398 versus $22,708 for females. The per capita
Per capita
Per capita is a Latin prepositional phrase: per and capita . The phrase thus means "by heads" or "for each head", i.e. per individual or per person...
income for the town is $15,086. About 18.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- George Colby Chase, English scholar, second president of Bates CollegeBates CollegeBates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
.