Winslow, Maine
Encyclopedia
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.
, Major Benjamin Church led his third expedition east from Boston in 1692. During this expedition he and 450 troops raided the native villages at both Penobscot (Castine, Maine
) and present-day Winslow.
Winslow was then settled by colonists from Plymouth Colony
. The area was covered by the land patent given by the English Crown to Pilgrim
governor William Bradford and his associates. The earliest settlers had such Old Colony and Pilgrim names as Winslow, Bradford, Warren, and Otis. Descendants of those early settlers can still be found in the town.
In 1754, Fort Halifax
was built by order of the Massachusetts General Court
on the peninsula
at the confluence
of the Sebasticook
and Kennebec
rivers. A settlement subsequently sprang up under its protection, and was named in honor of General John Winslow
, of Marshfield, Massachusetts
who had overseen the fort's construction. General Winslow was a descendant of Edward Winslow
, a Pilgrim
governor of Plymouth Colony
who arrived on the Mayflower
and founded the town of Marshfield. General Winslow lived in the mansion built in 1699 by his father, Isaac Winslow. The historic Winslow House still stands today in Marshfield and is on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers provided major early routes to transport food, goods, and more settlers. Benedict Arnold
followed the Kennebec River north in 1775, stopping at Fort Halifax in Winslow on his ill-fated attempt to invade Canada
. The Fort Halifax blockhouse
, formerly the nation's oldest wooden structure of its type, was rebuilt after the original was swept down the Kennebec River by raging flood
waters on April 1, 1987.
Thousands of Irish
and French Canadian
immigrants used the Old Canada Road (now a scenic byway) section of U.S. Route 201
during the 19th century to find seasonal or project employment, and later make the Kennebec River Valley region their home. Modern Winslow developed around the Hollingsworth & Whitney Company paper mill
, located along the Kennebec River. The mill was later purchased by the Scott Paper Company
, whose 1995 merger with Kimberly-Clark
led to the factory's closure in 1997. Winslow's industrial decline started in the 1980s, although some small light industry
still exists, and new businesses continue to move into the town. Despite this, the service sector remains limited. Today, Winslow is a bedroom community for some middle and upper middle class families who work in nearby Waterville
and Augusta
.
Scenes from the 2005 miniseries Empire Falls, starring Paul Newman
, Ed Harris
, and Helen Hunt
, and based on the 2001 book Empire Falls
by Richard Russo
, were shot in Winslow. The town is home to the state's largest 4 July
fireworks
display.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 38.7 square miles (100.3 km2), of which, 36.8 square miles (95.4 km2) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km2) of it (4.83%) is water. Winslow is located at the confluence of the Sebasticook River
with the Kennebec River
.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 201
and State Routes 11, 32, 100 and 137
. It borders the towns of Benton
to the north, Albion
to the east, China
to the southeast, Vassalboro
to the south, and (across the Kennebec River) Waterville
to the west.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 7,743 people, 3,268 households, and 2,212 families residing in the town. The population density
was 210.1 people per square mile (81.1/km2). There were 3,591 housing units at an average density of 97.4 per square mile (37.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.05% White, 0.13% Black or African American
, 0.27% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 4,268 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,580, and the median income for a family was $46,725. Males had a median income of $37,116 versus $25,429 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,501. About 3.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
government. A town manager handles day to day affairs.
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...
and census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in Kennebec County
Kennebec County, Maine
Kennebec County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 122,151. Its county seat is Augusta. The center of population of Maine is located in Kennebec County, in the city of Augusta....
, 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...
, along the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
. The population was 7,743 at the 2000 census.
History
Winslow was originally an Indian settlement named Taconock. During King William's WarKing William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
, Major Benjamin Church led his third expedition east from Boston in 1692. During this expedition he and 450 troops raided the native villages at both Penobscot (Castine, Maine
Castine, Maine
Castine is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States and was once the capital of Acadia . The population was 1,343 at the 2000 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine...
) and present-day Winslow.
Winslow was then settled by colonists from Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. The area was covered by the land patent given by the English Crown to Pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
governor William Bradford and his associates. The earliest settlers had such Old Colony and Pilgrim names as Winslow, Bradford, Warren, and Otis. Descendants of those early settlers can still be found in the town.
In 1754, Fort Halifax
Fort Halifax (Maine)
Fort Halifax was a U.S. colonial outpost on the Kennebec River at modern-day Winslow, Maine. It is a National Historic Landmark.-History:Fort Halifax was a fort on the north bank of the Sebasticook River. Its blockhouse, which survives, is the oldest blockhouse in the United States....
was built by order of 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...
on the peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Sebasticook
Sebasticook River
The Sebasticook River is a river in the central part of Maine, in the United States. It flows from Great Moose Lake, about north of Winslow, Maine, to the Kennebec River in Winslow.According to the Sebasticook River Watershed Association:...
and Kennebec
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
rivers. A settlement subsequently sprang up under its protection, and was named in honor of General John Winslow
John Winslow (British army officer)
Major-General John Winslow , descendant of Pilgrim Edward Winslow, was an officer during the French and Indian War....
, of Marshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
who had overseen the fort's construction. General Winslow was a descendant of Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
, a Pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
governor of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
who arrived on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
and founded the town of Marshfield. General Winslow lived in the mansion built in 1699 by his father, Isaac Winslow. The historic Winslow House still stands today in Marshfield and is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers provided major early routes to transport food, goods, and more settlers. Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
followed the Kennebec River north in 1775, stopping at Fort Halifax in Winslow on his ill-fated attempt to invade Canada
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
. The Fort Halifax blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
, formerly the nation's oldest wooden structure of its type, was rebuilt after the original was swept down the Kennebec River by raging flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
waters on April 1, 1987.
Thousands of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
immigrants used the Old Canada Road (now a scenic byway) section of U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
during the 19th century to find seasonal or project employment, and later make the Kennebec River Valley region their home. Modern Winslow developed around the Hollingsworth & Whitney Company paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
, located along the Kennebec River. The mill was later purchased by the Scott Paper Company
Scott Paper Company
The Scott Paper Company is a USA-based corporation which manufactures mostly paper based consumer products.Scott Paper was founded in 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by brothers E. Irvin and Clarence Scott, and is often credited as being the first to market toilet paper sold on a roll...
, whose 1995 merger with Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. Kimberly-Clark brand name products include "Kleenex" facial tissue, "Kotex" feminine hygiene products, "Cottonelle", Scott and Andrex toilet paper, Wypall utility wipes, "KimWipes"...
led to the factory's closure in 1997. Winslow's industrial decline started in the 1980s, although some small light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
still exists, and new businesses continue to move into the town. Despite this, the service sector remains limited. Today, Winslow is a bedroom community for some middle and upper middle class families who work in nearby Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
and Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
.
Scenes from the 2005 miniseries Empire Falls, starring Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
, Ed Harris
Ed Harris
Edward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
, and Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt
Helen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
, and based on the 2001 book Empire Falls
Empire Falls
Empire Falls is a two-part mini-series that aired on HBO in 2005. It was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name which was written by Richard Russo. It was nominated for and won multiple awards, including various Emmys and Golden Globes...
by Richard Russo
Richard Russo
Richard Russo is an American novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and teacher.-Early life and education:Russo was born in Johnstown, New York, and raised in nearby Gloversville...
, were shot in Winslow. The town is home to the state's largest 4 July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display.
Geography
Winslow is located at 44.542428°N 69.605101°W (44.542428, -69.605101).According to the United States Census Bureau
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 38.7 square miles (100.3 km2), of which, 36.8 square miles (95.4 km2) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km2) of it (4.83%) is water. Winslow is located at the confluence of the Sebasticook River
Sebasticook River
The Sebasticook River is a river in the central part of Maine, in the United States. It flows from Great Moose Lake, about north of Winslow, Maine, to the Kennebec River in Winslow.According to the Sebasticook River Watershed Association:...
with the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
and State Routes 11, 32, 100 and 137
Maine State Route 137
State Route 137 is a route that runs west to east that begins at the intersection of US 2 in East Mercer and covers a large expanse of land, ending in the city of Belfast at SR 3....
. It borders the towns of Benton
Benton, Maine
Benton is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.-Geography:...
to the north, Albion
Albion, Maine
Albion is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,946 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
to the east, China
China, Maine
China is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,106 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
to the southeast, Vassalboro
Vassalboro, Maine
Vassalboro is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,047 at the 2000 Census. Vassalboro includes the villages of South Vassalboro, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro, home to the town library and sports field.-History:...
to the south, and (across the Kennebec River) Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
to the west.
Demographics
Census
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 7,743 people, 3,268 households, and 2,212 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 210.1 people per square mile (81.1/km2). There were 3,591 housing units at an average density of 97.4 per square mile (37.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.05% White, 0.13% 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...
, 0.27% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 4,268 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,580, and the median income for a family was $46,725. Males had a median income of $37,116 versus $25,429 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 $18,501. About 3.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Winslow has a town councilTown council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
government. A town manager handles day to day affairs.
Education
Winslow is now part of AOS 92. Winslow has four school in the town which are the three public schools, as well as a Catholic grammar school. Winslow's school system is run by the superintendent of schools for AOS 92 which resides in the adjacent city of Waterville. Winslow High School completed in 2008 a 9,000,000 dollar renovation project.Notable people
- Mike CowanMike CowanMichael Thomas "Fluff" Cowan is a golf caddy on the PGA Tour. He has caddied for Ed Sabo , Peter Jacobsen , Tiger Woods , and Jim Furyk . In 2003, he caddied for Michelle Wie for one tournament while Furyk was injured...
, golf caddy - Joshua CushmanJoshua CushmanJoshua Cushman was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and from Maine. Born in Halifax, Massachusetts, Cushman served in the Continental Army from April 1, 1777, until March 1780. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1787, studied theology, was ordained to the ministry and licensed...
, minister, congressman - Charles Fletcher JohnsonCharles Fletcher JohnsonCharles Fletcher Johnson was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Maine from 1911 until 1917.-Biography:Born in Winslow, Maine, he attended the public schools and the Waterville Classical Institute. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, in 1879. He was the principal of the high school of...
, senator - Sharon LeeSharon Lee (writer)Sharon Lee is an American writer. She is the co-author of the Liaden universe novels and stories, as well as other works, and individually the author of two mystery novels....
, science fiction author - Steve MillerSteve Miller (writer)Steve Miller is the grandson of poet and WBAL radio personality Dorothea Neale. He graduated from Reisterstown, Maryland's Franklin Senior High School in 1968 after learning how to make chapbooks as editor of the school’s literary magazine, Junto.- Biography :Steve attended University of Maryland,...
, science fiction author - Thomas RiceThomas Rice (Massachusetts politician)Thomas Rice was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Thomas Rice was born 30 March 1768 in Pownalborough, Massachusetts, , to Thomas Rice and Rebecca Rice. He graduated from Harvard University in 1791...
, congressman - Samuel Francis SmithSamuel Francis SmithSamuel Francis Smith, , Baptist minister, journalist and author, is best known for having written the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", which he entitled America.-Early life:...
, minister, author