Waterford, Maine

Waterford, Maine
Town

View from Blackguard Road
Waterford, Maine

Location within the state of Maine

Coordinates: 44°11′27″N 70°42′27″W / 44.19083°N 70.70750°W / 44.19083; -70.70750Coordinates: 44°11′27″N 70°42′27″W / 44.19083°N 70.70750°W / 44.19083; -70.70750
Country United States
State Maine
County Oxford
Incorporated 1797
Area[1]
 • Total 52.92 sq mi (137.06 km2)
 • Land 50.24 sq mi (130.12 km2)
 • Water 2.68 sq mi (6.94 km2)
Elevation 669 ft (204 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 1,553
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 1,542
 • Density 30.9/sq mi (11.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 04088
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-80635
GNIS feature ID 0582794

Waterford is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,553 at the 2010 census. It is a recreation area noted for historic architecture and scenic beauty.

History

Waterford from Table Rock in 1905

The township was granted on February 24, 1774 by the Massachusetts General Court to Captain Andrew Gardner and his company of soldiers for services under Sir William Phipps during the 1690 expedition against Canada. It replaced a 1735 grant called Toddstown or Township No. 6 (now Henniker, New Hampshire), which was ruled invalid when the state line was redrawn between Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1741.[4]

The land was surveyed in 1774; in spring of 1775, David McWain of Bolton, Massachusetts arrived with his dog at a lot he bought for $40. He cleared land and built a log cabin, returning to Bolton for 2 winters until he settled permanently at Waterford in spring of 1777. McWain preferred solitude, and was deeply annoyed when he first saw smoke rising about 12 miles (19 km) away at Paris Hill. "Humph," he said, "I would like to know who is settling over there right under my nose!" Other grantees arrived nevertheless, most from the Massachusetts towns of Bolton, Harvard, Stow, Northborough and Rowley. Indeed, the northwestern part of the plantation was once known as Rowley after the inhabitants' former hometown.[5]

On March 2, 1797, Waterford was incorporated, with land annexed from Albany in 1811. The surface of the town is uneven, somewhat mountainous. It was well-suited for pasturage and orchards, and agriculture became a principal occupation. Sawmills were built at streams to manufacture the region's abundant timber into lumber. Wood products included window sashes, barrel staves, salt boxes and buckets. There was also a gristmill, carriage factory and tannery. Today, Waterford Flat is a resort area, and home to The Lake House, a 1797 inn set among antique buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.92 square miles (137.06 km2), of which, 50.24 square miles (130.12 km2) of it is land and 2.68 square miles (6.94 km2) is water.[1] Waterford is drained by the Crooked River. It contains a number of small lakes including Keoka Lake and Bear Pond, as well as Mount Tire'm.

The town is crossed by state routes 35, 37 and 118. It is bordered by the towns of Norway to the northeast, Albany and Stoneham to the northwest, Sweden and Lovell to the southwest, and Harrison and Bridgton to the southeast.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790154—
1800535247.4%
181086060.7%
18201,03520.3%
18301,1238.5%
18401,38123.0%
18501,4484.9%
18601,407−2.8%
18701,286−8.6%
18801,161−9.7%
18901,001−13.8%
1900917−8.4%
19109341.9%
1920765−18.1%
1930743−2.9%
194083612.5%
1950828−1.0%
19608340.7%
1970760−8.9%
198095125.1%
19901,29936.6%
20001,45512.0%
20101,5536.7%
Est. 20141,547[7]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
Home of Thomas Hovey Gage c. 1915, town historian

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,553 people, 667 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density was 30.9 inhabitants per square mile (11.9/km2). There were 1,084 housing units at an average density of 21.6 per square mile (8.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 667 households of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.68.

The median age in the town was 45.9 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 33.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,455 people, 590 households, and 437 families residing in the town. The population density was 28.8 people per square mile (11.1/km²). There were 895 housing units at an average density of 17.7 inhabitants per square mile (6.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.27% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 0.76% from two or more races.

There were 590 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,458, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $25,560 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,416. About 9.5% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Site of interest

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  4. ↑ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 343–344.
  5. ↑ George J. Varney, History of Waterford, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts 1886
  6. ↑ Maine.gov -- Waterford, Maine
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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