Islesboro, Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Islesboro is a town on an island of the same name in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 603 at the 2000 census. It is a summer resort accessible by ferry from Lincolnville Beach 3 miles to the west. Home to Warren Island State Park, Islesboro includes the villages of Dark Harbor, Pripet and North Islesboro.
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[edit] History
Penobscot Indians called it Pitaubegwimenahanuk, meaning "the island that lies between two channels." Situated in upper Penobscot Bay, the narrow, 10 mile island is the marker between East and West Penobscot Bay. It was part of the Waldo Patent. First called Long Island Plantation, it was settled in 1769. It would be incorporated as Islesborough on January 28, 1789, although over time the spelling was contracted to Islesboro.
With many harbors and coves, the island was home to the largest commercial shipping fleet in the bay during the 19th century. Following the Civil War, however, Islesboro developed as a Gilded Age resort community, and many large summer homes were built by the wealthy. Their large yachts cruised and raced throughout the Gulf of Maine. The town remains a famous upper-class enclave and well-known summer colony.
[edit] Notable residents
- Kirstie Alley, actress
- Charles Dana Gibson, illustrator
- John P. Morgan, financier
- Chris O'Donnell, actor
- John Travolta, actor
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 178.5 km² (68.9 mi²). 36.9 km² (14.2 mi²) of it is land and 141.6 km² (54.7 mi²) of it (79.31%) is water. Situated in upper Penobscot Bay, Islesboro includes North and South Islesboro, connected by a narrow segment of land, Seven Hundred Acre Island, Job Island, Warren Island and others.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 603 people, 280 households, and 176 families residing in the town. The population density was 16.3/km² (42.3/mi²). There were 741 housing units at an average density of 20.1/km² (52.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 280 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,643, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,653. About 5.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Sites of interest
- Sailors' Memorial Museum, located in the former keepers' house at Grindle Point Lighthouse.
