Rockport, Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rockport is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,209 at the 2000 census. The harbor is located on Goose River. The town seperated from Camden, Maine in 1891 because of a dispute over the cost of constructing a bridge over the river. In the 19th century the town had a significant lime production industry. [1]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.4 km² (34.1 mi²). 56.2 km² (21.7 mi²) of it is land and 32.2 km² (12.4 mi²) of it (36.41%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,209 people, 1,373 households, and 918 families residing in the town. The population density was 57.1/km² (147.8/mi²). There were 1,677 housing units at an average density of 29.8/km² (77.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.69% White, 0.16% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,373 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% 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 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,155, and the median income for a family was $56,068. Males had a median income of $35,865 versus $25,542 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,498. About 5.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Artists' Community
Rockport has a longstanding association as an artists' community, with several notable examples of artists and institutions making up a significant part of the economic and social life of the town. Bay Chamber Concerts was established in 1961 out of the remains of the summer music instruction of the Curtis Institute. Mary Louise Curtis Bok, central to the founding of both Bay Chamber Concerts and the Curtis Institute was one of the largest landowners in Rockport, at one time owning the majority of the eastern shore of the harbor. With Rockport resident and violinist Lea Luboshutz the park adjacent to the Rockport Opera House is named "Mary Lea Park" in their honor.
The Center for Maine Contemporary Art has made Rockport its home for decades, as has the Maine Photographic Workshops. Independent artists and musicians have made Rockport their home, including the recently renovated Élan Fine Arts, relocated from Rockland.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson: Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc., 264-265.
