Searsport, Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Searsport is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,641 at the 2000 census. The town is known as "the home of the famous sea captains" and the "Antique Capital of Maine." [1].
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 111.2 km² (42.9 mi²). 74.1 km² (28.6 mi²) of it is land and 37.2 km² (14.4 mi²) of it (33.42%) is water. Searsport is home to Maine's second largest deep water port and it is ideally located from the point of view of railroad, wood products and other development interests.[2]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,641 people, 1,130 households, and 732 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.7/km² (92.4/mi²). There were 1,370 housing units at an average density of 18.5/km² (47.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.07% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.08% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.
There were 1,130 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,288, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $31,629 versus $23,221 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,883. About 11.3% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Searsport was settled in the 1670's and incorporated on February 13, 1845 from portions of Prospect and Belfast, Maine. Searsport was named after David Sears of Boston after he agreed to grant a large sum of money towards the town's founding. Searsport is noted for its rich maritime history. During the nineteenth century the port had 17 shipyards and built 200 ships, while supplying fully one-tenth of the nation's Merchant Marine deep water captains. The Penobscot Marine Museum faithfully recalls this heritage. In 1747, when fire destroyed the Province House in Boston, General Samuel Waldo advocated, unsuccessfully, that the capital of Massachusetts be moved to Searsport. [3]
[edit] Government
Searsport's government is organized around a town meeting system with an annual town meeting held every March and special town meetings held at various times during the year. A five member Board of Selectmen (with its members serving three-year terms) is elected at the Tuesday before the annual meeting and it, along with the Town Manager, run the town's daily affairs, including overseeing town water, sewage treatment, police patrol, fire protection, emergency medical service, recreational programs and a library. They cannot pass a budget or most ordinances without town approval at the annual or a special town meeting. The town has no mayor, but the Board of Selectmen does choose a Chair who is responsible for running the Board's meetings. [4]
[edit] Notable searsport Residents
- Sam Houston: one of the first residents of Searsport; a bodyguard to General George Washington; is depicted in the Washington Crosses the Delaware painting. [5]
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[edit] Attractions and Miscellaneous
See also: Searsport (CDP), Maine
