Wiscasset (town), Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wiscasset is a town in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,603. Home to the Chewonki Foundation, Wiscasset is a popular summer tourist destination. A sign at the town line on U.S. Route 1 claims Wiscasset is "Maine's Prettiest Village."
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[edit] History
In 1605, Samuel de Champlain is said to have landed here and exchanged gifts with the Indians. Situated on the tidal Sheepscot River, Wiscasset was first settled in 1663. The community would be deserted during the terrors of the French and Indian Wars, and then resettled around 1730. In 1760, it was incorporated as "Pownalborough," after Colonial Governor Thomas Pownall. In 1802, it resumed its original Abenaki name, "Wiscasset," which means "coming out from the harbor but you don't see where."
The seaport became a center for shipbuilding, fishing and lumber. In 1808 Fort Edgecomb was built on the opposite bank of the Sheepscot to protect the town harbor. Wiscasset's prosperity left behind fine early architecture, particularly in the Federal style when Wiscasset was important in privateering. Two dwellings of the period, Castle Tucker and the Nickels-Sortwell House, are now museums operated by Historic New England. Until recently, another tourist attraction was two ship hulks near the U.S. Route 1 bridge -- the four-masted cargo schooners Hesper and Luther Little. Bought at auction for $600 each by entrepreneur Frank W. Winter of Auburn, they were brought to Wiscasset in 1932, then abandoned. Over the next 66 years, the weathered vessels would become possibly the most photographed objects in Maine. In 1998, the rotted remains were removed from the Sheepscot River by the town. From 1972 until 1996, Wiscasset was home to Maine Yankee, a pressurized water reactor on Bailey Point, and the only nuclear power plant in the state. The Maine Yankee nuclear power plant has been decommissioned and is inoperative.
Notable Inhabitants:
- Juliana Hatfield, rock singer & guitarist
- Matthew Thornton, signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Cadwallader C. Washburn, businessman, politician & soldier
Historical Sites & Museums:
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.8 km² (27.7 mi²). 63.7 km² (24.6 mi²) of it is land and 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²) of it (11.26%) is water. Wiscasset is drained by the Sheepscot River.
[edit] Demographics
This article describes the town of Wiscasset as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here. See: Wiscasset (CDP), Maine.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,603 people, 1,472 households, and 972 families residing in the town. The population density was 56.6/km² (146.5/mi²). There were 1,612 housing units at an average density of 25.3/km² (65.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.00% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,472 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,378, and the median income for a family was $46,799. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $21,831 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,233. About 6.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
