Gray, Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gray is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,820 at the 2000 census. Gray is home to regional headquarters for the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, which maintains a fish hatchery and wildlife park.
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[edit] History
The town was settled in 1750 and incorporated in 1778 from the New Boston Plantation. It was named after Thomas Gray, a landowner.
Along Collyer Brook, Samuel Mayall established in 1791 the first successful water-powered woolen mill in North America. British woolen guilds had prohibited the production of goods in the colonies and tried to prevent British technology from being put to use in competition against them. Mayall smuggled out of England plans for machinery hidden in bales of cloth meant for trade with the Indians. When the guilds learned of his deception, they tried at least twice to kill him. They sent him a hat in which were hidden pins laced with poison, and then a box with loaded pistols rigged to fire when opened. Suspicious of the packages, Mayall avoided an untimely death. Mayall Mills would expand, into the Upper Mill and Lower Mill, and lasted until 1902.
Historical Sites & Museums:
- Gray Historical Society Museum
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 119.1 km² (46.0 mi²). 112.0 km² (43.3 mi²) of it is land and 7.1 km² (2.7 mi²) of it (5.94%) is water. Gray is drained by Collyer Brook.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 6,820 people, 2,637 households, and 1,890 families residing in the town. The population density was 60.9/km² (157.7/mi²). There were 3,202 housing units at an average density of 28.6/km² (74.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.43% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.
There were 2,637 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,107, and the median income for a family was $55,806. Males had a median income of $36,342 versus $26,433 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,050. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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