South Berwick, Maine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

South Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,671 at the 2000 census.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Jewett House in c. 1910

Originally a part of Kittery known as "Kittery Commons" or "Kittery North Parish," what is now South Berwick was settled about 1631 in the vicinity of Quampheagen Falls, at the head of navigation on the Salmon Falls River. Here, Ambrose Gibbens (or Gibbons) established a trading post. The community was also be called the Parish of Unity due to the peaceful disposition of its inhabitants. Its original Pennacook Indian name was Newichawannock.

Berwick, which then included South Berwick, separated from Kittery and was incorporated in 1713. South Berwick, in turn, separated from Berwick and was incorporated in 1814.

In 1652, Richard Leader established a sawmill on the Great Works River, a tributary of the Salmon Falls River that takes its name from his operation. During the 19th century various mills were erected to utilize the water power of the Salmon Falls and Great Works rivers. South Berwick manufactured cotton and woolen textiles, plows and cultivators, shoes, as well as sawn and planed lumber.

The town is home to Berwick Academy, founded in 1791, a private co-educational day school.

Notable Inhabitants:

Sarah Orne Jewett

House and Building Museums:

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 84.6 km² (32.7 mi²). 83.3 km² (32.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.59%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Odd Fellows' Block in 1910

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 6,671 people, 2,403 households, and 1,847 families residing in the town. The population density was 80.1/km² (207.5/mi²). There were 2,488 housing units at an average density of 29.9/km² (77.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.30% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,403 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.17.

D. Cummings Co. Shoe Factory in c. 1910

In the town the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,201, and the median income for a family was $59,330. Males had a median income of $40,107 versus $25,729 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,118. About 2.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.