Belgrade, Maine
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| Belgrade, Maine | |
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  Belgrade, Maine
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Kennebec |
| Incorporated | 1796 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 57.9 sq mi (150.0 km²) |
| - Land | 43.3 sq mi (112.0 km²) |
| - Water | 14.7 sq mi (38.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 2,978 |
| - Density | 68.9/sq mi (26.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 04917 |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-04020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582348 |
Belgrade is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, it had a year-round population of 2,978. Belgrade's population, however, approximately doubles during the summer months as part-year residents return to seasonal camps located on the shores of Great Pond, Long Pond and Messalonskee Lake. Belgrade includes the villages of North Belgrade, Belgrade Depot and Belgrade Lakes (or The Village).
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[edit] History
The land was originally owned by the Plymouth Company, from which inhabitants obtained their titles. Called Washington Plantation, it was first settled in 1774 by Philip Snow from New Hampshire. On February 3, 1796, it was incorporated as Belgrade, named after Belgrade, Serbia. The surface of the town is uneven, much of it covered by water in the form of a connected chain of lakes. The largest lake is Great Pond, which dominates the town. Agriculture became the chief occupation of the inhabitants, with potatoes the principal crop.
Outlets of the ponds provided water power for mills. In 1859, there was a shovel factory and spool factory, as well as several sawmills and gristmills. By 1886, there were also factories that made rakes, shingles, excelsior, scythes and boxes. With the arrival of the railroad, Belgrade developed into a tourist resort of fishing, boating and lakeside cottages. The Belgrade Hotel, designed by noted Portland architect John Calvin Stevens, was built at Belgrade Lakes. The town was an annual summertime destination for the writers E.B. White and Ernest Thompson. The latter's sojourns at Great Pond inspired his 1979 play On Golden Pond, which was made into the Academy Award-winning 1981 movie, On Golden Pond.
[edit] Notable residents
- E. B. White, writer
- Joseph Force Crater, judge
- Anson P. Morrill, statesman
- Lot M. Morrill, governor
- Ernest Thompson, writer
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 57.9 square miles (150.0 km²), of which, 43.2 square miles (112.0 km²) of it is land and 14.7 square miles (38.0 km²) of it (25.32%) is water. Belgrade is drained by the Belgrade Stream.
The town is crossed by 11, 27, 135 and 225. It borders the towns of Smithfield to the northeast, Oakland and Sidney to the east, Manchester and Readfield to the south, Mount Vernon to the southwest, and Rome to the northwest.
[edit] Demographics
Belgrade is mostly a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Waterville and Augusta. As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,978 people, 1,178 households, and 876 families residing in the town. The population density was 68.9 people per square mile (26.6/km²). There were 2,007 housing units at an average density of 46.4/sq mi (17.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.69% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 1,178 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,053, and the median income for a family was $42,321. Males had a median income of $32,226 versus $24,962 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,407. About 8.4% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Belgrade is largely a commuter community, but there is also a lumber factory owned by Hammond Lumber which provides around 80 jobs.
[edit] References
- History of Belgrade, Maine (1886)
- A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England, 1859; H. O. Houghton & Company, printers; Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Belgrade, Maine Genealogy Project
[edit] External links
- Town of Belgrade, Maine
- Belgrade Public Library
- Maine.gov -- Belgrade, Maine
- The Belgrade Boy Scout Troop
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