Harrington, Maine

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Harrington, Maine
Harrington, Maine (Maine)
Harrington, Maine
Harrington, Maine
Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°35′57″N 67°49′31″W / 44.59917, -67.82528
Country United States
State Maine
County Washington
Incorporated 1797
Area
 - Total 52.9 sq mi (136.9 km²)
 - Land 21.2 sq mi (54.8 km²)
 - Water 31.7 sq mi (82.1 km²)
Elevation 13 ft (4 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 882
 - Density 41.7/sq mi (16.1/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 04643
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-31530
GNIS feature ID 0582512

Harrington is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 882 at the 2000 census. Harrington is a picturesque old seafaring village.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally called Plantation Number 5, it was one of 6 townships east of Union River granted in 1762 by the Massachusetts General Court to an association of petitioners. First settled about 1765, it had a population of 177 on June 17, 1797 when incorporated as Harrington.

Farmers grew wheat and potatoes in the town's sandy loam. Harrington developed a considerable trade in lumber, and by 1858 contained 2 sawmills, 3 shingle mills and 2 lath mills. There was a gristmill, 2 brickyards, a tannery -- and 18 shipbuilders. In 1886, industries also included a sailmaker and a boot and shoe manufacturer.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.9 square miles (136.9 km²), of which, 21.2 square miles (54.8 km²) of it is land and 31.7 square miles (82.1 km²) of it (59.97%) is water. Located at the head of Narraguagus Bay on the Gulf of Maine, Harrington is drained by Curtis Creek, Mill River and the Harrington River.

The town is crossed by U. S. Route 1 and 1A. It borders the towns of Milbridge to the west, Cherryfield to the northwest, Columbia to the north, and Addison to the east.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 882 people, 364 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density was 41.7 people per square mile (16.1/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 26.6/sq mi (10.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.07% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.57% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 364 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 22.5% 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 2.41 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,579, and the median income for a family was $29,211. Males had a median income of $24,038 versus $16,447 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,224. About 14.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

[edit] Site of interest

  • Flint Island Nature Preserve

[edit] References

  • History of Harrington, Maine (1886)
  • A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England, 1859; H. O. Houghton & Company, printers; Cambridge, Massachusetts

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 44°37′09″N, 67°48′37″W

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