Sanford, Maine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sanford, Maine
Location of town of Sanford in map of Maine
Location of town of Sanford in map of Maine
Coordinates: 43°26′2″N 70°45′51″W / 43.43389, -70.76417
Country United States
State Maine
County York
Area
 - Total 48.7 sq mi (126.2 km²)
 - Land 47.8 sq mi (123.8 km²)
 - Water 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²)
Elevation 262 ft (80 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 20,806
 - Density 435.3/sq mi (168.1/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 04073
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-65760
GNIS feature ID 0582712
Website: www.sanfordmaine.org

Sanford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Sanford is the largest area in York County, and the 8th largest area in the state. The population was 20,806 at the 2000 census. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale. The town features many lakes in wooded areas which attract campers.

Sanford is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

[edit] History

View of Sanford in c. 1912
View of Sanford in c. 1912

Sanford is in the western portion of a tract of land purchased in 1661 from Abenaki Chief Fluellin by Major William Phillips, an owner of mills in Saco. First called Phillipstown, it was willed in 1696 by Mrs. Phillips to her former husband's son, Peleg Sanford. Settlement was delayed, however, during the French and Indian Wars. Incited by New France, Indian warriors from Norridgewock attacked English settlements, including nearby Wells in 1703. Then in 1724, Norridgewock was itself raided and destroyed by a Massachusetts militia. Subsequently, the region became less dangerous, and Sanford was settled in 1739. Incorporated a town in 1768, it was named after Peleg Sanford. Until 1794, Alfred was the town's North Parish.

The Mousam River provided water power for industry. In 1745, Captain David Morrison built a sawmill above Springvale. Following the Civil War, Sanford developed into a textile manufacturing center, connected to markets by the Portland & Rochester Railroad. Factories were built at both Springvale and Sanford villages. Products included cotton and woolen goods, carpets, shoes and lumber.

In 1867, British-born Thomas Goodall established Goodall Mills at Sanford, after selling another mill in 1865 at Troy, New Hampshire which made woolen blankets contoured to fit horses. His factory beside the Mousam River first manufactured carriage robes and blankets. It would expand to make mohair plush for upholstering railroad seats, carpets, draperies, auto fabrics, military uniform fabric and Palm Beach fabric for summer suits. The company's textiles were known for brilliant and fast colors, and found buyers worldwide. From 1880 to 1910, the mill town's population swelled from 2,700 to over 9,000, some living in houses built by the company and sold to workers at cost. In 1914, the Goodall family built Goodall Park, a 784 seat roofed stadium, now a treasured historic site. They also helped build the library, town hall, hospital, airport and golf club. A bronze statue was erected in 1917 to the memory of Thomas Goodall by the citizens of Sanford.

But in 1954, Burlington Mills, then the largest textile firm, bought Sanford Mills. After moving the looms to its Southern plants, Burlington closed Sanford Mills -- leaving 3,600 unemployed and 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m²) of empty mills. Local business owners began traveling the northeast, convincing new employers to move to the area. Life Magazine would call Sanford "the town that refused to die." It now has diversified industries, including the manufacture of aircraft parts. In the 1960s, the federal government offered money for urban renewal to rehabilitate aging or blighted districts. Consequently, more than thirty Sanford structures were razed. In Springvale, three of four corners were leveled. Fortunately, fine architectural examples from the prosperous mill era survived.

The town gained national notoriety in 1984, when 12-year-old Gycelle Cote was strangled by Scott Waterhouse, then 18. Rumors of Satan worship surrounded the case, and some of Waterhouse's personal belonings were deemed to be occult in nature. These included a copy of Satanic Bible and a notebook carrying satanic poetry. The furor culminated in several tabloid stories and at least one headline referring to the town as "Terrortown!".

In 2003, a proposal to build a $650 million casino in South Sanford was rejected by Maine voters. The 362-acre (1.46 km²) development, ostensibly owned by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy nations, would have encompassed 4,000 slot machines, 180 gaming tables, a hotel, a 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m²) convention center and an 18 hole golf course. Proponents argued that it would add 4,700 permanent jobs and 25% of revenue would be directed to the state. Detractors predicted higher crime, traffic and an erosion of Maine's quality of life.

Goodall Mills in 1867

Central Square in c. 1905

Town Hall in c. 1915

School Street in c. 1908

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Geography

Sanford is located at 43°26′23″N, 70°46′23″W (43.439925, -70.773304)[1]. This is considered to be the geographic center of New England.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 48.7 square miles (126.2 km²), of which, 47.8 square miles (123.8 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (1.89%) is water. Located near foothills, Sanford is drained by the Mousam River.

Sanford borders the towns of Shapleigh, Acton, Alfred, Kennebunk, Wells, North Berwick, and Lebanon.

Number One Pond

Moon over Gowen Park

MacDougal Pond
Sanford, Maine Main Street.JPG

Main St., Sanford, Maine

[edit] Demographics

See also: South Sanford, Maine

Co-Operative Block in 1910
Co-Operative Block in 1910

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 20,806 people, 8,270 households, and 5,449 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 435.3 people per square mile (168.1/km²). There were 8,807 housing units at an average density of 184.3/sq mi (71.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.68% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 8,270 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

Lower Main Street in c. 1910
Lower Main Street in c. 1910

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,668, and the median income for a family was $43,021. Males had a median income of $33,115 versus $24,264 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,951. About 11.1% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Sites of interest

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links


Flag of Maine
v • d • e

 
State of Maine
Augusta (capital)
Topics
Regions
Counties
Cities
Largest towns