| Kennebunk, Maine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Town — | |||
| Town center in 1909 | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maine | ||
| County | York | ||
| Incorporated | June 24, 1820 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Town Meeting | ||
| • Chairman | Wayne Berry | ||
| • Board of Selectmen | Thomas D. Wellman Albert J. Searles Robert J. Higgins John H. Kotsonis David H. Spofford Deborah A. Beal |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 35.5 sq mi (92.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 35.1 sq mi (90.9 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 10,798 | ||
| • Density | 307.6/sq mi (118.8/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 04043 | ||
| Area code(s) | 207 | ||
| FIPS code | 23-36535 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0582539 | ||
| Website | www.kennebunkmaine.us | ||
Kennebunk ( /ˈkɛnɨbʌŋk/ or local /ˈkɛniːbʌŋk/) is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,075 people at the 2000 census. Including Kennebunkport (a separate, but adjoining, and often associated town), the population totals 14,196 people. Kennebunk is home to several beaches, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the 1799 Kennebunk Inn, many historic shipbuilders' homes, and the Nature Conservancy Blueberry Barrens, (known locally as the Blueberry Plains) with 1,500 acres (6 km²) of nature trails and blueberry fields.
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First settled in 1621, the town developed as a trading and, later, shipbuilding and shipping center with light manufacturing. It was part of the town of Wells until 1820, when it incorporated as a separate town. "Kennebunk, the only village in the world so named," was featured on a large locally famous sign attached to the Kesslen Shoe Mill on Route One. To the Abenaki Indians, Kennebunk meant "the long cut bank," presumably the long bank behind Kennebunk Beach. Kennebunk's coastline is divided into three major sections. Mother's Beach, Middle Beach or Rocky Beach, and Gooches Beach or Long Beach. Separate from Kennebunk Beach is secluded Parson's Beach, a quiet alternative to the summer crowds. Note there is some local controversy regarding the "Mother's Beach" moniker, (nickname). According to many local residents, the smaller of the three main beaches - at the intersection of Beach Ave and Ridge Ave - is officially Kennebunk Beach or, alternatively, Boothby Beach. The term Boothby beach was from the mid 1730's when a Mabel Littlefield married Richard Boothby and settled on land near what came to be known as Boothby Beach.The information about the Boothbys was taken from "Old News From Southern Maine". Article on Mable and Richard Boothby, by Sharon Cummins. Many natives today may not remember it being called Boothby Beach and over the years the beach came to be known as Kennebunk Beach or Mothers Beach. Older residents also recall the name Dipsy Bath Beach, a reference to the baths once located there. The term Mother's Beach didn't come into widespread use until the mid '80s; Although other native residents will dispute that date and say they remember it being called "Mothers Beach" as far back as the late 1950's. The name likely evolved due to its small size and generally calmer water, due to the rocks under and above the ocean, thus making it a natural made harbor of refuge that is safer for swimming and which makes it popular with mothers keeping a watchful eye on their progeny, (children). The name is clearly descriptive rather than official, in spite of the recent installation of road signs pointing the way to "Mother’s Beach". [1]
The town is a popular summer tourist destination. Kennebunk contains fine examples of early architecture, the most noted of which is the Wedding Cake House, a Federal-style dwelling extensively decorated with scroll saw Gothic trim. This was added to the house for his wife of many years by George Washington Bourne late in his life, and not as legend has it by a ship captain for a young bride lost at sea. Local economy is tourism based. The headquarters for the natural health-care product manufacturer Tom's of Maine is located in Kennebunk. The town's archives are located at the local history and art center, the Brick Store Museum, on Main Street. Many residents commute to Portland, to New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.[2]
The Lafayette Elm was a tree which was planted to commemorate General Lafayette's 1825 visit to Kennebunk. It became famous for its age, size, and survival of the Dutch elm disease that destroyed the hundreds of the other elms that once lined Kennebunk's streets. The elm is featured on the town seal. The restored Kesslen Shoe Mill has been renamed the Lafayette Center. Kennebunk is home to two of the state's oldest banks—Ocean Bank (1854) and Kennebunk Savings Bank (1871). Only Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution (1827) and Bangor Savings Bank (1852) are older. Summer Street was Maine's first Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.5 square miles (92.0 km²), of which 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²) land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) (1.18%) is water. Kennebunk is drained by the Kennebunk River and Mousam River.
Transportation links are:
Amtrak also goes through Kennebunk, but does not stop have a station stop. The closest Amtrak station to Kennebunk is in Wells, towards Boston, and Saco, towards Portland.
See also: Kennebunk (CDP), Maine and West Kennebunk, Maine
At the 2000 census[4], there were 10,476 people, 4,229 households and 2,901 families residing in the town. The population density was 298.5 per square mile (115.3/km²). There were 4,985 housing units at an average density of 142.1 per square mile (54.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.04% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.
There were 4,229 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
Age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median household income was $50,914, and the median family income was $59,712. Males had a median income of $42,417 versus $25,788 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,181. About 2.9% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Kennebunk and neighboring Kennebunkport comprise Regional School Unit 21. The schools in MSAD 71 are Consolidated School, Kennebunk Elementary School, Sea Road School, Middle School of the Kennebunks, and Kennebunk High School. The Middle School of the Kennebunks is part of Maine's project that gives laptops to all of the 7th and 8th graders in the school called MLTI, or Maine Learning Technology Initiative.
In 2000, a group of students teamed up with parents and local community members to found The New School, a small alternative high school, with students coming from as close as Kennebunk and Wells and as far away as Portland and Somersworth. The school is accredited by the State of Maine and the first group of students graduated in June 2001. The New School has a focus on community-based learning.
As of late, Maine Regional School Unit 21 [5] (MRSU21)(RSU21) has taken over MSAD71 serving these schools: Kennebunk High School, Middle School of the Kennebunks, Sea Road School, Mildred L. Day School, Kennebunkport Consolidated School, and Kennebunk Elementary School
Darren Weigle
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