Kennebec County, Maine
| Kennebec County, Maine | ||
|---|---|---|
 Kennebec County Courthouse | ||
| ||
 Location in the state of Maine | ||
 Maine's location in the U.S. | ||
| Founded | 1799 | |
| Named for | Kennebec River | |
| Seat | Augusta | |
| Largest city | Augusta | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 951 sq mi (2,463 km2) | |
| • Land | 868 sq mi (2,248 km2) | |
| • Water | 84 sq mi (218 km2), 8.8% | |
| Population | ||
| • (2010) | 122,151 | |
| • Density | 141/sq mi (54/km²) | |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 2nd | |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | |
| Website |
www | |
Kennebec County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 census, the population was 122,151.[1] Its county seat is Augusta,[2] the state capital. The county was established on 20 February 1799 from portions of Cumberland and Lincoln Counties. The name Kennebec comes from the Eastern Abenaki /kínipekʷ/, meaning "large body of still water, large bay".[3]
Kennebec County comprises the Augusta–Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area.
In 2010, the center of population of Maine was located in Kennebec County, in the city of Augusta.[4]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 951 square miles (2,460 km2), of which 868 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 84 square miles (220 km2) (8.8%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
- Somerset County, Maine – north
- Waldo County, Maine – east
- Sagadahoc County, Maine – south
- Lincoln County, Maine – south
- Androscoggin County, Maine – southwest
- Franklin County, Maine – northwest
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 24,571 | — | |
| 1810 | 32,564 | 32.5% | |
| 1820 | 42,623 | 30.9% | |
| 1830 | 52,485 | 23.1% | |
| 1840 | 55,823 | 6.4% | |
| 1850 | 62,521 | 12.0% | |
| 1860 | 55,655 | −11.0% | |
| 1870 | 53,203 | −4.4% | |
| 1880 | 53,058 | −0.3% | |
| 1890 | 57,012 | 7.5% | |
| 1900 | 59,117 | 3.7% | |
| 1910 | 62,863 | 6.3% | |
| 1920 | 63,844 | 1.6% | |
| 1930 | 70,691 | 10.7% | |
| 1940 | 77,231 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 83,881 | 8.6% | |
| 1960 | 89,150 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 95,247 | 6.8% | |
| 1980 | 109,889 | 15.4% | |
| 1990 | 115,904 | 5.5% | |
| 2000 | 117,114 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 122,151 | 4.3% | |
| Est. 2013 | 121,164 | −0.8% | |
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 117,114 people, 47,683 households, and 31,327 families residing in the county. The population density was 135 people per square mile (52/km²). There were 56,364 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile (25/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.45% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.6% were of English, 17.4% French, 13.4% French Canadian, 10.9% United States or American and 9.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.5% spoke only English at home, while 5.48% spoke French .
There were 47,683 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,498, and the median income for a family was $43,814. Males had a median income of $32,279 versus $24,032 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,520. About 8.50% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
There are many churches in Kennebec county, the largest being: Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Congregationalist, Unitarian, Church of the Nazarene, Church of Christ, Adventist and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). However, the largest single denomination is Roman Catholicism.
Economy
Kennebec County's economy has traditionally been industrial. A large amount of paper and textiles were produced, and mills sprung up all along the Kennebec river. The median household income is currently $36,498. The unemployment rate is currently at 4.2% (lower than it has been in a year).
Education
There are three colleges: Colby College and Thomas College (both in Waterville), and the University of Maine at Augusta. There are 19 school districts (however, 4 are consolidated ones). In China Maine, there is no public high school, but a private school (Erskine Academy) exists, and the town pays for students tuition if they choose to attend. Students from Vassalboro can pick from one of four school districts (Cony in Augusta, Erskine, Winslow, or Waterville). However, many towns have local public high schools.
Politics
| Year | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 55.2% 35,068 | 41.8% 26,519 |
| 2008 | 56.4% 37,238 | 41.7% 27,482 |
| 2004 | 53.3% 35,616 | 44.6% 29,761 |
| 2000 | 53.0% 31,198 | 40.7% 23,967 |
Kennebec County has consistently voted Democrat in recent elections. While the more rural areas support the Republican Party, the urban areas are strongly Democratic. Democrats have carried the county in recent Presidential elections. Kennebec County is the only county in Maine that is split between Maine's two congressional districts. The larger, southern portion of the county is located in the 1st Congressional District of Maine, while the northern, smaller portion is located in the 2nd Congressional District of Maine.
Voter registration
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 2014[12] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
| Unenrolled | 31,653 | 36.18% | |||
| Democratic | 27,987 | 31.99% | |||
| Republican | 24,406 | 27.89% | |||
| Green Independent | 3,435 | 3.92% | |||
| Total | 87,481 | 100% | |||
Communities
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.
- ↑ "REGISTERED & ENROLLED VOTERS – STATEWIDE" (PDF). June 10, 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
Further reading
- Samuel Lane Boardman, History of the Agriculture of Kennebec County, Maine. New York: Blake, 1892.
- Raymond Stevens Finley, The History of Secondary Education in Kennebec County in Maine. Orono, ME: University of Maine at Orono Press, 1941.
- Rufus Matthew Jones, The Society of Friends in Kennebec County, Maine. New York: H.W. Blake and Co., 1892.
- Henry D. Kingsbury and Simeon L. Deyo (eds.), Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine: 1625-1799-1892. New York: H.W. Blake and Co., 1892.
- Cynthia MacAlman McCausland, Index to Kingsbury and Deyo's illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine. Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1996.
- George W. Walton, History of the Town of Wayne, Kennebec County, Maine, From Its Settlement to 1898. Augusta, ME: Maine Farmer Publishing Co., 1898.
- Edwin Carey Whittemore, The Centennial History of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, Including the Oration, the Historical Address and the Poem Presented at the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town, June 23d, 1902. Waterville, ME: Executive Committee of the Centennial Celebration, 1902.
External links
 |
Franklin County | Somerset County | | |
 |
Waldo County | |||
| ||||
 | ||||
| Androscoggin County | Sagadahoc County and Lincoln County |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
