Androscoggin County, Maine

Androscoggin County, Maine
Map of Maine highlighting Androscoggin County
Location in the state of Maine
Map of the United States highlighting Maine
Maine's location in the U.S.
Founded March 18, 1854
Named for the Androscoggin tribe
Seat Auburn
Largest city Lewiston
Area
 • Total 497 sq mi (1,287 km2)
 • Land 468 sq mi (1,212 km2)
 • Water 29 sq mi (75 km2), 5.9%
Population
 • (2010) 107,702
 • Density 230/sq mi (89/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Androscoggin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the county's population was 107,702.[1] Its county seat is Auburn.[2]

Androscoggin County comprises the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and partially included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Metropolitan New England City and Town Area. It is also a part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, Maine Combined Statistical Area.

Bates College is located in the Androscoggin County city of Lewiston.

History

Demand for a new county emerged when the residents of the rapidly growing town of Lewiston complained of the long distance they had to travel to reach Wiscasset, the county seat of Lincoln County, in which county Lewiston was originally located. It was also an impractical circumstance as Lewiston's neighbor, Auburn, was part of Cumberland County. As the growing partnership of the two towns emerged, the case for the towns to be in the same county grew. Different plans were discussed, including Lewiston joining Cumberland County. Eventually, the idea of a new county came to the table. The debate then became over which town would be the center of the new county. Bath, Brunswick, and Lewiston each desired the distinction. Lewiston would eventually win the debate. Androscoggin County was created in 1854 from towns originally in Cumberland County, Lincoln County, Kennebec County, and Oxford County.

The next issue centered on where to put the county seat, as both Lewiston and Auburn desired to be named the county seat. It would eventually be put to a vote, with both towns putting different offers on the table, including ideas to cut the costs of the new county buildings for surrounding towns. Auburn would eventually win a convincing victory, with the towns on each side of the river voting for the town on their side. As more people then lived to the west of the Androscoggin River, Auburn won the vote.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 497 square miles (1,290 km2), of which 468 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (5.9%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county in Maine by total area

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
186029,726—
187035,86620.7%
188045,04225.6%
189048,9688.7%
190054,24210.8%
191059,82210.3%
192065,79610.0%
193071,2148.2%
194076,6797.7%
195083,5949.0%
196086,3123.3%
197091,2795.8%
198099,6579.2%
1990105,2595.6%
2000103,793−1.4%
2010107,7023.8%
Est. 2014107,440[5]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 103,793 people, 42,028 households, and 27,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile (85/km²). There were 45,960 housing units at an average density of 98 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.98% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.5% were of French Canadian, 19.4% French, 14.3% English, 9.7% United States or American and 8.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 9.6% of the population speak French and 1.5% of the population speak Spanish at home.[11]

There were 42,028 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.60% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% 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 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,793, and the median income for a family was $44,082. Males had a median income of $31,622 versus $22,366 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,734. About 7.50% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 107,702 people, 44,315 households, and 28,045 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 230.2 inhabitants per square mile (88.9/km2). There were 49,090 housing units at an average density of 104.9 per square mile (40.5/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 3.6% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 21.2% were English, 20.5% were French Canadian, 15.5% were Irish, 8.1% were German, and 5.0% were American.[14]

Of the 44,315 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 39.8 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,470 and the median income for a family was $55,045. Males had a median income of $41,554 versus $31,852 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,752. About 9.7% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Media

Newspapers

Magazines

Politics

Presidential elections

Presidential election results[16]
Year Democrat Republican
2012 54.8% 28,989 42.1% 22,232
2008 56.6% 31,017 41.3% 22,671
2004 54.4% 30,503 43.7% 24,519
2000 53.3% 26,251 40.5% 19,948

In Presidential elections Androscoggin County has been one of the most consistently, though not always the most strongly, Democratic counties in the state. It was the only county in Maine to be won by George McGovern in 1972. Jimmy Carter also carried the county twice. In 1984 and 1988 it went for the Republican candidate.[17] In the last five Presidential elections the Republican candidate has received as much as 43.7%, but still lost by more than ten percent each time.[18]

In 2012, the county voted 54% against a measure to legalize same-sex marriage.[19]

Voter registration

Voter registration

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 2014[20]
Party Total Voters Percentage
  Unenrolled 27,916 38.16%
  Democratic 24,520 33.52%
  Republican 17,174 23.47%
  Green Independent 3,534 4.83%
Total 73,144 100%

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Hodgkin, Douglas I., Frontier to Industrial City:Lewiston Town Politics 1768–1863. Just Write Books, Topsham, Maine, 2008
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Androscoggin County, Maine". Data Center. American Community Survey Aggregate Data, 5-Year Summary File, 2006–2010. 2006–2010. Retrieved 23 Aug 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
  16. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
  17. ↑ David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Maine by election)
  18. ↑ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Maine)
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of June 10, 2014" (PDF). Maine Bureau of Corporations.

External links

 Franklin County Kennebec County
Oxford County
  Androscoggin County, Maine  
Cumberland County Sagadahoc County

Coordinates: 44°10′N 70°13′W / 44.17°N 70.21°W / 44.17; -70.21

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