Bath, Maine | |
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![]() Bath City Hall | |
Nickname: City of Ships | |
![]() Location of Bath in Maine | |
Coordinates: 43°54′59″N69°49′21″W / 43.91639°N 69.82250°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Sagadahoc |
Incorporated (town) | February 17, 1781 |
Incorporated (city) | June 14, 1847 |
Area | |
• Total | 13.22 sq mi (34.23 km2) |
• Land | 9.12 sq mi (23.62 km2) |
• Water | 4.10 sq mi (10.61 km2) |
Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,766 |
• Density | 961.18/sq mi (371.10/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 04530 |
Area code | 207 |
FIPS code | 23-03355 |
GNIS feature ID | 0561723 |
Website | http://www.cityofbath.com/ |
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. Bath is included in the Brunswick micropolitan. The population was 8,766 at the 2020 census. [2] It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County, which includes one city and 10 towns. [3] The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is home to the Bath Iron Works and Heritage Days Festival, held annually on the Fourth of July weekend. It is commonly known as "The City of Ships" because of all the sailing ships that were built in the Bath shipyards. Bath is part of the [[Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan statistical area.
Abenaki Indians called the area Sagadahoc, meaning "mouth of big river". It was a reference to the Kennebec River, which Samuel de Champlain explored in 1605. Popham Colony was established in 1607 downstream, together with Fort St George. The settlement failed due to harsh weather and lack of leadership, but the colonists built the New World's first oceangoing vessel constructed by English shipwrights, the Virginia of Sagadahoc . It provided passage back to England. Most of Bath, Maine, was settled by travelers from Bath, England. [4]
The next settlement at Sagadahoc was about 1660, when the land was taken from an Indian sagamore known as Robinhood. [5] Incorporated as part of Georgetown in 1753, Bath was set off and incorporated as a town on February 17, 1781. It was named by the postmaster, Dummer Sewall, after Bath in Somerset, England. In 1844, a portion of the town was set off to create West Bath. On June 14, 1847, Bath was incorporated as a city, and in 1854 designated county seat. Land was annexed from West Bath in 1855. [4]
Several industries developed in Bath, including lumber, iron, and brass, with trade in ice and coal. The city and surrounding area is renowned for its shipbuilding and, at one point, was home to more than 200 shipbuilding firms. The industry began in 1743, when Jonathan Philbrook and his sons built two vessels. Since that time, roughly 5,000 vessels have been launched from Bath, which became the nation's fifth largest seaport by the mid-19th century. The clipper ships built in Bath sailed to ports around the world. [6] The last commercial enterprise to build wooden ships in the city was the Percy & Small Shipyard, which was acquired for preservation in 1971 by the Maine Maritime Museum. The most well-known shipyard is the Bath Iron Works, which was founded in 1884 by Thomas W. Hyde. Hyde became the firm's general manager in 1888. It has built hundreds of wooden and steel vessels, mostly warships for the U.S. Navy. [5] During World War II, Bath Iron Works launched one new ship approximately every 17 days. The shipyard today is a major regional employer, and currently operates as a division of the General Dynamics Corporation.
In the Bath, Maine, anti-Catholic riot of 1854, an Irish Catholic church was burned.
The city is noted for its Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture, including the 1858 Custom House and Post Office designed by Ammi B. Young. Bath is a sister city to Shariki (now Tsugaru) in Japan, where the locally built full-rigged ship Cheseborough was wrecked in 1889. Scenes from the movies Message in a Bottle (1999) and The Man Without a Face (1993) were filmed in Bath. [7]
In 1915, Fred Cox, owner of Hallet's Drug Store on Front Street, purchased the street clock standing at the corner of Front and Centre Streets from Boston, where it was built by Seth Thomas Clock Company four years earlier. It was moved from 70 Front Street to its current location in 1966, having been purchased by Harry Crooker. His family later donated it to the city, with the proviso that it be maintained and kept in a continuously operating condition, else it be returned to the family. The clock was restored in 2000. [8] Crooker established local construction company in 1935. It was sold in 2014, after 79 years of family ownership. [9]
Bath is located at 43°54′59″N69°49′21″W / 43.91639°N 69.82250°W (43.916293, −69.822565). [10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.22 square miles (34.24 km2), of which 9.10 square miles (23.57 km2) is land and 4.12 square miles (10.67 km2) is water. [11]
The city of Bath includes several nature preserves that are protected by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust. These areas include Thorne Head Preserve (located 2.1 miles north of Bath) and Butler Head Preserve (located 5.2 miles north of Bath). There are also numerous parks and walking trails located throughout the town, such as the Whiskeag Trail.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 949 | — | |
1800 | 1,225 | 29.1% | |
1810 | 2,491 | 103.3% | |
1820 | 3,026 | 21.5% | |
1830 | 3,773 | 24.7% | |
1840 | 5,141 | 36.3% | |
1850 | 8,020 | 56.0% | |
1860 | 8,076 | 0.7% | |
1870 | 7,371 | −8.7% | |
1880 | 7,874 | 6.8% | |
1890 | 8,723 | 10.8% | |
1900 | 10,477 | 20.1% | |
1910 | 9,396 | −10.3% | |
1920 | 14,731 | 56.8% | |
1930 | 9,110 | −38.2% | |
1940 | 10,235 | 12.3% | |
1950 | 10,644 | 4.0% | |
1960 | 10,717 | 0.7% | |
1970 | 9,679 | −9.7% | |
1980 | 10,246 | 5.9% | |
1990 | 9,799 | −4.4% | |
2000 | 9,266 | −5.4% | |
2010 | 8,514 | −8.1% | |
2020 | 8,766 | 3.0% | |
sources: [12] |
As of the census [13] of 2010, there were 8,514 people, 3,932 households, and 2,172 families living in the city. The population density was 935.6 inhabitants per square mile (361.2/km2). There were 4,437 housing units at an average density of 487.6 per square mile (188.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 3,932 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.8% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.79.
The median age in the city was 41 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.
As of the census [14] of 2000, there were 9,266 people, 4,042 households, and 2,344 families living in the city. The population density was 1,016.8 inhabitants per square mile (392.6/km2). There were 4,383 housing units at an average density of 481.0 per square mile (185.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.92% White, 1.60% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.
There were 4,042 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median household income in the city was $36,372, and the median family income was $45,830. Males had a median income of $35,064 versus $22,439 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,112. About 9.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
2013 Voter registration
Maine requires voters to register with a party to vote in primaries, also called a closed primary. However, voters are not required to register with a party to vote for their primary winners in the general election.
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of August 30, 2013 [15] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
Unenrolled | 2,425 | 36.93% | |||
Democratic | 2,275 | 34.64% | |||
Republican | 1,614 | 24.85% | |||
Green Independent | 252 | 3.83% | |||
Total | 6,566 | 100% |
Bath has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with cold and snowy winters and mild summers. Precipitation is high the whole year, with a sizeable snow pack usually forming during winter months. Compared to inland areas, winters are not severe, although colder than areas right on the ocean. Diurnal temperature variation is strong throughout the year. In winter this means that highs around freezing, while lows in the single-digit Fahrenheit range are common.
Climate data for Bath, Maine, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) | 65 (18) | 79 (26) | 81 (27) | 92 (33) | 95 (35) | 97 (36) | 96 (36) | 93 (34) | 85 (29) | 73 (23) | 67 (19) | 97 (36) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 52.3 (11.3) | 50.6 (10.3) | 59.4 (15.2) | 70.1 (21.2) | 84.2 (29.0) | 86.8 (30.4) | 89.7 (32.1) | 87.7 (30.9) | 85.0 (29.4) | 74.1 (23.4) | 64.1 (17.8) | 55.5 (13.1) | 91.9 (33.3) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 33.5 (0.8) | 40.8 (4.9) | 52.5 (11.4) | 63.1 (17.3) | 72.3 (22.4) | 78.6 (25.9) | 78.3 (25.7) | 70.5 (21.4) | 58.6 (14.8) | 46.8 (8.2) | 36.5 (2.5) | 55.2 (12.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 21.5 (−5.8) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 41.8 (5.4) | 52.0 (11.1) | 61.7 (16.5) | 68.0 (20.0) | 66.9 (19.4) | 59.3 (15.2) | 48.0 (8.9) | 37.2 (2.9) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 44.6 (7.0) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.3 (−12.1) | 9.6 (−12.4) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 40.9 (4.9) | 51.0 (10.6) | 57.4 (14.1) | 55.5 (13.1) | 48.2 (9.0) | 37.5 (3.1) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 17.7 (−7.9) | 33.9 (1.1) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −9.5 (−23.1) | −7.4 (−21.9) | 0.9 (−17.3) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 40.7 (4.8) | 48.6 (9.2) | 45.4 (7.4) | 34.2 (1.2) | 25.4 (−3.7) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 0.8 (−17.3) | −13.5 (−25.3) |
Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) | −22 (−30) | −12 (−24) | 15 (−9) | 25 (−4) | 33 (1) | 43 (6) | 39 (4) | 29 (−2) | 18 (−8) | 5 (−15) | −19 (−28) | −23 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.74 (95) | 3.58 (91) | 4.16 (106) | 4.31 (109) | 3.56 (90) | 4.42 (112) | 3.14 (80) | 3.26 (83) | 3.92 (100) | 5.25 (133) | 4.52 (115) | 4.59 (117) | 48.45 (1,231) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 20.0 (51) | 18.8 (48) | 13.4 (34) | 3.0 (7.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.5 (6.4) | 14.0 (36) | 71.8 (183.25) |
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 14.5 (37) | 16.7 (42) | 12.6 (32) | 3.1 (7.9) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.0 (5.1) | 8.9 (23) | 20.0 (51) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 12.2 | 10.1 | 11.3 | 11.5 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 13.0 | 135.1 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.1 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 5.9 | 28.1 |
Source 1: NOAA [20] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow depth 2006–2020) [21] |
Bath has twenty known cemeteries. [22] This is a relatively small number compared to neighboring communities (Phippsburg, for example, has over one hundred), [22] because, from the early 1900s, Bath was densely populated, which left less room for family cemeteries. [22]
The city maintains its "big three" cemeteries: Oak Grove, Maple Grove and Calvary. [22] It also manages four smaller burials grounds: Dummer Sewall (Dummer and Beacon streets), David Trufant (claimed by author Parker McCobb Reed in 1894 to be the oldest burying ground in Bath; [23] Spring and Middle streets), Pettingill (Riverview Road) and Fairview (on Fairview Lane). [22] Only Pettengill has pieces of stones remaining, including that of a Revolutionary War veteran. [22]
Graveyards not managed by the city, which tend to be old family plots, include Harrison (Stoney Island Road), Crawford (North Bath Road), Roberts-Edgecomb (North Bath Road), Edgecomb (North Bath Road), Purington (North Bath and Whiskeag roads), Ham (Ridge and Whiskeag roads), Ward (Bayshore Road) and the "Irish" ground (Varney Mill Road). [22]
The Whittam (or Witham) graveyard (Bayshore Road) and Wise-Welch (North Bath Road), which includes Bath's oldest documented burial in 1749, were identified in the 1970s, but are not found today. [22]
Those found in sources, yet have no burials or exact locations identified, are South Street (possibly South and Washington streets), Marshall (Washington and Marshall streets), the "Turnpike" ground (likely in West Bath), and Marr's Hill (in the area of Corliss and Washington streets). [22]
There is also a Ward Cemetery. [22]
Sagadahoc County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,699. Its county seat is Bath. In geographic area, it is the smallest county in Maine.
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,237. Its seat is Wiscasset. The county was founded in 1760 by the Massachusetts General Court from a portion of York County, Massachusetts and named after the English city Lincoln, the birthplace of Massachusetts Bay Provincial Governor Thomas Pownall.
Kennebec County is a county located in the South-central portion of the U.S. state of Maine. At the 2020 census, the population was 123,642. Its county seat is Augusta, the state capital. The county was established on February 20, 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."
Androscoggin County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 111,139. Its county seat is Auburn and its largest city is Lewiston.
Harpswell is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. The population was 5,031 at the 2020 census. Harpswell is composed of land contiguous with the rest of Cumberland County, called Harpswell Neck, as well as three large islands connected by bridges: Sebascodegan Island, Orr's Island, and Bailey Island and over 200 smaller islands. Harpswell is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Gardiner is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,961 at the 2020 census. Popular with tourists, Gardiner is noted for its culture and old architecture. Gardiner is a nationally accredited Main Street America community. It is included in the Augusta, Maine micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
Damariscotta is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,297 at the 2020 census. Damariscotta is the oyster capital of New England. A popular tourist destination, the towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle are linked by the Main Street bridge over the Damariscotta River, forming the "Twin Villages". The name Damariscotta derives from a native place-name meaning place of abundance of small fish (alewives).
Newcastle is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,848 at the 2020 census. The village of Newcastle is located in the eastern part of the town, on the Damariscotta River. Together with the village of Damariscotta linked by the Main Street bridge, they form the Twin Villages.
Arrowsic is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population is 477 as of the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. During the French and Indian Wars, Arrowsic was site of a succession of important and embattled colonial settlements. It is a favorite with artists and birdwatchers.
Bowdoin is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. Bowdoin is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 3,136 at the 2020 census. Bowdoin is 31 land miles north of Portland, and 21 land miles south of Augusta.
Bowdoinham is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. Bowdoinham was included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 3,047 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The town is located on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay.
Georgetown is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,058 at the 2020 census. Home to Reid State Park, the town is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located on an island accessible by car from the mainland, Georgetown includes the villages of Five Islands, Georgetown, Bay Point, Marrtown, West Georgetown and Robinhood. It is a popular tourist destination.
Phippsburg is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Kennebec River. The population was 2,155 at the 2020 census. It is within the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine, metropolitan statistical area. A tourist destination, Phippsburg is home to Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Fort Popham State Historic Site; it is also home to Fort Baldwin which overlooks Fort Popham, and Popham Beach State Park, as well as Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. The town includes part of Winnegance.
West Bath is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,910 at the 2020 census. A sub-locality of West Bath is Winnegance. West Bath is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.
Woolwich is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,068 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. Woolwich is a suburb of the city of Bath located on the opposite shore of Merrymeeting Bay.
York is a town in York County, Maine, United States, near the southern tip of the state. The population in the 2020 census was 13,723. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Maine, York is a well-known summer resort town. It is home to three 18-hole golf clubs, four sandy beaches, and Mount Agamenticus. From south to north, it is divided into the villages of Bald Head, York Village, York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick.
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum, and the Maine State Music Theatre. It was formerly home to the U.S. Naval Air Station Brunswick, which was permanently closed on May 31, 2011, and has since been partially released to redevelopment as "Brunswick Landing".
Richmond is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,522 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area, situated at the head of Merrymeeting Bay.
Wiscasset is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the primary settlement in the town of Wiscasset in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2020 census, out of 3,732 people in the entire town. Wiscasset is the county seat of Lincoln County.
Topsham is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. Topsham was included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 9,560 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The town is home to the annual Topsham Fair.
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