Cary, Maine

Cary, Maine
Township
Location of Cary, Maine
Coordinates: 45°59′43″N67°51′43″W / 45.99528°N 67.86194°W / 45.99528; -67.86194
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Aroostook
Area
• Total	18.8 sq mi (48.6 km2)
• Land	18.8 sq mi (48.6 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	449 ft (137 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	218
• Density	12/sq mi (4.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	04471
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-11020
GNIS feature ID	582394

Cary is an unorganized township and former plantation in Aroostook County, Maine, United States, and is part of the unorganized territory of South Aroostook, Maine. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 218. ^[1]

History

Cary was settled in 1824. It was organized as Plantation Number 11, Range 1 on June 30, 1859; this organization was made official by the legislature on February 21, 1878. It was organized as Cary Plantation on January 27, 1883; this organization was made official by the legislature on March 5, 1895. ^[2]

In July 2015, Cary Plantation residents began a plan to deorganize and become residents of the Maine Unorganized Territory. ^{[3] [4]} However, in March 2016, the Maine Legislature rejected the plantation's application, citing the financial burden deorganization would add to the remaining municipalities in Aroostook County. ^[5]

On October 3, 2017, residents again voted to deorganize, this time by a vote of 85 to 6, citing their rapidly increasing tax burden. ^[6] The state legislature accepted their second deorganization proposal with an act that became law on April 21, 2018. ^[7] On November 6, 2018, Cary residents voted to confirm the plantation's deorganization by a vote of 105 to 4. ^[8] Cary became part of Maine's Unorganized Territory on July 1, 2019. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 18.8 square miles (48.6 km²), all land. ^[1]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	390		—
1900	400		2.6%
1910	340		−15.0%
1920	327		−3.8%
1930	241		−26.3%
1940	287		19.1%
1950	278		−3.1%
1960	208		−25.2%
1970	184		−11.5%
1980	229		24.5%
1990	235		2.6%
2000	217		−7.7%
2010	218		0.5%
2019 (est.)	291	[9]	33.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 217 people, 90 households, and 66 families residing in the township. The population density was 11.4 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km²). There were 126 housing units at an average density of 6.6 per square mile (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.77% White, 0.46% African American, 1.84% Native American and 0.92% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 90 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $29,500, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,172. About 9.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under the age of 18 and 17.5% of those 65 or over.

References

1. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Cary plantation, Aroostook County, Maine". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
2. Bentley, Elizabeth Petty (2009). The Genealogist's Address Book: State and Local Resources. Genealogical Publishing.
3. Cyr, Joseph (July 31, 2015). "Cary Plantation moves forward with plan to dissolve town". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved 31 July 2015.
4. Bidgood, Jess (January 16, 2016). "In Maine, Local Control Is a Luxury Fewer Towns Can Afford". The New York Times . Retrieved 18 January 2016.
5. Higgins, AJ. "Officials Fear Domino Effect as Aroostook County Towns Try to Deorganize". Maine Public Broadcasting Network . Retrieved 13 March 2016.
6. Cary Plantation residents again vote to move forward with deorganization attempt
7. An Act Authorizing the Deorganization of Cary Plantation
8. Cary residents pass final deorganization vote
9. "S0101: Age and Sex - Cary plantation, Aroostook County, Maine" . Retrieved March 16, 2022.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.