Newport, Maine

Newport, Maine
Town
Sebasticook Lake
Newport, Maine Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°50′12″N69°16′21″W / 44.83667°N 69.27250°W / 44.83667; -69.27250
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Penobscot
Area [1]
• Total	36.97 sq mi (95.75 km2)
• Land	29.50 sq mi (76.40 km2)
• Water	7.47 sq mi (19.35 km2)
Elevation	197 ft (60 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,133
• Density	106/sq mi (41.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	04953
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-49065
GNIS feature ID	0572149
Website	newportme.org

Newport is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,133 at the 2020 census. ^[2] The town's borders surround the shoreline of Sebasticook Lake.

History

Woolen mill c. 1920

The town was settled circa 1808 as East Pond Plantation, then incorporated on June 14, 1814, as Newport. Agriculture was a principal early occupation, and industries included several sawmills, a gristmill, a foundry, cabinet shop, and a number of harness and blacksmith shops. By 1859, when the population was 1,120, Newport was an important producer of carriages "...which, for durability and finish, [were] not excelled by any in the state." ^[3] The Maine Central Railroad connected to Newport and made it the terminus for its Dexter & Newport Railway, which opened in 1868. By 1880, the population reached 1,451, and industries included a marble, granite and slate works, and a maker of boots and shoes. ^[4] In 1891, the woolen mill was built, and the Aroostook Condensed Milk Company founded. The latter became the Maine Condensed Milk Company in 1894, then Borden's Condensed Milk Company in 1902. ^[5]

In 1936, Newport, Maine became one of the towns to have a Movie Queen filmed in it. ^[6] The Movie Queen was a half an hour silent video filmed in black and white on 16 mm film. These movies were to display all of the shops and the economy of the town. ^[7] This film now lives in the Northeast Historic Film repository ^[8] and is owned by the Newport Historical Committee. ^[9]

In 1901, a large fire destroyed the Maine Central Railroad freight depot and two mills, and damaged 20 houses. ^[10] In 1990, two boys, aged eight and nine, started a fire which burned half of Newport's historic downtown. The fire was started in the then vacant Yankee Café. The fire burned a pizzeria, auto parts store, a beauty parlor, and a baseball card shop (three buildings which were more than a century old). ^{[11] [12]}

In the 21st century, through the year 2020, the Vic Firth Company, subsidiary of Avedis Zildjian Company, continues to manufacture its percussion sticks and mallets in Newport. ^{[13] [14]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.97 square miles (95.75 km²), of which 29.50 square miles (76.40 km²) is land and 7.47 square miles (19.35 km²) is water. ^[1] Situated on Sebasticook Lake, Newport is drained by Martin Stream and the East Branch of the Sebasticook River. Sebasticook Lake is contained entirely in the town of Newport, and is the largest lake contained in one town in the state of Maine. ^[15]

The town is crossed by Interstate 95, U.S. Route 2, and state routes 7, 11, 100, and 222. It is bordered by the town of Corinna to the north, Stetson to the east, Etna and Plymouth to the south, and Palmyra to the west.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	510		—
1830	897		75.9%
1840	1,138		26.9%
1850	1,210		6.3%
1860	1,403		16.0%
1870	1,559		11.1%
1880	1,451		−6.9%
1890	1,188		−18.1%
1900	1,533		29.0%
1910	1,747		14.0%
1920	1,709		−2.2%
1930	1,731		1.3%
1940	2,052		18.5%
1950	2,190		6.7%
1960	2,322		6.0%
1970	2,260		−2.7%
1980	2,755		21.9%
1990	3,036		10.2%
2000	3,017		−0.6%
2010	3,275		8.6%
2020	3,133		−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [16]

See also: Newport (CDP), Maine

2010 census

As of the census ^[17] of 2010, there were 3,275 people, 1,410 households, and 883 families living in the town. The population density was 111.0 inhabitants per square mile (42.9/km²). There were 1,766 housing units at an average density of 59.9 per square mile (23.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 1,410 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 42.6 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 30% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 3,017 people, 1,269 households, and 846 families living in the town. The population density was 102.3 inhabitants per square mile (39.5/km²). There were 1,574 housing units at an average density of 53.4 per square mile (20.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.28% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 1,269 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% 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 2.85.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,056, and the median income for a family was $37,104. Males had a median income of $28,719 versus $19,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,312. About 9.1% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Lewis O. Barrows, 57th governor of Maine
• Cooper Flagg, basketball player
• Kenneth Fredette, Minority Leader, Maine House of Representatives (2012–present)
• Donald Sidney Skidgel, Medal of Honor recipient and for whom the Donald Sidney Skidgel Memorial Bridge (Route 2, Newport) is named
• Joshua Tardy, Minority Leader, Maine House of Representative (2006–2010)

References

1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-12-16.
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Newport town, Penobscot County, Maine". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 15, 2022.
3. Austin J. Coolidge & John B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England, Boston, Massachusetts 1859
4. George J. Varney, History of Newport, Maine, Boston, Massachusetts 1886
5. Brief History of Newport -- Town of Newport, Maine
6. The Movie Queen Newport Maine , retrieved 2019-10-17
7. "In the 1930s, 'movie queens' were the Facebook Live of small-town Maine". Bangor Daily News. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
8. "Moving Images | Northeast Historic FilmNortheast Historic Film : NHF collection : Newport Historical Society Collection [Newport Historical Society Col]". oldfilm.org. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
9. "Local History « Newport Cultural Center". newportculturalcenter.org. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
10. "LOSSES BY FIRE. - View Article - NYTimes.com" (PDF). query.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
11. Newport Maine Fire 1990 , retrieved 2019-10-17
12. Coolidge, A.J.; Mansfield, J.B. (1859). A History and Description of New England, General and Local. A.J. Coolidge. p.  9 . Retrieved 2014-10-05.
13. "Vic Firth". Vic Firth. January 20, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
14. "The Vic Firth Brand Journey". Vic Firth Company. 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
15. "Sebasticook Lake, Newport, Maine". www.newportmaine.net. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07.
16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-12-16.
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

• Town of Newport official website
• Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Newport Cultural Center