Orono, Maine

Last updated

Orono, Maine
Town
OronoMillStreet.JPG
Mill Street business in downtown Orono
OronoMEseal.png
Seal
OronoMElogo.png
Motto: 
"Home of the University of Maine"
Map of Orono, Penobscot Country, Maine Highlighted.png
USA Maine relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Orono
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Orono
Coordinates: 44°53′00″N68°40′20″W / 44.88333°N 68.67222°W / 44.88333; -68.67222
Country United States
State Maine
County Penobscot
Settled1774
IncorporatedMarch 12, 1806
Chartered1969
Government
 • TypeCouncil/Manager
 • Town ManagerSophia L. Wilson
Area
[1]
 • Total
19.60 sq mi (50.76 km2)
 • Land18.19 sq mi (47.11 km2)
 • Water1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2)  7.19%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,183
 • Density615/sq mi (237.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
04473-Town, 04469-UMaine
Area code 207
Website www.orono.org
Orono in 1936, Ayers Island and the Basin Mills Complex are visible in the center front. Maine - Orono - NARA - 23940743 (cropped).jpg
Orono in 1936, Ayers Island and the Basin Mills Complex are visible in the center front.

Orono ( /ˈɒrənoʊ/ ORR-ə-noh) is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. Located on the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, it was first settled by American colonists in 1774. They named it in honor of Chief Joseph Orono, a sachem of the indigenous Penobscot nation who long occupied this territory.

Contents

In the 19th century, the town became a center of the lumber industry. Sawmills on the rivers were powered by the water, and logs were floated downriver on the Penobscot for shipping and export from coastal ports. Orono was home to a large pulp and paper mill. A defunct railroad spur extending from downtown to the Stillwater Community of Old Town is now the Stillwater River Trail. There has been a bridge over the Stillwater River since the 1830s; the current one was constructed in the early 1990s. Between 1895 and 1940 a trolley service ran through town including over the Stillwater River. A Penobscot River crossing ferry operated in the 19th century. [2]

Since 1865, it has been the location of the University of Maine, established as a land-grant institution and the state's flagship educational institution. In the fall of 2018, the university enrolled 11,404 students at Orono. Not including university residents, the town's population was 11,183 at the 2020 census. [3] It contains the census-designated place of the same name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.60 square miles (50.76 km2), of which 18.19 square miles (47.11 km2) is land and 1.41 square miles (3.65 km2) is water. [1] The town is divided by the Stillwater River, a branch of the Penobscot River. It occupies the southern part of Marsh Island, surrounded by the Penobscot and the Stillwater rivers, where the University of Maine campus is located. Orono also occupies Ayers Island, the site of a demolished paper mill, Browns Island, a small protected natural area upstream of the Orono Dam, and part of Moose Island on Pushaw Lake. The remainder of the town is on the mainland. The Orono Dam impounds the Stillwater River at its confluence with the Penobscot River near downtown Orono. [4] The seasonal Johnny Mack Brook flows through the town into the Penobscot River.

Orono is located along U.S. Route 2 (Route 15 in the now-obsolete New England road marking system). Orono marks the eastern terminus of Maine State Route 16, which intersects with U.S. Route 2 in Monument Square in downtown. Orono is located at milepost 145 of the Maine Central Railroad, the railroad bridge in town was built in 1885. [2]

Orono shares land boundaries with Bangor, Veazie, Glenburn, and Old Town, and the Penobscot River forms the boundary with Bradley and Eddington to the east.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Orono has a warm-summer humid continental climate, according to the Köppen Climate Classification system is "Dfb", thus abbreviated ed in on climate maps. [5]

Climate data for Orono (University of Maine), elevation: 47 m or 154 ft, 1981–2010 normals, extremes and average extremes 1893–2005 [a]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)65
(18)		63
(17)		83
(28)		89
(32)		99
(37)		100
(38)		102
(39)		104
(40)		97
(36)		90
(32)		78
(26)		64
(18)		104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)46.2
(7.9)		46.7
(8.2)		58.2
(14.6)		72.2
(22.3)		83.8
(28.8)		89.5
(31.9)		92.0
(33.3)		90.1
(32.3)		84.3
(29.1)		73.7
(23.2)		60.8
(16.0)		49.5
(9.7)		92.0
(33.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)28.7
(−1.8)		33.6
(0.9)		41.5
(5.3)		54.5
(12.5)		67.3
(19.6)		76.0
(24.4)		81.0
(27.2)		79.6
(26.4)		70.3
(21.3)		56.9
(13.8)		44.8
(7.1)		33.5
(0.8)		55.6
(13.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)19.9
(−6.7)		24.2
(−4.3)		32.4
(0.2)		44.5
(6.9)		55.9
(13.3)		64.5
(18.1)		70.0
(21.1)		68.8
(20.4)		59.8
(15.4)		48.0
(8.9)		38.1
(3.4)		26.4
(−3.1)		46.0
(7.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)11.1
(−11.6)		14.8
(−9.6)		23.3
(−4.8)		34.5
(1.4)		44.4
(6.9)		53.0
(11.7)		59.0
(15.0)		57.9
(14.4)		49.3
(9.6)		39.2
(4.0)		31.4
(−0.3)		19.4
(−7.0)		36.4
(2.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−14.8
(−26.0)		−12.9
(−24.9)		−1.18
(−18.43)		19.1
(−7.2)		29.1
(−1.6)		37.7
(3.2)		45.4
(7.4)		41.3
(5.2)		31.0
(−0.6)		23.0
(−5.0)		10.9
(−11.7)		−8
(−22)		−14.8
(−26.0)
Record low °F (°C)−40
(−40)		−32
(−36)		−25
(−32)		3
(−16)		19
(−7)		29
(−2)		34
(1)		30
(−1)		22
(−6)		13
(−11)		−8
(−22)		−31
(−35)		−40
(−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.98
(76)		2.48
(63)		3.15
(80)		3.13
(80)		3.41
(87)		3.52
(89)		3.01
(76)		3.27
(83)		3.56
(90)		3.64
(92)		4.03
(102)		4.21
(107)		40.39
(1,025)
Average snowfall inches (cm)18.7
(47.5)		17.8
(45.2)		11.3
(28.7)		3.9
(9.9)		0.2
(0.5)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		trace0.4
(1)		4.6
(11.7)		56.9
(144.5)
Average precipitation days1089910109999109111
Average snowy days6.34.54.31.2trace0.00.00.00.00.11.44.622.4
Average relative humidity (%)70686561657071717472727570
Mean daily sunshine hours 6.24.15.55.46.55.97.59.49.89.06.56.96.9
Source: WRCC, [6] Weatherbase (snowfall, precipitation and snow days), [7] Meteoblue (sun days) [8] and timeanddate.com (humidity) [9]
Climate data for Orono (University of Maine), elevation: 47 m or 154 ft, 1961–1990 normals and average extremes
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean maximum °F (°C)34.8
(1.6)		42.2
(5.7)		47.2
(8.4)		56.4
(13.6)		72.3
(22.4)		79.3
(26.3)		85.7
(29.8)		81.2
(27.3)		75.1
(23.9)		61.8
(16.6)		48.5
(9.2)		40.3
(4.6)		85.7
(29.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)27.0
(−2.8)		29.1
(−1.6)		38.8
(3.8)		50.7
(10.4)		64.2
(17.9)		73.6
(23.1)		79.2
(26.2)		76.3
(24.6)		66.4
(19.1)		54.9
(12.7)		41.9
(5.5)		30.4
(−0.9)		52.7
(11.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)17.2
(−8.2)		19.2
(−7.1)		29.8
(−1.2)		40.8
(4.9)		52.3
(11.3)		61.7
(16.5)		67.5
(19.7)		64.9
(18.3)		55.8
(13.2)		45.3
(7.4)		34.7
(1.5)		21.9
(−5.6)		42.6
(5.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)7.5
(−13.6)		9.3
(−12.6)		20.8
(−6.2)		30.9
(−0.6)		40.6
(4.8)		49.6
(9.8)		55.6
(13.1)		53.8
(12.1)		45.0
(7.2)		36.0
(2.2)		27.5
(−2.5)		13.6
(−10.2)		32.5
(0.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)−1.5
(−18.6)		−0.4
(−18.0)		12.9
(−10.6)		27.2
(−2.7)		34.6
(1.4)		46.6
(8.1)		49.2
(9.6)		46.3
(7.9)		37.9
(3.3)		32.3
(0.2)		21.9
(−5.6)		−2.1
(−18.9)		−2.1
(−18.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.87
(72.9)		2.63
(66.8)		2.74
(69.6)		3.00
(76.2)		3.43
(87.1)		3.41
(86.6)		3.52
(89.4)		3.48
(88.4)		3.56
(90.4)		3.28
(83.3)		4.05
(102.9)		3.82
(97.0)		39.79
(1,010.6)
Source: NOAA [10] and WRCC (average extremes) [11]

Conservation

The Orono Land Trust operates a number of protected areas in Orono. Piney Knoll Conservation Area, situated alongside the Penobscot River, is known for its walking trails and bird-watching. The University of Maine also owns a considerable amount of protected land in the town. Prominent parcels include Dwight B. Demeritt Forest.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810 351—
1820 41518.2%
1830 1,472254.7%
1840 1,5213.3%
1850 2,78583.1%
1860 2,533−9.0%
1870 2,88814.0%
1880 2,245−22.3%
1890 2,79024.3%
1900 3,25716.7%
1910 3,5559.1%
1920 3,133−11.9%
1930 3,3386.5%
1940 3,70210.9%
1950 7,504102.7%
1960 8,34111.2%
1970 9,98919.8%
1980 10,5785.9%
1990 10,5730.0%
2000 9,112−13.8%
2010 10,36213.7%
2020 11,1837.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
Orono town offices OronoTownOffice.JPG
Orono town offices

2010 census

As of the census [13] of 2010, there were 10,363 people, 2,831 households, and 1,229 families living in the town. The population density was 569.7 inhabitants per square mile (220.0/km2). There were 3,089 housing units at an average density of 169.8 units per square mile (65.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.7% White, 1.2% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 2,831 households, of which 17.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.6% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the town was 21.8 years. 8.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 55.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.2% were from 25 to 44; 13.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.8% male and 48.2% female.

Notable people

Location of town of Orono in state of Maine Map of Maine highlighting Orono.png
Location of town of Orono in state of Maine

Points of interest

Education

It is in Regional School Unit 26. [15] The district operates Orono High School, Orono Middle School, and Asa C. Adams Elementary School.

The University of Maine is in Orono.

Notes

  1. ↑ The 30-year period (normal) is for WRCC data only.

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Peterson, Scott D. (2004). Images of America Orono. Arcadia Publishing.
  3. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Orono town, Penobscot County, Maine" . Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Orono Dam". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ Climate Summary for Orono, Maine
  6. ↑ "ORONO, MAINE - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Orono, Maine Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ "meteoblue - weather close to you". www.meteoblue.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Climate & Weather Averages in University of Maine at Orono Historic District, Maine, USA". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Orono (00176430) - NOAA Weather Station". NOAA . Retrieved June 24, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "ORONO, MAINE - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Death of General Weeks". The Bangor News . Bangor, Maine. October 6, 1905. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Penobscot County, ME (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 5 (PDF p. 6/6). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2025. - Text
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