Southport, Maine

Southport
Town
Southport Landing in 1910
Seal
Location in Lincoln County and the state of Maine.
Coordinates: 43°49′23″N69°40′0″W / 43.82306°N 69.66667°W / 43.82306; -69.66667
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Lincoln
First settled	1623
Incorporated as a town	1842
Area [1]
• Total	23.16 sq mi (59.98 km2)
• Land	5.38 sq mi (13.93 km2)
• Water	17.78 sq mi (46.05 km2)
Elevation	62 ft (19 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	622
• Density	116/sq mi (44.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	04576, 04570
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-71955
GNIS feature ID	0582737
Website	www.townofsouthport.org

Hendricks Head Light at sunset

Southport is a town and island in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 622 at the 2020 census. ^[3] It includes the neighborhoods of Capitol Island, Cozy Harbor, East Side, Newagen, Pine Cliff, and West Southport, and the village of Squirrel Island. The majority of the town's residents live on its main island, Southport Island.

History

The Abenaki people who originally inhabited the island called it Capanewagen. ^[4] Cape Newagen, an English corruption of the Abenaki name, was the name of an early English fishing outpost at the southern tip of the island. The island would later be known as Newagen Island by Europeans. ^[5]

While the first European settlement was established in 1623, the island was abandoned by the English when they were driven from the region by the Abenaki during King Phillip's War in 1676. After the war, colonists returned to the island, only to be driven out again during King William's War in 1689.

After 40 years, colonists again returned to the region in 1730, and established a settlement called Townsend, named after Lord Charles Townshend. ^[6] In 1764, the settlement was officially incorporated as the town of Boothbay. ^[7] On February 12, 1842, the island split from Boothbay, becoming incorporated as Townsend. ^[8] On June 12, 1850, Townsend changed its name to Southport, after Southport, England.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.16 square miles (59.98 km²), of which 5.38 square miles (13.93 km²) is land and 17.78 square miles (46.05 km²) is water. ^[1] Southport is on Southport Island, in the mouth of the Sheepscot River. The islands of Southport include the Ark, Boston Island, Burnt Island, Cape Island, Capitol Island, Cedarbush Island, the Cuckolds, David Island, the Green Islands, Hunting Island, Lower Mark Island, Mouse Island, Pratts Island, Southport Island, and Squirrel Island.

The main island is crossed by state routes 27 and 238. Southport Island is connected by a green swing bridge to the adjacent town of Boothbay Harbor.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	543		—
1860	708		30.4%
1870	684		−3.4%
1880	679		−0.7%
1890	533		−21.5%
1900	527		−1.1%
1910	409		−22.4%
1920	272		−33.5%
1930	412		51.5%
1940	405		−1.7%
1950	435		7.4%
1960	416		−4.4%
1970	473		13.7%
1980	598		26.4%
1990	645		7.9%
2000	684		6.0%
2010	606		−11.4%
2020	622		2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2010 census

As of the census ^[2] of 2010, there were 606 people, 316 households, and 195 families living in the town. The population density was 112.6 inhabitants per square mile (43.5/km²). There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of 195.4 per square mile (75.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% White, 1.7% from two or more races, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% African American and 0.2% Native American. Hispanic and/or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.

There were 316 households, of which 14.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.

The median age in the town was 60.1 years. 12% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13% were from 25 to 44; 35.6% were from 45 to 64; and 37% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 684 people, 331 households, and 218 families living in the town. The population density was 127.0 inhabitants per square mile (49.0/km²). There were 912 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.58% Asian, and 0.58% from two or more races.

There were 331 households, out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.52.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 14.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $52,750. Males had a median income of $35,500 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,481. About 4.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

• Burnt Island Light
• The Cuckolds Light
• Hendricks Head Light
• Squirrel Island

Notable people

• Ralph H. Cameron, U.S. senator from Arizona
• Rachel Carson, marine biologist and conservationist
• Margaret Hamilton, film actress
• Wilder Hobson, journalist
• Hart Day Leavitt, educator and editor
• Gustaf Tenggren, illustrator
• Claggett Wilson, painter

References

1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 16, 2012.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 16, 2012.
3. "Census - Geography Profile: Southport town, Lincoln County, Maine" . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
4. Bright, William Oliver Bright (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. p. 81.
5. "The origin of the name Boothbay, part I". Boothbay Register. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
6. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp.  59–60. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
7. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. p.  310. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
8. Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson (ed.). Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc. p. 325.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

Further reading

• Francis Byron Greene, History of Boothbay, Southport and Boothbay Harbor, Maine 1623–1905; Portland, Maine 1906

External links

• Town of Southport, Maine
• Southport Memorial Library
• Boothbay Register newspaper
• Boothbay Region Historical Society
• Epodunk profile
• Maine Genealogy: Southport, Lincoln County, Maine

43°50′27″N69°39′31″W / 43.84083°N 69.65861°W / 43.84083; -69.65861