Lincoln County, Maine

Not to be confused with Lincoln, Maine.

Lincoln County
County
Lincoln County Courthouse
Lincoln County Courthouse
Flag of Lincoln County
Flag
Map of Maine highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Map of the United States highlighting Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°00′49″N 69°32′31″W / 44.013474°N 69.541817°W / 44.013474; -69.541817
Country United States
State Maine
Founded1760; 264 years ago (1760)
Named forLincoln, England
SeatWiscasset
Largest townWaldoboro
Area
 • Total
700 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land456 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water244 sq mi (630 km2)  35%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
35,237
 • Estimate 
(2023)
36,507 Increase
 • Density50/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitelincolncountymaine.me

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,237.[1] Its seat is Wiscasset.[2] 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,[3] the birthplace of Massachusetts Bay Provincial Governor Thomas Pownall.[4]

At its founding, Lincoln County accounted for three-fifths of the state's land, and stretched east to Nova Scotia. Thirteen counties were cut out of this land including Sagadahoc County to the west and a portion of Kennebec County to the north.[5] The county flag is a traditional New England flag, adopted in 1977.[6]

Geography

Boothbay Harbor

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 700 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 456 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 244 square miles (630 km2) (35%) is water.[7] It is the third-smallest county in Maine by area.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179029,733—
180030,2251.7%
181042,99242.2%
182053,18923.7%
183057,1927.5%
184063,51711.1%
185074,87517.9%
186027,860−62.8%
187025,597−8.1%
188024,821−3.0%
189021,996−11.4%
190019,669−10.6%
191018,216−7.4%
192015,976−12.3%
193015,498−3.0%
194016,2945.1%
195018,00410.5%
196018,4972.7%
197020,53711.0%
198025,69125.1%
199030,35718.2%
200033,61610.7%
201034,4572.5%
202035,2372.3%
2023 (est.)36,507[8]3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2016[13] 2018[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,158 households, and 9,542 families living in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29 people/km2). There were 20,849 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.46% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.3% were of English, 15.4% United States or American, 11.2% Irish, 9.0% German and 7.3% French ancestry. Most of those claiming to be of "American" ancestry are actually of English descent, but have family that has been in the country for so long, in many cases since the early seventeenth century that they choose to identify simply as "American".[15][16][17][18][19] 97.7% spoke English and 1.0% French as their first language.

There were 14,158 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 28.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,686, and the median income for a family was $45,427. Males had a median income of $31,209 versus $23,161 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,760. About 6.60% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,457 people, 15,149 households, and 9,749 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 75.6 inhabitants per square mile (29.2/km2). There were 23,493 housing units at an average density of 51.5 units per square mile (19.9 units/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 30.4% were English, 17.7% were Irish, 13.4% were German, 8.6% were Scottish, and 8.5% were American.[22]

Of the 15,149 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.1 years.[20]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,678 and the median income for a family was $58,028. Males had a median income of $40,816 versus $31,473 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,003. About 7.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[23]

Politics

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[24]
Democratic 9,713 34.98%
Republican 8,558 30.82%
Unenrolled 7,912 28.5%
Green Independent 1,098 3.95%
No Labels 394 1.42%
Libertarian 90 0.32%
Total 27,765 100%
United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Maine[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,409 43.37% 13,110 54.62% 484 2.02%
2020 10,256 43.47% 12,684 53.76% 654 2.77%
2016 9,727 45.24% 10,241 47.63% 1,535 7.14%
2012 8,899 42.87% 11,315 54.51% 543 2.62%
2008 9,287 43.03% 11,886 55.07% 411 1.90%
2004 10,370 46.83% 11,351 51.26% 421 1.90%
2000 9,457 48.08% 8,634 43.89% 1,580 8.03%
1996 6,372 35.06% 8,130 44.74% 3,671 20.20%
1992 6,405 33.65% 6,714 35.27% 5,917 31.08%
1988 9,837 61.79% 5,939 37.31% 144 0.90%
1984 10,312 67.68% 4,869 31.96% 55 0.36%
1980 7,434 52.14% 4,776 33.49% 2,049 14.37%
1976 7,554 59.03% 4,818 37.65% 425 3.32%
1972 7,580 72.28% 2,903 27.68% 4 0.04%
1968 5,659 61.11% 3,380 36.50% 222 2.40%
1964 3,984 43.81% 5,099 56.07% 11 0.12%
1960 7,562 76.39% 2,337 23.61% 0 0.00%
1956 7,191 86.07% 1,164 13.93% 0 0.00%
1952 6,766 83.80% 1,299 16.09% 9 0.11%
1948 4,743 80.47% 1,095 18.58% 56 0.95%
1944 4,919 69.97% 2,102 29.90% 9 0.13%
1940 5,244 68.42% 2,415 31.51% 5 0.07%
1936 5,252 72.62% 1,850 25.58% 130 1.80%
1932 4,666 63.84% 2,602 35.60% 41 0.56%
1928 4,470 78.85% 1,181 20.83% 18 0.32%
1924 3,311 77.36% 878 20.51% 91 2.13%
1920 3,668 73.61% 1,256 25.21% 59 1.18%
1916 1,781 49.97% 1,718 48.20% 65 1.82%
1912 457 12.28% 1,633 43.89% 1,631 43.83%
1908 1,693 56.43% 1,196 39.87% 111 3.70%

Communities

The Damariscotta River near the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site

Towns

Plantations

Unorganized Territories

Census-designated places

Transportation

U.S. Route 1 passes through the county in a northeast–southwest fashion. North-south Maine state routes, notably Maine 27, Maine 129, Maine 130 and Maine 32 travel north to the interior of the county and south to the peninsulas by the coast.

Until 1958, the Maine Central Railroad ran passenger trains from Portland, along the Rockland Branch from Brunswick to Rockland to the east, three trains a day on days besides Sunday and fewer trains on Sunday. Stations consisted of Wiscasset, Newcastle, Damariscotta Mills, Nobleboro, Winslow Mills and Waldoboro. In Portland's Union Station, these trains made connections to trains to Boston, New York City, Bangor and the Canadian Maritimes.[26] In the final months, service diminished to one daily except Sunday trip in each direction, until finally discontinuing on April 4, 1959.[27]

From 2003 to 2015, the Maine Eastern Railroad offered seasonal excursion service to Rockland, Maine which connected to Amtrak's Downeaster at Brunswick. In October 2017, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority announced plans to extend one weekend Downeaster round trip to Rockland between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning in 2018. Intermediate stops would be made at Bath, Wiscasset, and Newcastle.[28] As part of preparation, Amtrak, along with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Maine Department of Transportation and the Central Maine and & Quebec Railroad, made a test run of a train on August 14.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Lincoln County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "north by east". Down East: The Magazine of Maine: 19. June 2008.
  4. ^ "Lincoln County Maine". lincolncountymaine. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  5. ^ "Lincoln County information". Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  6. ^ The Flag of New England Page Archived April 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  14. ^ "QuickFacts. Lincoln County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  15. ^ Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
  16. ^ Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
  17. ^ Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44–6.
  18. ^ Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82–86.
  19. ^ Mary C. Waters, Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990), p. 36.
  20. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  22. ^ "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  23. ^ "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  24. ^ Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide" (PDF). Maine SOS. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  25. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  26. ^ "Maine Central Railroad, Table 3". Official Guide of the Railways. 91 (3). National Railway Publication Company. August 1958.
  27. ^ "Maine Central Railroad, Table 3". Official Guide of the Railways. 91 (11). National Railway Publication Company. April 1959.
  28. ^ Abbate, Lauren (October 24, 2017). "Rail group eyes Amtrak service to Rockland by summer 2018". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  29. ^ Betts, Stephen (August 15, 2019). "Train backers ride rails to Rockland". Courier-Gazette. Knox County VillageSoup. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021.
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44°00′N 69°32′W / 44.00°N 69.53°W / 44.00; -69.53