Augusta, Maine

Augusta is the capital of the State of Maine. It is located on the Kennebec River at the head of navigation or "head of the tide". As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 18,560. It is the county seat of Kennebec County. The center of population of Maine is located in Augusta [1].

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Sites of interest
5 Notable residents
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

The area was first explored by members of the ill-fated Popham Colony in September 1607. It was first inhabited by English settlers from the Plymouth Colony in 1625 as a trading post. The settlement was located on the Kennebec River at highest tidal eddy. Around that time, it was known by the Indian name "Cushnoc" (or "Coussinoc" or "Koussinoc"). Highly profitable fur trading continued for about 32 years, and the area was abandoned by the English for more than 75 years. In 1754, Fort Western, now the oldest wooden fort in America, was built on the east bank of the Kennebec. It was built, along with two others elsewhere on the river, to attract settlers to the region.^[1]

The area was incorporated as part of the town called Hallowell in 1771. In February 1797, the upstream area of Hallowell know as "the Fort" was incorporated as a separate town called Harrington. However, the name was changed to "Augusta" in August of that year. The city was named for "Augusta Dearborn" daughter of Henry Dearborn. The city of Dearborn, Michagan was named after Henry Dearborn. Mr. Dearborn was a Congressman from NH and the Sec. of War in the Jefferson administration. There is a portrait of Henry Dearborn in the NH Statehouse. In 1799 Augusta became the county seat for Kennebec County.^[1]

Augusta was officially designated the state capital in 1827. However, the Maine State Legislature continued to meet in Portland until completion of the new capitol building in 1832. Augusta was chartered as a city in 1849.

[edit] Geography

Augusta is located at 44°19′25″N, 69°45′55″W (44.323535° N 69.765261° W)^GR1, making it the easternmost state capital in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 150.9 km² (58.3 mi²). 143.4 km² (55.4 mi²) of it is land and 7.5 km² (2.9 mi²) of it (4.98%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Maine State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch, built 1829–1832

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 18,560 people, 8,565 households, and 4,607 families residing in the city. The population density was 129.4/km² (335.1/mi²). There were 9,480 housing units at an average density of 66.1/km² (171.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.21% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 3.0 from two or more races.

There were 8,565 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,921, and the median income for a family was $42,230. Males had a median income of $31,209 versus $22,548 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,145. About 14.4% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Sites of interest

Maine State House as originally designed (image from mid-1800s).

The Pine Tree State Arboretum is a 224-acre (90.6 hectares) arboretum with botanical gardens.

The Maine State Museum and Maine State Library are housed next to the state capital building. The capital grounds include Capitol Park and several monuments. The Blaine House, home to Maine's governor is located across from the capitol building.

[edit] Notable residents

James G. Blaine, 1884 Republican nominee for President of the United States, United States Secretary of State in 1881 and from 1889-1892, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 1869-1875^[1]
Melville Fuller, Chief Justice of the United States from 1888-1910^[1]
George W. Ladd, (1818-1892), born in Augusta, United States Congressman from Maine^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). in Doris A. Isaacson: Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc., 148-152.

^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.

[edit] External links

History of Augusta, Maine
City of Augusta, Maine
Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 44.323535° -69.765261°
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

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