Kennebunk, Maine
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- "Kennebunk" redirects here. For other uses, see Kennebunk (disambiguation).
Kennebunk is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 10,476 at the 2000 census. Including Kennebunkport the population totals 14,196 people. Kennebunk, pronounced "KEN-ee-buhnk" is home to Kennebunk Beach and the Nature Conservancy Blueberry Barrens, with 1,500 acres of nature trails and Blueberry Fields (now called Blueberry Plains.)
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[edit] History
First settled about 1620, the town developed as a trading and, later, shipbuilding and shipping center with light manufacturing. It was part of the town of Wells until 1820, when it incorporated as a separate town. Kennebunk claims to be "the only village in the world so named." To the Abenaki Indians, Kennebunk meant "the long cut bank," presumably the long bank behind Kennebunk Beach. Kennebunk beach is split up into three major sections. Mother's Beach, Middle Beach or Rocky Beach, and Gooches Beach or Long Beach. Separate from Kennebunk Beach is Parson's Beach. Parson's Beach is much smaller and less popular that Kennebunk Beach.
The town is a popular summer tourist destination, with several fine beaches. Kennebunk contains fine examples of early architecture, the most noted of which is the "Wedding Cake House," a Federal-style dwelling extensively decorated with scroll saw Gothic trim. This was added to the house by a sea captain who wanted his wife to remember him when he went away to sea. Local industry includes tourism, as well as the natural health-care product manufacturer, Tom's of Maine. In addition, many residents commute to Portland, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, or even to Boston, Massachusetts. The Laffayette elm was a tree in Kennebunk which was General Laffayette's favorite place to think in town during his visits. The elm is on the town seal and there is a mill building named the Laffayette Building, (now called the Laffayette Center), named after him.
Historic Sites & Museums:
- Brick Store Museum (1825)
- Taylor-Barry House (1803)
[edit] Education
Kennebunk and neighboring Kennebunkport comprise Maine School Administrative District 71. The schools in MSAD 71 comprise of Consolidated School, Kennebunk Elementary School, Sea Road School, Middle School of the Kennebunks, and Kennebunk High School. The Middle School of the Kennebunks is part of Maine's project that gives laptops to all of the 7th and 8th graders in the school system.
In 2000, a group of students teamed up with parents and local community members to found The New School, a small alternative high school, with students coming from as close as Kennebunk and Wells and as far away as Portland and Somersworth. The school is accredited by the State of Maine and the first group of students graduated in June of 2001. The New School has a focus on community-based learning.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 92.0 km² (35.5 mi²). 90.9 km² (35.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (1.18%) is water. Kennebunk is drained by the Kennebunk and Mousam rivers. There are a few ways to get in and out of Kennebunk.
2. U.S. Route 1 which goes through the center of Kennebunk and is part of the main street.
The Amtrak also goes through Kennebunk, but there is no stop to pick up people.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 10,476 people, 4,229 households, and 2,901 families residing in the town. The population density was 115.3/km² (298.5/mi²). There were 4,985 housing units at an average density of 54.9/km² (142.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.04% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.
There were 4,229 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,914, and the median income for a family was $59,712. Males had a median income of $42,417 versus $25,788 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,181. About 2.9% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
