Columbia Falls, Maine
Encyclopedia
Columbia Falls is a town
in Washington County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 599 at the 2000 census.
on February 8, 1796 and incorporated as Columbia
. It was settled soon after the Revolutionary War
. On March 25, 1863, the town was set off from Columbia and incorporated as Columbia Falls.
Lumbering and shipbuilding
brought the town prosperity and endowed it with some fine early architecture
. This includes the Ruggles House (1818–1820), an exquisite Federal home that is now a museum, and the Union Church
(1849), a Greek Revival meeting house
which since 1902 has housed the town hall, library and archives. The Washington County Railroad
arrived at Columbia Falls in 1898. Tourism
and harvesting blueberries
are important industries today, together with producing Christmas tree
s and wreath
s.
, the town has a total area of 24.7 square miles (64 km²), of which, 24.5 square miles (63.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.57%) is water. Columbia Falls is drained by the Pleasant River
.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 1
and Maine State Route 187.
of 2000, there were 599 people, 251 households, and 168 families residing in the town. The population density
was 24.4 people per square mile (9.4/km²). There were 310 housing units at an average density of 12.6 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.83% White, 0.83% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.67% from other races
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 251 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,864, and the median income for a family was $40,208. Males had a median income of $28,021 versus $19,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,723. About 12.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 29.1% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Washington County
Washington County, Maine
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 32,856. Its county seat is Machias.Sometimes referred to as "Sunrise County" because it is the easternmost county in the United States, and it is often where the rising sun first shines on the 48...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 599 at the 2000 census.
History
The town began as Township 13 SD, BPP, which was joined together with Township 12 by the Massachusetts General CourtMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
on February 8, 1796 and incorporated as Columbia
Columbia, Maine
Columbia is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:...
. It was settled soon after the Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. On March 25, 1863, the town was set off from Columbia and incorporated as Columbia Falls.
Lumbering and shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
brought the town prosperity and endowed it with some fine early architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. This includes the Ruggles House (1818–1820), an exquisite Federal home that is now a museum, and the Union Church
Union Church (Columbia Falls, Maine)
The former Union Church built in 1849 is an historic wooden Greek Revival building located in Columbia Falls, Maine, in the United States. In 1902, the church gave the building to the town and it became the Town Hall of Columbia Falls and now houses the town library and historical archives...
(1849), a Greek Revival meeting house
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
which since 1902 has housed the town hall, library and archives. The Washington County Railroad
Washington County Railroad
The Washington County Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in Vermont, forming part of the Vermont Rail System. The WACR began operating in 1980 over the old Montpelier and Barre Railroad in Washington County, which the state acquired to ensure the continuance of rail service, and ceased...
arrived at Columbia Falls in 1898. Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and harvesting blueberries
Blueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
are important industries today, together with producing Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
s and wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
s.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 24.7 square miles (64 km²), of which, 24.5 square miles (63.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.57%) is water. Columbia Falls is drained by the Pleasant River
Pleasant River (Pleasant Bay)
The Pleasant River is a river in Washington County, Maine. From the outflow of Pleasant River Lake in Beddington, the river runs south, east, and south to Pleasant Bay. The river's mouth is on the border between the towns of Harrington and Addison....
.
The town is crossed by U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway serving the eastern part of the state. It parallels the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire north through Portland, Brunswick, and Belfast to Calais, and then the St. Croix River and the rest of the Canadian border...
and Maine State Route 187.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 599 people, 251 households, and 168 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 24.4 people per square mile (9.4/km²). There were 310 housing units at an average density of 12.6 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.83% White, 0.83% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 251 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,864, and the median income for a family was $40,208. Males had a median income of $28,021 versus $19,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,723. About 12.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 29.1% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
- Ruggles House
- Union ChurchUnion Church (Columbia Falls, Maine)The former Union Church built in 1849 is an historic wooden Greek Revival building located in Columbia Falls, Maine, in the United States. In 1902, the church gave the building to the town and it became the Town Hall of Columbia Falls and now houses the town library and historical archives...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places - Bucknam House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Samuel Bucknam House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Columbia House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places