Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Encyclopedia
Dover-Foxcroft is a town in Piscataquis County
, Maine
, United States
, and the county's largest town
and county seat
. As of the 2000 census
, the population was 4,211.
(Dover is on the south side, Foxcroft on the north).
Dover was purchased from Massachusetts
by Boston
merchants Charles Vaughan and John Merrick, both of whom had emigrated from England
. It was first permanently settled in 1803 by Eli Towne from Temple, New Hampshire
, then incorporated on January 19, 1822. Agriculture
was the principal early occupation, producing potato
es, corn
and grain
.
Originally known as T5 R7 NWP, Foxcroft was one of five towns conveyed by Massachusetts in 1796 to Bowdoin College
. It was purchased from the college in 1800 by Joseph E. Foxcroft of New Gloucester
and settled by John, Eleazer and Seth Spaulding in 1806, when they built the first mill
. It was dubbed Spauldingtown until February 29, 1812, when it was incorporated as Foxcroft, taking its proprietor's name.
The Piscataquis River offered water power sites for mills
. In 1859, when the population was about 2,500, industries included four sawmill
s, shingle
and clapboard
manufacturers, one gristmill
, two tanneries
, two carriage
makers, and a woolen
factory.
By 1859, when the population was 1,045, industries included two sawmills, one shingle mill, one carding
machine, one carriage builder, one chair
manufacturer, one tannery, one fork maker, two pail makers, one machinist
, and a sash, door
and blind
factory.
On March 1, 1922, the two towns merged into a single town.
, the town has a total area of 71.2 square miles (184.5 km²), of which 68.2 square miles (176.7 km²) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²) (4.18%) is water. Dover-Foxcroft is drained by the Piscataquis River
.
The town is crossed by state routes 6
, 7
, 15
, 16 and 153
; and is the commercial center of the county.
of 2000, there were 4,211 people, 1,658 households, and 1,152 families residing in the town. The population density
was 61.7 people per square mile (23.8/km²). There were 2,200 housing units at an average density of 32.2 per square mile (12.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% Caucasian, 0.21% Black or African American
, 0.52% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 1,658 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,164, and the median income for a family was $36,287. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,613 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,544. About 13.6% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
(MSAD68).
MSAD68 provides primary schooling for the town and several surrounding communities at three schools in Dover-Foxcroft: SeDoMoCha Elementary School provides for K-4th grades and SeDoMoCha Middle School
(named for four of the communities that attend: Sebec
, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson
and Charleston
) provides for grades 5-8.
Foxcroft Academy
is a private secondary school that accepts all students from MSAD68 as well as others from across the state. The Academy is governed independently by a board of trustees and is among the oldest private schools in the state.
Piscataquis County, Maine
Piscataquis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 17,535, making it Maine's least-populous county. Its county seat is Dover-Foxcroft....
, 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...
, and the county's largest town
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...
and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the population was 4,211.
History
It was originally two towns, Dover and Foxcroft, separated by the Piscataquis RiverPiscataquis River
The Piscataquis River is a major tributary of the Penobscot River, found in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. It starts from the confluence of its East Branch and West Branch in Blanchard. The river flows in a mostly eastern direction until it meets the Penobscot at Howland...
(Dover is on the south side, Foxcroft on the north).
Dover was purchased from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
merchants Charles Vaughan and John Merrick, both of whom had emigrated from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was first permanently settled in 1803 by Eli Towne from Temple, New Hampshire
Temple, New Hampshire
Temple is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,366 at the 2010 census.- History :Incorporated in 1768, Temple takes its name from colonial governor John Wentworth's lieutenant governor, John Temple.- Geography :...
, then incorporated on January 19, 1822. Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
was the principal early occupation, producing potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
.
Originally known as T5 R7 NWP, Foxcroft was one of five towns conveyed by Massachusetts in 1796 to Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
. It was purchased from the college in 1800 by Joseph E. Foxcroft of New Gloucester
New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It is home to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, the last active Shaker Village in the U.S...
and settled by John, Eleazer and Seth Spaulding in 1806, when they built the first mill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
. It was dubbed Spauldingtown until February 29, 1812, when it was incorporated as Foxcroft, taking its proprietor's name.
The Piscataquis River offered water power sites for mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
. In 1859, when the population was about 2,500, industries included four sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, shingle
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
and clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
manufacturers, one gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, two tanneries
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
, two carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
makers, and a woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
factory.
By 1859, when the population was 1,045, industries included two sawmills, one shingle mill, one carding
Carding
Carding is a mechanical process that breaks up locks and unorganised clumps of fibre and then aligns the individual fibres so that they are more or less parallel with each other. The word is derived from the Latin carduus meaning teasel, as dried vegetable teasels were first used to comb the raw wool...
machine, one carriage builder, one chair
Chair
A chair is a stable, raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs are most often supported by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or could have a different shape depending on the criteria of the chair specifications. A chair without a back or...
manufacturer, one tannery, one fork maker, two pail makers, one machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
, and a sash, door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
and blind
Window shutter
A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails...
factory.
On March 1, 1922, the two towns merged into a single town.
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 71.2 square miles (184.5 km²), of which 68.2 square miles (176.7 km²) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²) (4.18%) is water. Dover-Foxcroft is drained by the Piscataquis River
Piscataquis River
The Piscataquis River is a major tributary of the Penobscot River, found in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. It starts from the confluence of its East Branch and West Branch in Blanchard. The river flows in a mostly eastern direction until it meets the Penobscot at Howland...
.
The town is crossed by state routes 6
Maine State Route 6
State Route 6 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from the Quebec border in Sandy Bay Township, to the New Brunswick border in Vanceboro. Route 6 is long and is the only highway in the state to both begin and end at the Canadian border.Most of Route 6 runs concurrently...
, 7
Maine State Route 7
State Route 7 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from an interchange with U.S. 1 in Belfast, to an intersection with Route 15 in Dover-Foxcroft. Route 7 is long....
, 15
Maine State Route 15
State Route 15 is a numbered state highway in Maine, United States. Route 15 runs over from Stonington in the south to Jackman in the north.-Route description:...
, 16 and 153
Maine State Route 153
State Route 153 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways. It runs from an intersection with State Route 16 to an intersection with Smith Lane near Sebec Lake in Dover-Foxcroft. The route is also known as Greeley's Landing Road....
; and is the commercial center of the county.
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 4,211 people, 1,658 households, and 1,152 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 61.7 people per square mile (23.8/km²). There were 2,200 housing units at an average density of 32.2 per square mile (12.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% Caucasian, 0.21% Black or African American
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...
, 0.52% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% 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 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 1,658 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,164, and the median income for a family was $36,287. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,613 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 $14,544. About 13.6% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Dover-Foxcroft is a part of Maine School Administrative District 68Maine School Administrative District 68
Maine School Administrative District 68 consists of two public schools in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The district serves the towns of Dover-Foxcroft, Monson, Sebec, Charleston, and smaller communities. Students are often bussed in from these outlying towns. It is the largest of four school districts...
(MSAD68).
MSAD68 provides primary schooling for the town and several surrounding communities at three schools in Dover-Foxcroft: SeDoMoCha Elementary School provides for K-4th grades and SeDoMoCha Middle School
SeDoMoCha
SeDoMoCha Middle School is located in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine on Harrison Avenue. As of 2006, it enrolls grades 5 through 8. The school is named for the towns it serves: Sebec, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson, and Charleston....
(named for four of the communities that attend: Sebec
Sebec, Maine
Sebec is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The population was 612 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson
Monson, Maine
Monson is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 666. The town is located on Route 15 which is a somewhat major route north to the well known Moosehead Lake Region, to which Monson is sometimes considered a gateway...
and Charleston
Charleston, Maine
Charleston is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Bangor, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,397 at the 2000 census. Home to the Higgins Classical Institute, Charleston includes the village of West Charleston.-History:It was first settled as...
) provides for grades 5-8.
Foxcroft Academy
Foxcroft Academy
Foxcroft Academy located in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, was established as a private college preparatory school on January 30, 1823. According to its handbook, part of its historic mission as a private school is the education of secondary students from Maine communities who are without a high school...
is a private secondary school that accepts all students from MSAD68 as well as others from across the state. The Academy is governed independently by a board of trustees and is among the oldest private schools in the state.
Notable people
- Corey Beaulieu, guitarist
- Clarence BlethenClarence BlethenClarence Waldo Blethen was an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Robins of Major League Baseball as well as 18 seasons in minor league baseball. Blethen batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, baseball pitcher - Alfred Eliab BuckAlfred Eliab BuckAlfred Eliab Buck was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.-Biography:Born in Foxcroft, Maine, Buck was graduated from Waterville College in 1859. During the Civil War he entered the Union Army as captain of Company C, Thirteenth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry...
, congressman from Alabama - Stephen Decatur CarpenterStephen Decatur CarpenterStephen Decatur Carpenter was a United States military officer from Maine. He served from 1840 to his death on the last day of 1862, through four major conflicts and one minor conflict.-West Point:...
, military officer - Lisa Rowe FraustinoLisa Rowe FraustinoLisa Rowe Fraustino is an American writer and editor of children's literature.- Biography :In 1961 Lisa was born in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. She currently lives with her husband in Connecticut where she teaches at Eastern Connecticut State University....
, children's author - Frank E. GuernseyFrank E. GuernseyFrank Edward Guernsey was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in Dover, Maine, Guernsey attended the common schools, Foxcroft Academy, Eastern Maine Conference Seminary, Bucksport, Maine, Wesleyan Seminary, Kents Hill, Maine, and Eastman's College, Poughkeepsie, New York.He studied law.He was...
, congressman - David MallettDavid MallettDavid Mallett is a singer-songwriter best known for his authorship of the popular tune "Garden Song," made famous by John Denver and Arlo Guthrie. He has recorded for independent record labels for most of his career. A resident of Maine for most of his life, in the 1980s he relocated to Nashville,...
, singer and songwriter - Henry Otis PrattHenry Otis PrattHenry Otis Pratt was a lawyer, Methodist Episcopal minister, and two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district.Born in Foxcroft, Maine, Pratt attended the common schools and Foxcroft Academy....
, minister, congressman from Iowa - Dave Schwep, photographer, director
- Lillian M. N. StevensLillian M. N. StevensLillian M. N. Stevens was an American temperance worker, born at Dover, Maine She was educated at Foxcroft Academy and taught school for a time., She was married to Michael Stevens of Portland, Maine, in 1867. In 1874 she assisted in founding the Maine Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of...
, temperance worker - Amasa TracyAmasa TracyAmasa Sawyer Tracy was a Union Army officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry.-Early life:Tracy was born in Dover, Maine, the third child of David and Sarah Fowler Sawyer Tracy....
, military officer