Eddington, Maine
Encyclopedia
Eddington is a town
located on the eastern side of the Penobscot River
in Penobscot County
, Maine
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,052.
, a militia captain in the French and Indian War
, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War
, and the first magistrate
in the area. Eddy and most of the town's other original settlers migrated to the town from Nova Scotia
, where they had supported the rebel cause against the majority British Loyalist population. Eddy tried to make Nova Scotia
- the 14th American colony - join the revolution by leading the Siege of Fort Cumberland. After the siege failed, Eddy and others emigrated to the District of Maine
and were given land grants in present-day Eddington.. Later in the war, Eddy successfully defended Maine from a British attack in the Battle of Machias (1777)
.
, the town has a total area of 26.5 square miles (68.6 km²), of which, 25.1 square miles (65 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 5.32% water.
of 2000, there were 2,052 people, 825 households, and 595 families residing in the town. The population density
was 81.7 people per square mile (31.6/km²). There were 920 housing units at an average density of 36.6 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.95% White, 0.15% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 825 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,250, and the median income for a family was $45,966. Males had a median income of $31,105 versus $22,445 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,113. 6.7% of the population and 3.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
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...
located on the eastern side of the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
in Penobscot County
Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. For U.S. Census statistical purposes, it is part of the Bangor, Maine, New England County Metropolitan Area . As of 2010, the population was 153,923...
, 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...
. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,052.
History
The town was founded by and named after Jonathan EddyJonathan Eddy
Jonathan Eddy served for the British in the French and Indian War and for the American Patriots in the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War he settled in Nova Scotia as a New England Planter, becoming a member of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia. During the American...
, a militia captain in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and the first magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in the area. Eddy and most of the town's other original settlers migrated to the town from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, where they had supported the rebel cause against the majority British Loyalist population. Eddy tried to make Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
- the 14th American colony - join the revolution by leading the Siege of Fort Cumberland. After the siege failed, Eddy and others emigrated to the District of Maine
District of Maine
The District of Maine was a legal designation for what is now the U.S. state of Maine from American independence until the Missouri Compromise on March 4, 1820, after which it gained its independence from Massachusetts and became the 23rd state in the Union...
and were given land grants in present-day Eddington.. Later in the war, Eddy successfully defended Maine from a British attack in the Battle of Machias (1777)
Battle of Machias (1777)
The Battle of Machias was an amphibious assault on the Massachusetts town of Machias by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. Local militia aided by Indian allies successfully prevented British troops from landing...
.
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 26.5 square miles (68.6 km²), of which, 25.1 square miles (65 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 5.32% water.
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 2,052 people, 825 households, and 595 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 81.7 people per square mile (31.6/km²). There were 920 housing units at an average density of 36.6 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.95% White, 0.15% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 825 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,250, and the median income for a family was $45,966. Males had a median income of $31,105 versus $22,445 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 $19,113. 6.7% of the population and 3.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Residents
- Jonathan EddyJonathan EddyJonathan Eddy served for the British in the French and Indian War and for the American Patriots in the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War he settled in Nova Scotia as a New England Planter, becoming a member of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia. During the American...
, American Revolutionary War colonel and town namesake - Norman KelleyNorman KelleyNorman Kelley is a freelance journalist, author, and former segment producer at WBAI 99.5 FM.Kelley has written for numerous publications, including LA Weekly, The Village Voice, Newsday, and Brooklyn Rail...
, operatic tenor