Eliot, Maine
Encyclopedia
Eliot is a town
in York County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 6,204 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland
–South Portland
–Biddeford
, Maine metropolitan statistical area
.
Eliot is home to Littlebrook Airpark and the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum.
in 1647) called Sturgeon
Creek in the 1630-40s, it became the North, or Second, Parish of Kittery in 1713 following the incorporation of Berwick.
On March 1, 1810, Eliot became a town. The town was either named after Robert Eliot, who was a member of the Provincial Council of New Hampshire
, or for Reverend John Eliot of Boston, a friend of General Andrew P. Fernald, the town agent largely responsible for its separation.
, the town has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²), of which, 19.7 square miles (51 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (7.29%) is water. Eliot is drained by Sturgeon Creek and the Piscataqua River
.
Eliot is served by state routes 91
, 101
, 103
and 236
. The town is northwest of Interstate 95
and near the New Hampshire
border.
, Maine
As of the census
of 2000, there were 5,954 people, 2,307 households, and 1,704 families residing in the town. The population density
was 302.0 people per square mile (116.6/km²). There were 2,418 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile (47.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.44% White, 0.22% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.
There were 2,307 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,606, and the median income for a family was $63,598. Males had a median income of $44,205 versus $30,530 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,403. About 5.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% 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 York County
York County, Maine
York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States....
, 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 6,204 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
–South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
–Biddeford
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is the largest town in the county, and is the sixth-largest in the state. It is the most southerly incorporated town in the state and the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census...
, Maine metropolitan statistical area
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area
The Portland–South Portland–Biddeford Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Greater Portland, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Maine, anchored by the city of Portland and the smaller cities of South Portland and Biddeford...
.
Eliot is home to Littlebrook Airpark and the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum.
History
Originally part of the Piscataqua Plantation (renamed KitteryKittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
in 1647) called Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...
Creek in the 1630-40s, it became the North, or Second, Parish of Kittery in 1713 following the incorporation of Berwick.
On March 1, 1810, Eliot became a town. The town was either named after Robert Eliot, who was a member of the Provincial Council of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, or for Reverend John Eliot of Boston, a friend of General Andrew P. Fernald, the town agent largely responsible for its separation.
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 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²), of which, 19.7 square miles (51 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (7.29%) is water. Eliot is drained by Sturgeon Creek and the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
.
Eliot is served by state routes 91
Maine State Route 91
State Route 91 is a short state highway in southwestern Maine. It runs west to east for just under , connecting the towns of South Berwick and York.-Junction list:...
, 101
Maine State Route 101
State Route 101 is a short state highway in extreme southern Maine. It follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, signed as south–north. Route 101 begins at an intersection with U.S...
, 103
Maine State Route 103
State Route 103 is a long state highway in extreme southern Maine. The route is signed east–west, but forms a half-loop, with most of its eastern segment skirting the Piscataqua River and the state border with New Hampshire.-Route description:...
and 236
Maine State Route 236
State Route 236, also known as the Dow Highway, is a long state highway in southwestern Maine. It runs from south to north, from an intersection with State Route 103 in Kittery to an intersection with State Route 9 in Berwick, just east of the border with New Hampshire.-Route description:The...
. The town is northwest of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
and near the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
border.
Demographics
See also: South EliotSouth Eliot, Maine
South Eliot is a census-designated place in the town of Eliot in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,445 at the 2000 census...
, 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...
As of the census
Census
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 5,954 people, 2,307 households, and 1,704 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 302.0 people per square mile (116.6/km²). There were 2,418 housing units at an average density of 122.6 per square mile (47.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.44% White, 0.22% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.
There were 2,307 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,606, and the median income for a family was $63,598. Males had a median income of $44,205 versus $30,530 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 $24,403. About 5.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Voter Registration: 35.05% Republican. 22.63% Democrat. 1.39% Green. http://www.bangornews.com/towns/town.cfm?ID=eliot&x=0&y=0Notable people
- Shem DrowneShem DrowneDeacon Shem Drowne was a colonial coppersmith and tinplate worker in Boston, Massachusetts and was America's first documented weathervane maker. He is most famous for the grasshopper weathervane atop of Faneuil Hall, well known as a symbol of Boston.-Background:He was born near Sturgeon Creek in...
, coppersmith, America's first documented weathervane maker - Moses Gerrish Farmer, inventor
- John Fremont HillJohn Fremont HillJohn Fremont Hill was an American capitalist and public official.He graduated from the Medical School of Maine in 1877 and studied at the Long Island College Hospital Medical School, but practiced medicine only a year. In 1879 he became a member of the law firm of J.F...
, state congressmen and senator, 45th governor of Maine (1901–1905)