Gilead, Maine
Encyclopedia
Gilead is a town
in Oxford County
, Maine
, United States
. Upon incorporation in 1804, it was named for the large quantity of Balm of Gilead
trees in the town center. The population was 156 at the 2000 census.
sold land in what is now Maine
to encourage the settlement of the area. In 1772, Oliver and John Peabody, of Andover, MA and John and Samuel Bodwell of Methuen, MA bought 6000 acres above Sudbury Canada
. Gilead was first granted as Peabody's Patent. In 1804, there were 20 families and the need for schools, churches, roads and other community necessities had become evident. It was time to raise money to bring this about. The petition was granted on June 23, 1804 and Peabody's Patent became Gilead.
, the town has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (3.20%) is water.
Gilead is the first town encountered when crossing into Maine from New Hampshire
on U.S. Route 2
, which is the major road in the town.
of 2000, there were 156 people, 70 households, and 45 families residing in the town. The population density
was 8.2 people per square mile (3.2/km²). There were 125 housing units at an average density of 6.6 per square mile (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.72% White and 1.28% Native American.
There were 70 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $34,250. Males had a median income of $17,188 versus $15,208 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,489. About 9.4% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.5% of those sixty five 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 Oxford County
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
, 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...
. Upon incorporation in 1804, it was named for the large quantity of Balm of Gilead
Balsam poplar
The balsam poplars — also known as Populus sect. Tacamahaca — are a group of about 10 species of poplars, indigenous to North America and eastern Asia, distinguished by the balsam scent of their buds, the whitish undersides of their leaves, and the leaf petiole being round in cross-section...
trees in the town center. The population was 156 at the 2000 census.
History
In the late 1700's, MassachusettsMassachusetts
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...
sold land in what is now 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...
to encourage the settlement of the area. In 1772, Oliver and John Peabody, of Andover, MA and John and Samuel Bodwell of Methuen, MA bought 6000 acres above Sudbury Canada
Bethel, Maine
Bethel is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of West Bethel and South Bethel...
. Gilead was first granted as Peabody's Patent. In 1804, there were 20 families and the need for schools, churches, roads and other community necessities had become evident. It was time to raise money to bring this about. The petition was granted on June 23, 1804 and Peabody's Patent became Gilead.
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 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (3.20%) is water.
Gilead is the first town encountered when crossing into Maine from 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...
on U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
, which is the major road in the town.
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 156 people, 70 households, and 45 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 8.2 people per square mile (3.2/km²). There were 125 housing units at an average density of 6.6 per square mile (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.72% White and 1.28% Native American.
There were 70 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $34,250. Males had a median income of $17,188 versus $15,208 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 $13,489. About 9.4% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.5% of those sixty five or over.