Madrid, Maine
Encyclopedia
Madrid is a former town
, now a part of the unorganized territory
of East Central Franklin
, in Franklin County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 173 at the 2000 census.
about 1790 by Jonathan Phillips of Boston, then acquired by his agent, Jacob Abbott from Wilton, New Hampshire
. First settled about 1807 or 1808, it was incorporated as a town in 1836 and named after Madrid
, Spain
. In 1854, it was the site of Maine's first gold
strike.
Although Madrid's northern topography
is mountainous, other parts suited cultivation
. In 1837, when the population was 351, farms harvested 3,387 bushel
s of wheat
. The falls
in the Sandy River
, provided water power for mills, which included three sawmill
s, a gristmill
, two clapboard
machines and two shingle
machines. The town was noted for producing lumber
and carriage
s. By 1859, the population was 404. In 1880, it had reached 437. But in the 20th century, the population declined. In April 2000, the town of Madrid disincorporated. Citing "apathy
", its government was dissolved, and Madrid became part of the unorganized territory
of East Central Franklin
.
, the town has a total area of 108.2 km² (41.8 mi²). 108.1 km² (41.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.14%) is water. Madrid is drained by the head branches of the Sandy River
, a tributary
of the Kennebec River
. Much of the topography is uneven, with the northern portion mountainous.
The former town is crossed by Maine State Route 4
. It bordered the towns of Phillips
to the south, with the unorganized territory
of East Central Franklin
to the north and east.
of 2000, there were 173 people, 72 households, and 55 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1.6/km² (4.1/mi²). There were 208 housing units at an average density of 1.9/km² (5.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.
There were 72 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,292, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $16,563 versus $16,429 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,192. None of the families and 5.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 29.4% of those over 64.
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...
, now a part of the unorganized territory
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...
of East Central Franklin
East Central Franklin, Maine
East Central Franklin is an unorganized territory in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 526 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, in Franklin County
Franklin County, Maine
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 30,768. Its county seat is Farmington.Franklin County was established on 9 May 1838.-Geography:...
, 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 173 at the 2000 census.
History
It was part of an extensive tract of land purchased from 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...
about 1790 by Jonathan Phillips of Boston, then acquired by his agent, Jacob Abbott from Wilton, New Hampshire
Wilton, New Hampshire
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 3,743 people, 1,410 households, and 1,023 families living in the town. The population density was 145.3 people per square mile . There were 1,451 housing units at an average density of 56.3 per square mile...
. First settled about 1807 or 1808, it was incorporated as a town in 1836 and named after Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In 1854, it was the site of Maine's first gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
strike.
Although Madrid's northern topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
is mountainous, other parts suited cultivation
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
. In 1837, when the population was 351, farms harvested 3,387 bushel
Bushel
A bushel is an imperial and U.S. customary unit of dry volume, equivalent in each of these systems to 4 pecks or 8 gallons. It is used for volumes of dry commodities , most often in agriculture...
s of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
. The falls
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in the Sandy River
Sandy River (Kennebec River)
The Sandy River is a tributary of the Kennebec River in the U.S. state of Maine.The Sandy River originates in the Sandy River Ponds at an elevation of in Sandy River Plantation. The river flows south to a confluence with Chandler Mill Stream in Maine Township E and then easterly to its...
, provided water power for mills, which included three 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, a 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 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...
machines and two 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...
machines. The town was noted for producing lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and 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,...
s. By 1859, the population was 404. In 1880, it had reached 437. But in the 20th century, the population declined. In April 2000, the town of Madrid disincorporated. Citing "apathy
Apathy
Apathy is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical or physical life.They may lack a sense of purpose or meaning in...
", its government was dissolved, and Madrid became part of the unorganized territory
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...
of East Central Franklin
East Central Franklin, Maine
East Central Franklin is an unorganized territory in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 526 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
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 108.2 km² (41.8 mi²). 108.1 km² (41.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.14%) is water. Madrid is drained by the head branches of the Sandy River
Sandy River (Kennebec River)
The Sandy River is a tributary of the Kennebec River in the U.S. state of Maine.The Sandy River originates in the Sandy River Ponds at an elevation of in Sandy River Plantation. The river flows south to a confluence with Chandler Mill Stream in Maine Township E and then easterly to its...
, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
. Much of the topography is uneven, with the northern portion mountainous.
The former town is crossed by Maine State Route 4
Maine State Route 4
State Route 4 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from the New Hampshire border in South Berwick to Haines Landing on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in the town of Rangeley...
. It bordered the towns of Phillips
Phillips, Maine
Phillips is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, a heritage railroad.-History:...
to the south, with the unorganized territory
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...
of East Central Franklin
East Central Franklin, Maine
East Central Franklin is an unorganized territory in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 526 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to the north and east.
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 173 people, 72 households, and 55 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 1.6/km² (4.1/mi²). There were 208 housing units at an average density of 1.9/km² (5.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.
There were 72 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,292, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $16,563 versus $16,429 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 $12,192. None of the families and 5.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 29.4% of those over 64.