Rome, Maine
Encyclopedia
Rome is a town in Kennebec County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 980 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Belgrade Lakes resort area.
. The town was incorporated on March 7, 1804 and named after Rome in Italy
. Although farmer
s found the surface broken and uneven, the hills and valleys offered excellent grazing
. By 1839, when the population was 1,074, it was described as "a beautiful farming town," with "a pleasant and flourishing village." In 1837, its wheat
crop was 4,117 bushel
s.
The ponds abounded in trout
, perch
and pickerel
. By 1859, Rome had one sawmill
, one gristmill
, and one shingle
mill, although agriculture
remained the principal occupation. By 1870, when the population was 725, it had two post offices—Rome and Belgrade Mills.
, the town has a total area of 31.7 square miles (82.1 km²), of which, 25.4 square miles (65.8 km²) of it is land and 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it (19.88%) is water. Rome includes the northern portions of Long Pond and Great Pond
.
The town is serviced by state routes 8
, 27
, 137
and 225
. It borders the towns of Vienna
to the west, Mount Vernon
to the west and south, Belgrade
to the south and east, a portion of Smithfield
to the northeast, Mercer
to the north, and New Sharon
to the northwest.
of 2000, there were 980 people, 386 households, and 289 families residing in the town. The population density
was 38.6 people per square mile (14.9/km²). There were 941 housing units at an average density of 37.0 per square mile (14.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.10% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 386 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $46,635. Males had a median income of $32,153 versus $26,042 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,355. About 7.0% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
Kennebec County, Maine
Kennebec County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 122,151. Its county seat is Augusta. The center of population of Maine is located in Kennebec County, in the city of Augusta....
, 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 980 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Belgrade Lakes resort area.
History
Originally a part of West Pond Plantation, it was first settled about 1780 by Richard Furbish from LebanonLebanon, Maine
Lebanon is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,083 at the 2000 census. Lebanon includes the villages of Center Lebanon, West Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon and East Lebanon. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan...
. The town was incorporated on March 7, 1804 and named after Rome in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Although farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s found the surface broken and uneven, the hills and valleys offered excellent grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
. By 1839, when the population was 1,074, it was described as "a beautiful farming town," with "a pleasant and flourishing village." In 1837, its 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...
crop was 4,117 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.
The ponds abounded in trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and pickerel
Pickerel
Pickerel may refer to:*Esox, the genus of fish commonly known as the pickerels which includes pike and muskellunge as well as other pickerel*American pickerel*Chain pickerel*Walleye, or Yellow Pickerel * Pickerel Frog...
. By 1859, Rome had one 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....
, 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 :...
, and one 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...
mill, although 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...
remained the principal occupation. By 1870, when the population was 725, it had two post offices—Rome and Belgrade Mills.
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 31.7 square miles (82.1 km²), of which, 25.4 square miles (65.8 km²) of it is land and 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) of it (19.88%) is water. Rome includes the northern portions of Long Pond and Great Pond
Great Pond
The largest great pond in Maine named Great Pond is located in Kennebec County and is part of the Kennebec River watershed. There are several other, smaller ponds named Great Pond in Maine and New England. Great Pond is among the largest waterbodies in the world named "pond".Great Pond receives...
.
The town is serviced by state routes 8
Maine State Route 8
State Route 8 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from U.S. Route 201 at Memorial Circle in Augusta, to an intersection with U.S. Route 201 in Solon. Route 8 is long....
, 27
Maine State Route 27
State Route 27 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from the village of Newagen in Southport to the Canadian Border in Coburn Gore...
, 137
Maine State Route 137
State Route 137 is a route that runs west to east that begins at the intersection of US 2 in East Mercer and covers a large expanse of land, ending in the city of Belfast at SR 3....
and 225
Maine State Route 225
State Route 225 is a route that runs almost entirely through the town of Rome, Maine. It begins at the intersection of State Route 27 in Rome, and is the main road for the town...
. It borders the towns of Vienna
Vienna, Maine
Vienna is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 527 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water.-Demographics:...
to the west, Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Maine
Mount Vernon is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,524 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.4 square miles , of which, 37.9 square miles of it is land and 5.6 square miles of...
to the west and south, Belgrade
Belgrade, Maine
Belgrade is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,978 at the 2000 census. Belgrade's population, however, approximately doubles during the summer months as part-year residents return to seasonal camps located on the shores of Great Pond, Long Pond and Messalonskee...
to the south and east, a portion of Smithfield
Smithfield, Maine
Smithfield is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 930 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated on February 29, 1840 making it the only town in Maine incorporated on Leap Day. The town was named after the Rev...
to the northeast, Mercer
Mercer, Maine
Mercer is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The town was named after Revolutionary War hero Brigadier General Hugh Mercer. The population was 647 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to the north, and New Sharon
New Sharon, Maine
New Sharon is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,297 at the 2000 census. Native Fred H. Hale, Sr., born December 1, 1890, was the world's oldest living man from March 5, 2004 to November 19, 2004.-Geography:...
to the northwest.
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 980 people, 386 households, and 289 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 38.6 people per square mile (14.9/km²). There were 941 housing units at an average density of 37.0 per square mile (14.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.10% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 386 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $46,635. Males had a median income of $32,153 versus $26,042 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 $21,355. About 7.0% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.