Swan's Island, Maine
Encyclopedia
Swan's Island is an island town
in Hancock County
, Maine
, United States
. It is named after Colonel James Swan of Fife
, Scotland, who purchased this island and some surrounding areas and organized their colonization in the 18th century. The population was 327 at the 2000 census. The town is accessible by ferry from Bass Harbor
.
The island has a summertime population of about 1,000. There is a general store on the island, open in Spring 2007. There are also a number of small cottage-industry shops. The main industry is lobster fishing
, which employs 40 people full-time and many others in part-time work.
's expedition, and at the time was used by local Indians as a seasonal hunting ground. James Swan purchased the island in 1786, but in 1791, David Smith, an American Revolutionary War
veteran, became the first white man to settle on the island.
The population grew slowly to over 1,000 by 1900. Fish processing was the dominant industry into the 1930s, when it became no longer profitable in the area. The state-run ferry, which began service in 1960, helped make Swan's Island a popular summer tourism destination.
, the town has a total area of 82.4 square miles (213.4 km²), of which 13.9 square miles (36.1 km²) is land and 68.4 square miles (177.3 km²) of it (83.07%) is water.
There are three villages in the town: Swan's Island, Atlantic and Minturn.
of 2000, there were 327 people, 142 households, and 90 families residing in the town. The population density
was 23.4 people per square mile (9.1/km²). There were 421 housing units at an average density of 30.2 per square mile (11.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.17% White, 0.31% African American, and 1.53% from two or more races.
There were 142 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 59.2% were married couples living together; 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18; 8.3% from 18 to 24; 24.5% from 25 to 44; 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,438, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $29,028 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,515. About 11.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 21.7% 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 Hancock County
Hancock County, Maine
Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 54,418. Its county seat is Ellsworth. It was incorporated on June 25, 1789...
, 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...
. It is named after Colonel James Swan of Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland, who purchased this island and some surrounding areas and organized their colonization in the 18th century. The population was 327 at the 2000 census. The town is accessible by ferry from Bass Harbor
Bass Harbor
Bass Harbor is a village in Hancock County, Maine, United States. It is within the town of Tremont on Mount Desert Island, and near Acadia National Park. With its well-protected natural harbor, it ranks as one of the most lucrative lobster producing ports in the state. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse...
.
The island has a summertime population of about 1,000. There is a general store on the island, open in Spring 2007. There are also a number of small cottage-industry shops. The main industry is lobster fishing
Lobster fishing
Lobster fishing, sometimes called lobstering, is the commercial or recreational harvesting of marine lobsters, spiny lobsters or crayfish.-Lobster tools and technology:...
, which employs 40 people full-time and many others in part-time work.
History
Swan's Island was first charted in 1606 by Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
's expedition, and at the time was used by local Indians as a seasonal hunting ground. James Swan purchased the island in 1786, but in 1791, David Smith, an 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...
veteran, became the first white man to settle on the island.
The population grew slowly to over 1,000 by 1900. Fish processing was the dominant industry into the 1930s, when it became no longer profitable in the area. The state-run ferry, which began service in 1960, helped make Swan's Island a popular summer tourism destination.
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 82.4 square miles (213.4 km²), of which 13.9 square miles (36.1 km²) is land and 68.4 square miles (177.3 km²) of it (83.07%) is water.
There are three villages in the town: Swan's Island, Atlantic and Minturn.
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 327 people, 142 households, and 90 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 23.4 people per square mile (9.1/km²). There were 421 housing units at an average density of 30.2 per square mile (11.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.17% White, 0.31% African American, and 1.53% from two or more races.
There were 142 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 59.2% were married couples living together; 2.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18; 8.3% from 18 to 24; 24.5% from 25 to 44; 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,438, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $29,028 versus $18,750 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 $14,515. About 11.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.
Further reading
- A History of Swan's Island, Maine. By Herman Wesley Small. Published 1898.
External links
- http://www.swansisland.org/
- http://www.swans-island-maine.us/
- Swan's Island Library Online Catalog (Note that the library and its contents were destroyed by fire in July 2008 though a temporary library has opened in the town office http://www.swansisland.org/library.htm.)
- Swan's Island overview