Westport Island, Maine
Encyclopedia
Westport Island, formerly Westport, is a town
in Lincoln County
, Maine
, United States
. In the 19th Century the island was known as Jeremysquam, a nickname islanders still use for it. The population was 745 at the 2000 census.
. The island is separated from the mainland by two coastal salt-water rivers, the Sheepscot River
and the Back River. The island is connected to the mainland at the Northwest by one modern bridge, built in 1972 over a slim gap in the Back River called Cowsegan Narrows. Although completely surrounded by water, it is bounded across tidal water by the towns of Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Southport, and Georgetown.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 14.2 square miles (36.8 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (22.6 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.1 km²) of it (38.45%) is water.
of 2000, there were 745 people, 318 households, and 228 families residing in the town. The population density
was 85.2 people per square mile (32.9/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 58.3 per square mile (22.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.13% African American, 0.67% Native American, and 0.94% from two or more races.
There were 318 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,010, and the median income for a family was $42,625. Males had a median income of $32,426 versus $27,647 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,623. About 5.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
and crabs for sale in the local fish markets. Other resources gathered include groundfish, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, quaohogs, and bloodworms. Other local employers include the Bath Iron Works, a large shipyard where Aegis
class Destroyers are built for the US Navy, and the US Navy at Bruswick Naval Air Station. Many local residents are also involved in cottage industry and building construction services for other town residents.
The median household income is $39,010 and the median family income is $42,625. Approximately 12.4% of the population lives under the poverty line.
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 Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Maine
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 34,457. Its county seat is Wiscasset. It was founded in 1760 and named after the English city Lincoln. At its founding, it accounted for three-fifths of the State's land, and stretched east to Nova...
, 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...
. In the 19th Century the island was known as Jeremysquam, a nickname islanders still use for it. The population was 745 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Westport Island is located approximately 50 miles northeast of Portland, MainePortland, 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...
. The island is separated from the mainland by two coastal salt-water rivers, the Sheepscot River
Sheepscot River
The Sheepscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Its lower portion is a complex island estuary with connections to the Kennebec River downstream of Merrymeeting Bay.-Route:...
and the Back River. The island is connected to the mainland at the Northwest by one modern bridge, built in 1972 over a slim gap in the Back River called Cowsegan Narrows. Although completely surrounded by water, it is bounded across tidal water by the towns of Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Southport, and Georgetown.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 14.2 square miles (36.8 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (22.6 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.1 km²) of it (38.45%) is water.
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 745 people, 318 households, and 228 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 85.2 people per square mile (32.9/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 58.3 per square mile (22.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.13% African American, 0.67% Native American, and 0.94% from two or more races.
There were 318 households out of which 26.1% 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, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,010, and the median income for a family was $42,625. Males had a median income of $32,426 versus $27,647 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 $21,623. About 5.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economics
Fishing is a principal employer for residents of Westport Island, as with much of this part of Maine. Fishermen are most commonly involved in the trapping of lobsterLobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
and crabs for sale in the local fish markets. Other resources gathered include groundfish, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, quaohogs, and bloodworms. Other local employers include the Bath Iron Works, a large shipyard where Aegis
Aegis
An aegis is a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority or the holder of a protective shield signifying the same, such as a bag-like garment that contained a shield. Sometimes the garment and the shield are merged, with a small...
class Destroyers are built for the US Navy, and the US Navy at Bruswick Naval Air Station. Many local residents are also involved in cottage industry and building construction services for other town residents.
The median household income is $39,010 and the median family income is $42,625. Approximately 12.4% of the population lives under the poverty line.