Hebron, Maine
Encyclopedia
Hebron is a town in Oxford County
, Maine
, United States
. Hebron is included in the Lewiston
-Auburn
, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area
. The town's history has always been interconnected with Hebron Academy
, a co-ed college preparatory boarding school which is located in the town's heart. The population was 1,053 at the 2000 census
to Alexander Shepard, Jr. of Newton, Massachusetts
as payment for a survey chart of the Maine coast that he had assisted making. It was named Shepardsfield Plantation, although early inhabitants called it Bog Brook Plantation. The first settlers were Captain Daniel Buckman and his family in 1778. Others followed, many fresh from the battlefields of the Revolutionary War
. On February 27, 1829, Hebron's southwestern half was set off and incorporated as the town of Oxford.
Agriculture
was the principal occupation, with hay
the chief crop. In addition, the town had fine orchard
s. The outlet of Marshall Pond, the largest body of water, provided power for mills
. There was a sawmill
, shingle
mill, pail factory, blacksmith
shop and shoe
shop. In 1804, Deacon William Barrows, Jr. was instrumental in founding Hebron Academy
. The town would be crossed by the Rumford Falls and Buckfield Railroad. The Western Maine Sanatorium opened at Hebron in 1904, the first of its kind in the state. It treated tuberculosis
patients with rest, fresh air and a healthy diet. Taken over by the state in 1915, it closed in 1959.
, the town has a total area of 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²), of which, 22.4 square miles (58 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.62%) is water. Hebron is drained by Cobb Brook, Cushman Brook, Bicknell Brook and Allen Brook.
The town is crossed by Maine State Route 119. It borders the towns of Buckfield
to the north, Oxford to the south, Paris
to the west, and Turner
and Minot
to the east.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,053 people, 389 households, and 296 families residing in the town. The population density
was 47.0 people per square mile (18.1/km²). There were 410 housing units at an average density of 18.3 per square mile (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 389 households out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,417, and the median income for a family was $47,292. Males had a median income of $30,529 versus $22,900 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,086. About 3.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. Hebron is included in the Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
-Auburn
Auburn, Maine
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 23,055 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan...
, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area
New England City and Town Area
A New England City and Town Area or NECTA is a geographic and statistical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, for use in describing aspects of the New England region of the United States...
. The town's history has always been interconnected with Hebron Academy
Hebron Academy
Hebron Academy, founded in 1804, is a small, independent, college preparatory boarding and day school for boys and girls in grades six through postgraduate.-History:...
, a co-ed college preparatory boarding school which is located in the town's heart. The population was 1,053 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
History
It was granted on March 8, 1777 by the Massachusetts General CourtMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
to Alexander Shepard, Jr. of Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
as payment for a survey chart of the Maine coast that he had assisted making. It was named Shepardsfield Plantation, although early inhabitants called it Bog Brook Plantation. The first settlers were Captain Daniel Buckman and his family in 1778. Others followed, many fresh from the battlefields of the 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...
. On February 27, 1829, Hebron's southwestern half was set off and incorporated as the town of Oxford.
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...
was the principal occupation, with hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
the chief crop. In addition, the town had fine orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s. The outlet of Marshall Pond, the largest body of water, provided power for mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
. There was a 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....
, 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, pail factory, blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop and shoe
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
shop. In 1804, Deacon William Barrows, Jr. was instrumental in founding Hebron Academy
Hebron Academy
Hebron Academy, founded in 1804, is a small, independent, college preparatory boarding and day school for boys and girls in grades six through postgraduate.-History:...
. The town would be crossed by the Rumford Falls and Buckfield Railroad. The Western Maine Sanatorium opened at Hebron in 1904, the first of its kind in the state. It treated tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients with rest, fresh air and a healthy diet. Taken over by the state in 1915, it closed in 1959.
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 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²), of which, 22.4 square miles (58 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.62%) is water. Hebron is drained by Cobb Brook, Cushman Brook, Bicknell Brook and Allen Brook.
The town is crossed by Maine State Route 119. It borders the towns of Buckfield
Buckfield, Maine
Buckfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. Buckfield is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area. It is a member of Maine School Administrative District 39 along with nearby Hartford and Sumner...
to the north, Oxford to the south, Paris
Paris, Maine
Paris is a town in and the county seat of Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of South Paris is located within the town. Because the U.S. Post Office refers to the entire town as South Paris, the town as a whole is commonly...
to the west, and Turner
Turner, Maine
Turner is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,972 at the 2000 census. Turner includes the villages of Turner Center and North Turner...
and Minot
Minot, Maine
Minot is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of West Minot and Minot Center...
to the east.
Demographics
Census
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 1,053 people, 389 households, and 296 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 47.0 people per square mile (18.1/km²). There were 410 housing units at an average density of 18.3 per square mile (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.19% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 389 households out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.07.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,417, and the median income for a family was $47,292. Males had a median income of $30,529 versus $22,900 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 $19,086. About 3.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Albion K. ParrisAlbion K. ParrisAlbion Keith Parris was an American politician and jurist of Maine. Parris served in many elected and appointed positions throughout this life, including state legislator, U.S. Senator, the fifth Governor of Maine, state Supreme Court judge, and mayor.-Biography:Parris was born in Hebron, Maine,...
, senator, fifth governor of Maine