Patten, Maine
Encyclopedia
Patten is a town in Penobscot County
, Maine
, United States
. The town was named for Amos Patten, an early settler. The population was 1,200 at the 2009 census.
, the town has a total area of 38.5 square miles (99.7 km²), of which, 38.4 square miles (249.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.16%) is water.
Patten lies on the western edge of the Mattawamkeag River
system basin, almost at the edge of the East Branch of the Penobscot River
's basin. Two major Mattawamkeag tributaries occupy its area: in the north, Fish Stream (formerly known as the "Mattawamkeag West Branch", and in the south, small feeders of the Molunkus Stream. Fish Stream is navigable by very small craft as far as Island Falls
, Maine
, around 10 miles distance, for about six months of the year. In the early days of lumbering it was used to drive local cutting downstream, eventually to the mills at Old Town
, Maine
and Bangor
. The amount of water power, however, did not favor the development of large-scale industry, although small mills and workshops utilized its power during most of the town's history.
Two factors explain Patten's comparatively early development, and its position as the major town of the Penobscot panhandle and southwestern Aroostook
in the nineteenth century. First, it is the first town beyond the Mount Katahdin
range, giving it access to the upper East Branch and lower Allagash
basins, which were leading lumbering areas. Second, it has the best agricultural land in the proximity of those basins. As a result, lumbering stimulated very early development of commerce and farming; and the town early gained the status as the distribution center and cultural nexus of all the towns west of Houlton
, Maine
and north of Lincoln, Maine
.
The 6 buildings of the Bradford Farm (1840) in Patten are listed on National Register of Historic Places
, and are now occupied by the "Bradford House" Bed & Breakfast Inn.
of 2009, there were 1,200 people, 506 households, and 326 families residing in the town. The population density
was 28.9 people per square mile (11.2/km²). There were 1106 housing units at an average density of 14.4 per square mile (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.37% White, 0.18% African American, and 0.45% from two or more races.
There were 506 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,900, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $15,987 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,384. About 12.4% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. For U.S. Census statistical purposes, it is part of the Bangor, Maine, New England County Metropolitan Area . As of 2010, the population was 153,923...
, 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 town was named for Amos Patten, an early settler. The population was 1,200 at the 2009 census.
Geography and history
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 38.5 square miles (99.7 km²), of which, 38.4 square miles (249.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.16%) is water.
Patten lies on the western edge of the Mattawamkeag River
Mattawamkeag River
The Mattawamkeag River is a river in Maine. From the confluence of its East Branch and West Branch in Haynesville, about west of the Canada – United States border, the river runs south and west to its mouth on the Penobscot River in Mattawamkeag....
system basin, almost at the edge of the East Branch of the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
's basin. Two major Mattawamkeag tributaries occupy its area: in the north, Fish Stream (formerly known as the "Mattawamkeag West Branch", and in the south, small feeders of the Molunkus Stream. Fish Stream is navigable by very small craft as far as Island Falls
Island Falls, Maine
Island Falls is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 793 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...
, 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...
, around 10 miles distance, for about six months of the year. In the early days of lumbering it was used to drive local cutting downstream, eventually to the mills at Old Town
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
, 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...
and Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. The amount of water power, however, did not favor the development of large-scale industry, although small mills and workshops utilized its power during most of the town's history.
Two factors explain Patten's comparatively early development, and its position as the major town of the Penobscot panhandle and southwestern Aroostook
Aroostook County, Maine
Aroostook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 71,870. In land area, it is the largest county in the state and the largest U.S. county east of the Mississippi River. Its seat is Houlton...
in the nineteenth century. First, it is the first town beyond the Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine at . Named Katahdin by the Penobscot Indians, the term means "The Greatest Mountain". Katahdin is the centerpiece of Baxter State Park: a steep, tall mountain formed from underground magma. The flora and fauna on the mountain are typical of those...
range, giving it access to the upper East Branch and lower Allagash
Allagash River
The Allagash River is a tributary of the St. John River, approximately long, in northern Maine in the United States. It drains a remote and scenic area of wilderness in the Maine North Woods north of Mount Katahdin...
basins, which were leading lumbering areas. Second, it has the best agricultural land in the proximity of those basins. As a result, lumbering stimulated very early development of commerce and farming; and the town early gained the status as the distribution center and cultural nexus of all the towns west of Houlton
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the United States – Canada border, located at . As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith...
, 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...
and north of Lincoln, 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...
.
The 6 buildings of the Bradford Farm (1840) in Patten are listed on National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and are now occupied by the "Bradford House" Bed & Breakfast Inn.
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 2009, there were 1,200 people, 506 households, and 326 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 28.9 people per square mile (11.2/km²). There were 1106 housing units at an average density of 14.4 per square mile (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.37% White, 0.18% African American, and 0.45% from two or more races.
There were 506 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% 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, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,900, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $15,987 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 $14,384. About 12.4% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.