Southport, Maine
Encyclopedia
Southport is a town
in Lincoln County, Maine
, United States
. The population was 684 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of Southport, West Southport, Cape Newagen, and Squirrel Island
.
an fishing
outpost. Southport was part of Boothbay
until it separated on February 12, 1842. Originally called Townshend after Lord Townshend
, the name was changed to Southport in 1850.
, the town has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36.0 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 8.5 square miles (22.0 km²) of it (61.22%) is water. Southport is on Southport Island in the mouth of the Sheepscot River
. The Town of Southport constitutes the whole of Southport Island.
It is crossed by state routes 27
and 238
. It is connected by bridge to Boothbay Harbor.
of 2000, there were 684 people, 331 households, and 218 families residing in the town. The population density
was 127.0 people per square mile (49.0/km²). There were 912 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.58% Asian, and 0.58% from two or more races.
There were 331 households out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.52.
In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $52,750. Males had a median income of $35,500 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $33,481. About 4.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% 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 Lincoln County, Maine
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 684 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of Southport, West Southport, Cape Newagen, and Squirrel Island
Squirrel Island, Maine
Squirrel Island, Maine is a summer resort colony off the coast of Boothbay Harbor. The origin of the name is unknown, since according to island chronicler Charles McLane "[s]quirrels do not inhabit the island ."Farmers and sheep herders have resided on Squirrel Island since the American...
.
History
Cape Newagen, at the southern tip of the island, was an early EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
outpost. Southport was part of Boothbay
Boothbay, Maine
Boothbay is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of East Boothbay and Trevett. The Boothbay region is a center of summer tourist activity, and a significant part of its population does not live there year...
until it separated on February 12, 1842. Originally called Townshend after Lord Townshend
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend Bt, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State, directing British foreign policy...
, the name was changed to Southport in 1850.
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 13.9 square miles (36.0 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 8.5 square miles (22.0 km²) of it (61.22%) is water. Southport is on Southport Island in the mouth of 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:...
. The Town of Southport constitutes the whole of Southport Island.
It is crossed by state routes 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...
and 238
Maine State Route 238
State Route 238 is a long state highway in southern Maine, located on Southport Island southwest of Boothbay Harbor. The short highway traverses the eastern edge of the island, serving as an alternate to State Route 27, which runs roughly parallel on the western side of the island.Designated in...
. It is connected by bridge to Boothbay Harbor.
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 684 people, 331 households, and 218 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 127.0 people per square mile (49.0/km²). There were 912 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.83% White, 0.58% Asian, and 0.58% from two or more races.
There were 331 households out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.52.
In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $52,750. Males had a median income of $35,500 versus $24,583 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 $33,481. About 4.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest
Notable people
- Ralph H. CameronRalph H. CameronRalph Henry Cameron was an American Republican politician, and a delegate and Senator from the state of Arizona. He died while on a business trip to Washington, D.C...
, senator, congressman - Rachel CarsonRachel CarsonRachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
, marine biologist, nature writer - Wilder HobsonWilder HobsonWilder Hobson was an American writer and editor for TIME , FORTUNE , Harper's Bazaar , and Newsweek magazines. He was also a competent musician , author of an history of American jazz, and long-time contributor to Saturday Review magazine...
, writer, editor - Hart Day LeavittHart Day LeavittHart Day Leavitt was a longtime English teacher at Phillips Andover Academy, amateur jazz musician, the author of a bestselling book on grammar and writing, and the professor of many notable Andover graduates, including Jack Lemmon, H. G. Bissinger and President George H. W...
, teacher, jazz musician - Gustaf TenggrenGustaf TenggrenGustaf Adolf Tenggren was a Swedish-American illustrator. He is known for his Arthur Rackham-influenced fairy-tale style and use of silhouetted figures with caricatured faces...
, illustrator - Claggett WilsonClaggett WilsonClaggett Wilson was one of America's first "Modernist" painters. Early in his career he taught painting and drawing at Columbia University. After serving as a lieutenant in The First World War, Wilson returned from France to document his experiences in a series of war paintings.-Youth:Born in 1887...
, painter