Verona Island, Maine
Encyclopedia
Verona Island is a town located on an island of the same name in the Penobscot River
in Hancock County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 544 at the 2010 census.
. When Henry Knox
bequeathed it to his orphaned grandchildren, it became known as Orphan Island. In 1839 it became the plantation
of Wetmore Isle. The name was changed to Verona (after Verona
, Italy
) upon its incorporation as a town on February 18, 1861. The town lengthened its name to Verona Island, matching the name of the landform on which it was located, in a March 27, 2004 referendum
.
The island was once a shipbuilding village. In 1905 the last vessel was built. This was the Roosevelt, which carried Robert Peary
from New York to the Arctic in 1908 for his final expedition to the North Pole
.
The Waldo–Hancock Bridge (carrying U.S. 1
), which opened November 16, 1931 to connect Verona Island and Prospect
in Waldo County
, is on the National Register of Historic Places
but was in such bad condition that it was replaced. As of March 2009 the Waldo–Hancock Bridge has not been dismantled, and stands in disrepair.
The new bridge, opened on December 30, 2006, is called the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. The legislature's Transportation Committee originally decided it would be named the Downeast Gateway Bridge, but strong opposition by community leaders from eastern Waldo County forced this decision to be reconsidered. The new name was unanimously approved on March 9, 2006 by the legislature's Transportation Committee.
, the town has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), or 28.56%, is water.
The highest point is McCloud Mountain, elevation 344 feet (104.9 m) above sea level.
of 2000, there were 533 people, 223 households, and 161 families residing in the town. The population density
was 85.6 people per square mile (33.0/km²). There were 262 housing units at an average density of 42.1 per square mile (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.69% White, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.
There were 223 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,827, and the median income for a family was $47,778. Males had a median income of $35,125 versus $31,563 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,714. About 5.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
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...
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...
. The population was 544 at the 2010 census.
History
The island and community has undergone numerous name changes. It was originally Penobscot Island, part of the Waldo PatentWaldo Patent
The Waldo Patent, a letters patent also known as the Muscongus Patent or the Lincolnshire Patent, was an area of land 36 miles square in what is now the U.S...
. When Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
bequeathed it to his orphaned grandchildren, it became known as Orphan Island. In 1839 it became the plantation
Plantation (settlement or colony)
Plantation was an early method of colonization in which settlers were "planted" abroad in order to establish a permanent or semi-permanent colonial base. Such plantations were also frequently intended to promote Western culture and Christianity among nearby indigenous peoples, as can be seen in the...
of Wetmore Isle. The name was changed to Verona (after Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) upon its incorporation as a town on February 18, 1861. The town lengthened its name to Verona Island, matching the name of the landform on which it was located, in a March 27, 2004 referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
.
The island was once a shipbuilding village. In 1905 the last vessel was built. This was the Roosevelt, which carried Robert Peary
Robert Peary
Robert Edwin Peary, Sr. was an American explorer who claimed to have been the first person, on April 6, 1909, to reach the geographic North Pole...
from New York to the Arctic in 1908 for his final expedition to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
.
The Waldo–Hancock Bridge (carrying U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway serving the eastern part of the state. It parallels the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire north through Portland, Brunswick, and Belfast to Calais, and then the St. Croix River and the rest of the Canadian border...
), which opened November 16, 1931 to connect Verona Island and Prospect
Prospect, Maine
Prospect is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 642 at the 2000 census.The most prominent landmark in Prospect is Fort Knox, a large 19th-century fort...
in Waldo County
Waldo County, Maine
Waldo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 38,786. Its county seat is Belfast.Waldo County was founded on 7 February 1827 from a portion of Hancock County...
, is on the 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...
but was in such bad condition that it was replaced. As of March 2009 the Waldo–Hancock Bridge has not been dismantled, and stands in disrepair.
The new bridge, opened on December 30, 2006, is called the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. The legislature's Transportation Committee originally decided it would be named the Downeast Gateway Bridge, but strong opposition by community leaders from eastern Waldo County forced this decision to be reconsidered. The new name was unanimously approved on March 9, 2006 by the legislature's Transportation Committee.
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 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), or 28.56%, is water.
The highest point is McCloud Mountain, elevation 344 feet (104.9 m) above sea level.
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 533 people, 223 households, and 161 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 85.6 people per square mile (33.0/km²). There were 262 housing units at an average density of 42.1 per square mile (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.69% White, 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 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.
There were 223 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,827, and the median income for a family was $47,778. Males had a median income of $35,125 versus $31,563 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 $20,714. About 5.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Verona Island, Hancock County Planning Commission