Hampden (town), Maine

Hampden is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Hampden is part of the Bangor Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The town was originally called Wheelersborough after its original settler, Benjamin Wheeler. It was incorporated on February 24, 1794, and named after the English patriot John Hampden.

During the War of 1812, on September 3, 1814, about 400 local militia under the command of Brigadier General John Blake of nearby Brewer, attempted to hold off a superior force of British regulars at Hampden. The American line, however, collapsed before a charge and was quickly routed. The Americans suffered 1 casualty with 11 wounded, and the British lost 2 (one an officer). A civilian spectator was also killed. The British fleet, which under command of Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (then Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia) had recently captured Castine, looted Hampden and nearby Bangor. They were trying to capture the USS "Adams", a frigate with 750 men which had fled up the Penobscot River and anchored at Hampden. The crew of the "Adams", under Captain Charles Morris, burned the ship to prevent its capture and subsequently escaped overland.

General Blake and two other officers, Lieutnant Colonel Andrew Grant of Hampden and Major Joshua Chamberlain of Brewer (grandfather of Civil War general Joshua L. Chamberlain), were court-martialed in Bangor in 1816 for their part in the defeat. Blake and Chamberlain were both exonerated, but Grant was cashiered. [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/me/penobscot/hampden/revolution/battle/sj2p185.txt]

"See Main article:" Battle of Hampden

Notable residents

* Mike Bordick, baseball player
* James Sproat Brown, congressman
* Philip Marshall Brown, ambassador
* Dorothea Dix, activist
* Brian Duprey, politician
* Cyrus Hamlin, general
* Hannibal Hamlin, vice-president of the United States
* Hiram Knowles, judge
* Thompson H. Murch, congressman
* Brian Ross, poet & educator
* Charles Stetson, congressman

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.0 square miles (101.0 km²), of which, 38.1 square miles (98.6 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (2.36%) is water. It is drained by the Souadabscook Stream and Penobscot River.

Hampden is crossed by to the east.

Demographics

"See also:" Hampden (CDP), Maine

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,327 people, 2,433 households, and 1,802 families residing in the town. The population density was 166.1 people per square mile (64.2/km²). There were 2,545 housing units at an average density of 66.8/sq mi (25.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.91% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 2,433 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,377, and the median income for a family was $61,321. Males had a median income of $45,775 versus $29,183 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,498. About 3.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

ite of interest

* [http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1158796 Hampden Historical Society & Kinsley House Museum]

References

* [http://history.rays-place.com/me/hampden-me.htm History of Hampden, Maine (1886)]
* [http://maine.gov/local/penobscot/hampden/ Maine.gov -- Hampden, Maine]

External links

* [http://www.hampdenmaine.com/ Town of Hampden, Maine]
* [http://www.edl.lib.me.us/ Edythe L. Dyer Community Library]
* [http://www.hampdenbusinessassociation.com/ Hampden Business Association]