Bristol, Maine

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bristol, Maine
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption = Pemaquid Harbor


image_

|pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Maine
pushpin_mapsize =

|mapsize =
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maine
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Lincoln
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1765

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 161.8
area_land_km2 = 91.8
area_water_km2 = 69.9
area_total_sq_mi = 62.5
area_land_sq_mi = 35.5
area_water_sq_mi = 27.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2644
population_density_km2 = 28.8
population_density_sq_mi = 74.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 37
elevation_ft = 121
latd = 43 |latm = 55 |lats = 29 |latNS = N
longd = 69 |longm = 29 |longs = 44 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 04539
area_code = 207
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 23-07485
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0582369
website =
footnotes =

Bristol is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,644 at the 2000 census. A fishing and resort area, Bristol includes the villages of New Harbor, Pemaquid, Round Pond, Bristol Mills and Chamberlain. It includes the Pemaquid Archeological Site, a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

History

Once territory of the Wawenock (or Walinakiak, meaning "People of the Bay") Abenaki Indians, early Bristol was one of the most important and embattled frontier settlements in the province. Beginning with seasonal fishing, as early as 1625 the English established at Pemaquid Point a year-round trading post for fur trading. In 1631, the area was granted as the Pemaquid Patent by the Plymouth Council to Robert Aldsworth and Gyles Elbridge, merchants from Bristol, England.

A village and palisade fort were constructed. In 1632, Pemaquid was raided and plundered by the pirate, Dixie Bull. The Great Colonial Hurricane on August 15, 1635 sank the galleon "Angel Gabriel" while anchored off the settlement, drowning some crew and passengers. In 1664, the Duke of York (the future King James II) claimed Pemaquid was within his patent, which also included Sagadahoc and recently acquired New Amsterdam. To help anglicize the latter into New York City, Governor Sir Edmund Andros had some of its Dutch inhabitants transported to Pemaquid, now called Jamestown for its royal owner. By 1665, the village had approximately 30 houses. During King Philip's War, in 1676 Indians attacked and burned English settlements up the coast, including Pemaquid. The following year, a new wooden defense called Fort Charles was built. Settlers returned, but in 1688 England was again battling France, fought between New England and New France as King William's War. Fort Charles and the village were attacked and destroyed in 1689, with the inhabitants either killed or taken prisoner.

By 1692, the English regained control of the region, and Sir William Phipps ordered construction of Fort William Henry. This time built of stone, it was nevertheless captured and destroyed in 1696 by a combined force of French and Indians commanded by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. The settlement was abandoned for 30 years. During Dummer's War, the location was a rendezvous for returned inhabitants of Pemaquid and vicinity. Colonel David Dunbar, Surveyor-General of the King's Woods, rebuilt the fort in 1729-1730, renaming it Fort Frederick. He renamed the town Harrington after the Earl of Harrington, who had helped arrange the 1729 Treaty of Seville. Fort Frederick withstood two attacks in 1747, but in 1759 was decommissioned at the end of the French and Indian Wars. In 1775, the town dismantled the fort to prevent it from becoming a British stronghold during the Revolutionary War. The state acquired the site in 1902, and in 1908 rebuilt the tower of Fort William Henry under guidance of historian John Henry Cartland, using many original stones. In 1993, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark.

On June 21, 1765, the town was incorporated as Bristol, named after the home port of the Pemaquid Patent proprietors. During the War of 1812, the waters off Pemaquid Point saw the capture of HMS "Boxer" by the USS "Enterprise" on September 5, 1813. The town would set off land to create Nobleboro in 1788, Bremen in 1828, Damariscotta in 1848 and South Bristol in 1915. Today, Bristol is a popular tourist destination.

Notable residents

* Marcus Hanna, lighthouse keeper
* William North, senator

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 62.5 square miles (161.7 km²), of which, 35.5 square miles (91.8 km²) of it is land and 27.0 square miles (69.9 km²) of it (43.23%) is water. Bristol is situated on the Pemaquid Peninsula, which extends into the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Ocean.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,644 people, 1,203 households, and 801 families residing in the town. The population density was 74.6 people per square mile (28.8/km²). There were 2,290 housing units at an average density of 64.6/sq mi (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.05% White, 0.11% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 1,203 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.64.

In the town the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,400, and the median income for a family was $45,184. Males had a median income of $31,627 versus $19,800 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,821. About 3.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

ites of interest

* [http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=39 Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site]
* Fishermen's Museum
* Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

References

External links

* [http://history.rays-place.com/me/bristol-me.htm History of Bristol, Maine]
* [http://www.friendsofcolonialpemaquid.org/Phistory.html History of Colonial Pemaquid]
* [http://www.bristolmaine.org/ Town of Bristol, Maine]