- Dresden, Maine
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Dresden, Maine — Town — Pownalborough Courthouse
Location within the state of Maine
Dresden, MaineCoordinates: 44°4′37″N 69°45′0″W / 44.07694°N 69.75°W Country United States State Maine County Lincoln Incorporated 1794 Area – Total 33.2 sq mi (85.9 km2) – Land 30.6 sq mi (79.4 km2) – Water 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) Elevation 210 ft (64 m) Population (2000) – Total 1,625 – Density 53.0/sq mi (20.5/km2) Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) – Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) ZIP code 04342 Area code(s) 207 FIPS code 23-18475 GNIS feature ID 0582446 Website http://www.townofdresden.com/ Dresden is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States that was incorporated in 1794. The population was 1,625 at the 2000 census.
Contents
History
The town was originally settled in 1752 under the name Frankfort by French and German Huguenots, who were part of the first wave of French speaking immigrants to arrive in Maine, but were distinguished from later arrivals by their Protestant faith. First called Frankfort, so that the new French immigrants could pretend to be German, the town was incorporated as Pownalborough in 1760, when Lincoln County was created in the Maine District of Massachusetts.[1] Pownalborough included the Town of Wiscasset, which was soon set off on its own as the shire town of the county. When the present territory was incorporated in 1794, Lincoln County Probate Judge Jonathan Bowman chose Dresden as the new name of the town because he liked the sound of it.[2]
Dresden is located on the southern side of the Eastern River.[3] Dresden also offers some historical sites as well, including an old, brick school building and the Pownalborough Courthouse, which is now used as a museum and is open to the public. The Pownalborough Courthouse was built in 1760 and was the first seat of government east of the Kennebec River. The families who settled Dresden and those who were soon afterward sent there by the government of Massachusetts played a crucial role in the battle for American independence in Maine. Robert Treat Paine, John Hancock, and John Adams appeared at the Court House in the Revolutionary Era. Well known local families included the Houdlettes, Mayerses, Bridges, Bowmans, Percys, Johnsons, and Trussells, who variously left their marks on the history of the town, the state, and the country.[4]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86 km2), of which, 30.6 square miles (79 km2) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of it (7.60%) is water. Dresden is drained by the Kennebec River and Eastern River, which merges into the former at the southern tip of Green Point and the south eastern side of Swan Island. The Eastern River has long been a favored spot to fish for smelt in shacks concentrated above holes made in the winter ice.
Dresden's other notable geographical features are Blinn's Hill and The Great Bog. At 440 feet (134 m) above sea level, Blinn's Hill still affords a view of the White Mountains, more than 100 miles (160 km) away. The Great Bog is primieval and lies not far from the natural foot of Blinn's Hill.
Demographics
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,625 people, 642 households, and 455 families residing in the town. The population density was 53.0 people per square mile (20.5/km²). There were 739 housing units at an average density of 24.1 per square mile (9.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.49% Asian, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.
There were 642 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,719, and the median income for a family was $44,762. Males had a median income of $31,488 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,886. About 9.5% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Site of interest
Notable people
- David Kidder, congressman
- Lewis Turco, poet, teacher and writer
References
- ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 110. http://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA9&dq=coolidge%20mansfield%20history%20description%20new%20england%201859&pg=PA110#v=onepage&q&f=false.
- ^ Varney, George J. (1886), Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Dresden, Boston: Russell, http://history.rays-place.com/me/dresden-me.htm
- ^ Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson. ed. Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc.. pp. 255–256.
- ^ Charles E. Allen (1931). History of Dresden, Maine. Lewiston, Me.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Lincoln County, Maine Towns Alna | Boothbay Harbor | Boothbay | Bremen | Bristol | Damariscotta | Dresden | Edgecomb | Jefferson | Newcastle | Nobleboro | Somerville | South Bristol | Southport | Waldoboro | Westport Island | Whitefield | Wiscasset
Plantation Gore CDPs Other
villagesCoordinates: 44°08′30″N 70°14′30″W / 44.14167°N 70.24167°W
Categories:- Populated places established in 1794
- Towns in Lincoln County, Maine
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