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Pownal, Maine facts for kids

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Pownal, Maine
First Parish Congregational Church
First Parish Congregational Church
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Country United States
State Maine
County Cumberland
Incorporated 1808
Villages North Pownal
Pownal Center
West Pownal
Area
 • Total 22.88 sq mi (59.26 km2)
 • Land 22.86 sq mi (59.21 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
226 ft (69 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,566
 • Density 68/sq mi (26.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04069
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-60685
GNIS feature ID 0582684

Pownal is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. Pownal was included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 1,566 at the 2020 census. It is part of the PortlandSouth PortlandBiddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. Pownal is home to Bradbury Mountain State Park.

History

Originally the northwest portion of Freeport, it was first settled in 1680. The town was set off and incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court on March 3, 1808, named in honor of former Governor Thomas Pownall, who had died three years before. It swapped land with the town of North Yarmouth in 1813 and 1816. With an undulating surface of generally productive soil, agriculture became the principal occupation. By 1859, when the population was 1,074, other industries included a gristmill and a carriage factory.

Pownal was chosen by author Stephen King as the hometown of schoolteacher Johnny Smith, protagonist of his 1979 novel The Dead Zone, and of Ray Garraty, protagonist of his 1979 novel The Long Walk. King grew up in neighboring Durham.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.88 square miles (59.26 km2), of which 22.86 square miles (59.21 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water. Pownal is drained by the eastern branches of the Royal River.

The town is served by Maine State Route 9.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 2,043
1800 1,678 −17.9%
1810 872 −48.0%
1820 1,058 21.3%
1830 1,308 23.6%
1840 1,210 −7.5%
1850 1,074 −11.2%
1860 1,053 −2.0%
1870 981 −6.8%
1880 874 −10.9%
1890 712 −18.5%
1900 592 −16.9%
1910 625 5.6%
1920 514 −17.8%
1930 462 −10.1%
1940 575 24.5%
1950 752 30.8%
1960 778 3.5%
1970 800 2.8%
1980 1,189 48.6%
1990 1,262 6.1%
2000 1,491 18.1%
2010 1,474 −1.1%
2020 1,566 6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,474 people, 590 households, and 422 families living in the town. The population density was 64.5 inhabitants per square mile (24.9/km2). There were 613 housing units at an average density of 26.8 per square mile (10.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 590 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 44.6 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 36.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

Site of interest

Notable person

  • Frank Knight, arborist

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pownal (Maine) para niños

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