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Searsmont, Maine
General view in 1908
General view in 1908
Location of Searsmont (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
Location of Searsmont (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Waldo
Incorporated 1814
Area
 • Total 39.15 sq mi (101.40 km2)
 • Land 37.74 sq mi (97.75 km2)
 • Water 1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2)
Elevation
207 ft (63 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,400
 • Density 37/sq mi (14.3/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04973
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-66565
GNIS feature ID 0582715
Website Town of Searsmont

Searsmont is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,400 at the 2020 census.

History

Located at the junction of several well-marked Indian trails, Searsmont was originally called Quantabacook. The town was a part of the Waldo Patent purchased by a consortium of wealthy Boston investors that included David Sears. First settled in 1804 and called Fraternity Village by Ben Ames Williams, it was incorporated on February 5, 1814, as Searsmont, named after its proprietor.

The town was noted for its productive soil, water power and abundant forests of white pine. By 1859, when the population was 1,693, it had 15 sawmills and two gristmills. In 1886, it had five lumber mills; three cooperages; a sash; blind and pump factory; four carriage factories; a tannery; a boot and shoe factory; and a coffin and bedstead factory.

Today, Searsmont continues its lumbering heritage with one mill in town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 39.15 square miles (101.40 km2), of which 37.74 square miles (97.75 km2) is land and 1.41 square miles (3.65 km2) is water. Adjacent to Quantabacook Lake (665 acres), Searsmont is drained by the St. George River. Other ponds include Levenseller Pond (34 acres), Lawry Pond (85 acres), Ruffingham Meadow (51 acres) and Little Pond (42 acres).

The town is served by state routes 3, 131 and 173. It is bordered on the northeast by Morrill, on the east by Belmont, on the south by Lincolnville, on the southwest by Appleton and on the northwest by Liberty and Montville.

Searsmont is home to part of the James Dorso (Ruffingham Meadow) WMA.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 675
1830 1,151 70.5%
1840 1,374 19.4%
1850 1,693 23.2%
1860 1,657 −2.1%
1870 1,418 −14.4%
1880 1,330 −6.2%
1890 1,144 −14.0%
1900 949 −17.0%
1910 828 −12.8%
1920 669 −19.2%
1930 613 −8.4%
1940 542 −11.6%
1950 558 3.0%
1960 628 12.5%
1970 624 −0.6%
1980 482 −22.8%
1990 938 94.6%
2000 1,174 25.2%
2010 1,392 18.6%
2020 1,400 0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,392 people, 577 households, and 377 families living in the town. The population density was 36.9 inhabitants per square mile (14.2/km2). There were 741 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.

There were 577 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the town was 41 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

Notable people

  • Peter Broderick, musician and composer
  • Edwin Denby, poet, dance critic, and novelist
  • Charles West Kendall, lawyer, editor, and US congressman

See also

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

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