Lebanon, Maine

Lebanon, Maine
Town
Ironwell,theOle Bullresidencec. 1915
Lebanon
Coordinates:43°24′12″N70°55′2″W
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	York
Incorporated	1767
Government
• Type	Town Meeting
• 1st Selectman	Paul Philbrick
• Selectmen	Laura Bragg
• Selectmen	Richard "Chip" Harlow
Area
• Total	55.83 sq mi (144.60 km2)
• Land	55.00 sq mi (142.45 km2)
• Water	0.83 sq mi (2.15 km2)
Elevation	459 ft (140 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,469
• Density	118/sq mi (45.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	04027
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-38425
GNISfeature ID	0582550
Website	www.lebanon-me.org

Lebanonis a town inYork County, Maine,United States. The population was 6,469 at the2020 census.Lebanon includes the villages of Center Lebanon, West Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and East Lebanon. It is the westernmost town inMaine.Lebanon is part of thePortland–South Portland–Biddeford,Mainemetropolitan statistical area.

History

It was called Towwoh by the NewichawannockAbenakitribe, whose main village was further down theSalmon Falls River.On April 20, 1733, theMassachusetts General Courtgranted Towwoh Plantation to 60 colonists, who first settled it in 1743. The township was incorporated on June 17, 1767, renamed Lebanon after the biblical land ofLebanon.It was Maine's 23rd town. Lebanon annexed unincorporated land in 1785, and some fromSanfordin 1787. It swapped land withShapleigh,giving some in 1793, then annexing some in 1825.

Farmersfound the surface of the town relatively level in the southeast, with extensive pine plains in the northwest. The chief crop would behay.At the Salmon Falls River and theLittle Riverwerewater powersites formills.Lebanon had foursawmills,threegristmills,ashinglemill, awoolcardingmill and atannery.In 1850,Oren B. Cheneyfounded West Lebanon Academy. Beginning in the early 1870s, thePortland and Rochester Railroadran the length of the town's southeast side, with thePortsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroadcrossing for a short distance on the western side.

Geography

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 55.83 square miles (144.60 km²), of which 55.00 square miles (142.45 km²) is land and 0.83 square miles (2.15 km²) is water.Lebanon is drained by the Little River andSalmon Falls River.The town's highest point is Prospect Hill, at an elevation of 880 feet (268 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation borders the Salmon Falls River, on the town's southernmost boundary, which is approximately 170 feet (52 m) above sea level.

The town is crossed byU.S. Route 202and State Route11.It borders the towns ofActonto the north,Sanfordto the east,BerwickandNorth Berwickto the southeast, and theNew Hampshiretowns ofMiltonandRochesterto the west.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	1,296		—
1800	1,657		27.9%
1810	1,938		17.0%
1820	2,223		14.7%
1830	2,391		7.6%
1840	2,273		−4.9%
1850	2,208		−2.9%
1860	2,040		−7.6%
1870	1,953		−4.3%
1880	1,601		−18.0%
1890	1,263		−21.1%
1900	1,335		5.7%
1910	1,316		−1.4%
1920	1,192		−9.4%
1930	1,148		−3.7%
1940	1,452		26.5%
1950	1,499		3.2%
1960	1,534		2.3%
1970	1,983		29.3%
1980	3,234		63.1%
1990	4,263		31.8%
2000	5,083		19.2%
2010	6,031		18.7%
2020	6,469		7.3%

2010 census

As of thecensusof 2010, there were 6,031 people, 2,204 households, and 1,679 families living in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 109.7 inhabitants per square mile (42.4/km²). There were 2,540 housing units at an average density of 46.2 per square mile (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.1%White,0.4%African American,0.3%Native American,0.8%Asian,0.1% fromother races,and 1.3% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 2,204 households, of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% weremarried couplesliving together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.8% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the town was 39.3 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

2000 census

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 5,083 people, 1,823 households, and 1,405 families living in the town. The population density was 92.9 inhabitants per square mile (35.9/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 38.2 per square mile (14.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49%White,0.31%African American,0.28%Native American,0.26%Asian,0.08% fromother races,and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.

There were 1,823 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% weremarried couplesliving together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 17.2% 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 2.79 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,021, and the median income for a family was $41,713. Males had a median income of $33,551 versus $22,292 for females. Theper capita incomefor the town was $15,503. 10.4% of the population and 8.8% of families were below thepoverty line.Out of the total population, 12.9% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

Lebanon is part ofMSAD60/RSU 60.Audra Beauvais is the Superintendent of Schools.

Lebanon has two schools, Lebanon Elementary School (grades 4–5) and Hanson School (grades K–3).

Notable people

• Ole Bull,violinist and composer (summer resident)
• Oren B. Cheney,clergyman, abolitionist, foundedBates College
• Claudius B. Grant,Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
• Elihu B. Hayes,manufacturer, newspaper owner and politician
• Charles Coffin Jewett,superintendent of the Boston Public Library
• Sumner Increase Kimball,organized theUnited States Life-Saving Service
• Charles E. Littlefield,US congressman

External links

• Town of Lebanon, Maine
• Lebanon Area Library
• OurVoice – Citizens for a Better Lebanon – Community News & Government Info
• City Data Profile
• Epodunk Town Profile
• Maine Genealogy: Lebanon, York County, Maine