Otisfield, Maine
Otisfield, Maine | |
|---|---|
  Otisfield, Maine Location within the state of Maine | |
| Coordinates:44°4′45″N70°32′23″W/ 44.07917°N 70.53972°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Incorporated | 1798 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.25 sq mi (114.61 km2) |
| • Land | 39.93 sq mi (103.42 km2) |
| • Water | 4.32 sq mi (11.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,853 |
| • Density | 46/sq mi (17.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-55960 |
| GNISfeature ID | 0582655 |
Otisfieldis a town inOxford County,Maine,United States. Otisfield is included in theLewiston-Auburn,Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 1,853 at the2020 census.[2]Otisfield is a summer recreation area and home toSeeds of PeaceCamp andCamp Arcadia.
History
[edit]It was granted by theMassachusetts General Courton June 15, 1771 toJames Otis,Nathaniel Gorhamand other descendants of Captain John Gorham and certain members of his company who had fought in the 1690Battle of Quebec.It replaced a 1736 grant which was ruled invalid when the line betweenNew HampshireandMassachusettswas redrawn to satisfy claims by the heirs ofJohn Mason.Many early settlers were veterans of theRevolutionary War,with the greater number coming fromGroton, Massachusetts.[3]First called Otis Field Plantation, it was incorporated on February 19, 1798 as Otisfield. It then included nearly all ofHarrison,set off in 1805, and a large part ofNaples,set off in 1834. The town was part ofCumberland Countyuntil 1978, when it joinedOxford County.[4]
The surface of the town is uneven with gravelly but productive soil.Farmingbecame the principal occupation, withcorn,potatoesandhaythe chief crops.Millswere erected at variouswater powersites, with the firstsawmillbuilt 1812. Other industries includedgristmills,blacksmithshops, atannery,apantsfactory andshoeshop, acidermill andcanneryforapples,abarrelfactory, ashinglemill and awoolencardingmill.[5]Today, Otisfield is largely a recreational area, with camps and summer cottages lining the shores ofPleasant Lake,Thompson Lake, Saturday Pond and Moose Pond.
Geography
[edit]According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 44.25 square miles (114.61 km2), of which 39.93 square miles (103.42 km2) is land and 4.32 square miles (11.19 km2) is water.[1]Otisfield is drained by the Crooked River.
The town is served by state routes117and121.It borders the towns ofNorwayto the north,Oxfordto the northeast,Polandto the east,CascoandNaplesto the south, andHarrisonto the west.
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 197 | — | |
| 1800 | 450 | 128.4% | |
| 1810 | 912 | 102.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,107 | 21.4% | |
| 1830 | 1,274 | 15.1% | |
| 1840 | 1,307 | 2.6% | |
| 1850 | 1,171 | −10.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,199 | 2.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,099 | −8.3% | |
| 1880 | 927 | −15.7% | |
| 1890 | 838 | −9.6% | |
| 1900 | 728 | −13.1% | |
| 1910 | 632 | −13.2% | |
| 1920 | 581 | −8.1% | |
| 1930 | 568 | −2.2% | |
| 1940 | 488 | −14.1% | |
| 1950 | 599 | 22.7% | |
| 1960 | 549 | −8.3% | |
| 1970 | 589 | 7.3% | |
| 1980 | 897 | 52.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,136 | 26.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,560 | 37.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,770 | 13.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,853 | 4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
2010 census
[edit]As of thecensus[7]of 2010, there were 1,770 people, 704 households, and 492 families living in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 44.3 inhabitants per square mile (17.1/km2). There were 1,169 housing units at an average density of 29.3 per square mile (11.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.5%White,0.3%African American,0.3%Native American,0.2%Asian,0.1%Pacific Islander,and 1.6% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 704 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.1% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% 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 44.8 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 34.8% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.
2000 census
[edit]As of thecensus[8]of 2000, there were 1,560 people, 595 households, and 452 families living in the town. The population density was 39.0 inhabitants per square mile (15.1/km2). There were 1,011 housing units at an average density of 25.3 per square mile (9.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.21%White,0.26%African American,0.45%Native American,0.13%Asian,0.06%Pacific Islander,and 0.90% from two or more races.
There were 595 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% weremarried couplesliving together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,304, and the median income for a family was $46,652. Males had a median income of $32,167 versus $26,250 for females. Theper capita incomefor the town was $19,142. About 6.7% of families and 9.1% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Seeds of Peace
[edit]Otisfield is known throughout the state of Maine for being the home of theSeeds of PeaceCamp. Seeds of Peace has been located in Otisfield since its founding in 1993. It is placed on Pleasant Lake and located on the former Camp Powhatan. In 2022, the number of alumni from the Seeds of Peace Camp had passed 8,000.[9]
Site of interest
[edit]Notable person
[edit]- Horace A. Barrows,19th century physician, maker of plant-based medicines and advocate of vegetarian diet
References
[edit]- ^ab"US Gazetteer files 2010".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2012-12-16.
- ^"Census - Geography Profile: Otisfield town, Oxford County, Maine".Retrieved2022-01-18.
- ^Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859).A History and Description of New England.Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp.243–244.
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
- ^History of Otisfield, Maine
- ^Varney, George J. (1886),Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Otisfield,Boston: Russell
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.Retrieved2015-06-04.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2012-12-16.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2008-01-31.
- ^"About Seeds of Peace".Retrieved2022-07-04.
External links
[edit]- Town of Otisfield, Maine
- Otisfield Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club
- Genealogy in Otisfield, Maine
- Maine.gov – Otisfield, Maine
- Maine Genealogy: Otisfield, Oxford County, Maine
Municipalities and communities ofOxford County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| Plantations | ||
| Unorganized territories | ||
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| Other villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |