Naples, Maine

Naples, Maine
Town
Naples from the air, with theSongo River Queen IIonLong Lakeand the newly-constructed causeway connectingBrandy Pond
Nickname: "The Heart of the Lakes Region"
Motto: "Welcome to Vacationland"
Location inCumberland Countyand the state ofMaine.
Coordinates:43°57′36″N70°36′11″W
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Cumberland
Villages	Naples Edes Falls South Naples
Area
• Total	37.25 sq mi (96.48 km2)
• Land	31.82 sq mi (82.41 km2)
• Water	5.43 sq mi (14.06 km2)
Elevation	315 ft (96 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,925
• Density	123/sq mi (47.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	04055
Area code	207
FIPS code	23-48085
GNISfeature ID	0582613
Website	Town of Naples, Maine

Naplesis atowninCumberland County,Maine,United States. It is part of thePortland–South Portland–Biddeford,Mainemetropolitan statistical area.The population was 3,925 at the2020 census,and it is home to part ofSebago Lake State Park.Naples is a resort area.

History

The area was settled in 1790. Farming was limited by the soil, which consisted of gravelly loam, its surface strewn withglacial erraticboulders.The uplands, however, provided good grazing forlivestock,andhaybecame the principal crop.

Named forNaples,Italy,the town was incorporated on March 4, 1834,from parts ofOtisfield,Harrison,RaymondandBridgton.Between 1845 and 1856, it annexed more land fromSebago,Otisfield and Bridgton. The SongoLock,completed two years before town incorporation, linkedLong LakeandBrandy PondwithSebago Lake,allowing passage of boats from Harrison toPortlandthrough theCumberland and Oxford CanalinStandish.Acanningfactory andcooperagewere established at Naples village. The community also producedcarriages,men's and boy's clothing, boots and shoes.

The scenery of the lakes, however, would maketourismthe dominant industry. Visitors in the 19th century includedHenry Wadsworth LongfellowandNathaniel Hawthorne.To accommodate his passengers, Charles L. Goodridge of the Sebago Lake, Songo River & Bay of Naples Steamship Company built a hostelry on a knoll at the southern end of Long Lake. On July 26, 1899, the Bay of Naples Inn opened with 80 bedrooms. It was designed byJohn Calvin Stevens,who reduced by two-fifths a plan originally created for the ill-fated Metallak Hotel inColebrook,New Hampshire.While under construction, the Metallak was destroyed in April 1893 during a violentwindstorm,and its investors abandoned the project. The Bay of Naples Inn, which facedMount Washingtonand the east side of theWhite Mountains,was a popular resort during the early 20th century. Automobile tourists began arriving after designation of theTheodore Roosevelt International Highwayin 1919 (identified asUnited States Route 302since 1935).The Bay of Naples Inn remained open through the 1951 season, but in 1964 was deemed unprofitable and razed.

• 
  Naples villagec. 1920
• 
  Post Office inc. 1910
• 
  The Casino in 1911
• 
  Bay of Naples Inn, 1913

Geography

Trickey Pond in 2005

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 37.25 square miles (96.48 km²), of which 31.82 square miles (82.41 km²) is land and 5.43 square miles (14.06 km²) is water.Naples is drained by theSongo River.

Water bodies that are adjacent to, or within Naples include:

• Sebago Lake
• Chute River
• Long Lake
• Brandy Pond
• Trickey Pond

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	758		—
1850	1,025		35.2%
1860	1,219		18.9%
1870	1,058		−13.2%
1880	1,007		−4.8%
1890	846		−16.0%
1900	813		−3.9%
1910	736		−9.5%
1920	514		−30.2%
1930	641		24.7%
1940	676		5.5%
1950	747		10.5%
1960	735		−1.6%
1970	956		30.1%
1980	1,833		91.7%
1990	2,860		56.0%
2000	3,274		14.5%
2010	3,872		18.3%
2020	3,925		1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Steamboatc. 1910

2010 census

As of thecensusof 2010, there were 3,872 people, 1,579 households, and 1,094 families living in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 121.7 inhabitants per square mile (47.0/km²). There were 3,004 housing units at an average density of 94.4 per square mile (36.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4%White,0.3%African American,0.2%Native American,0.5%Asian,0.2% fromother races,and 1.4% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 1,579 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% weremarried couplesliving together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 23.1% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 42.9 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

2000 census

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 3,274 people, 1,297 households, and 931 families living in the town. The population density was 102.9 inhabitants per square mile (39.7/km²). There were 2,381 housing units at an average density of 74.9 per square mile (28.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.20%White,0.15%African American,0.31%Native American,0.31%Asian,0.21% fromother races,and 0.82% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.21% of the population.

There were 1,297 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.90.

Songo Riverin 1908

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,141, and the median income for a family was $40,825. Males had a median income of $31,458 versus $24,596 for females. Theper capita incomefor the town was $18,176. About 6.9% of families and 7.6% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Site of interest

• Naples Historical Society Museum

Notable people

• Augustus Bove,state legislator
• Richard Cebra,state legislator with theMaine Republican Party(2004–2012) and (2016–present) and state Republican Party chairman (2012–2013)
• Major Knight,state legislator with theGreenback Party(1880)
• Daniel Merriam,watercolorist
• Christine Powers,state legislator
• Richard Thompson,state legislator
• Mark Walker,state legislator

External links

• Town of Naples official website
• Naples Public Library
• Muddy River Sno Seekers Snowmobile Club
• Sebago Lake State Park
• Maine Genealogy: Naples, Cumberland County, Maine