Freeport, Maine | |
|---|---|
 View of downtown | |
 Seal | |
 Location inCumberland County and the state ofMaine. | |
| Coordinates:43°50′38″N70°6′6″W / 43.84389°N 70.10167°W /43.84389; -70.10167 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| County | Cumberland |
| Incorporated | February 14, 1789 |
| Communities |
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| Area | |
• Total | 46.47 sq mi (120.36 km2) |
| • Land | 34.70 sq mi (89.87 km2) |
| • Water | 11.77 sq mi (30.48 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,737 |
| • Density | 252/sq mi (97.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 04032–04034 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-26525 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582481 |
| Website | www |
Freeport is atown inCumberland County, Maine, United States. Freeport is included in theLewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and town area. The population was 8,737 at the2020 census.[2] Once home to a prominent shipbuilding industry, timber operations, and farming, it is now known for its numerous outlet stores; Freeport is home toL.L. Bean,Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, and theDesert of Maine.
Freeport is part of thePortland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. TheHarraseeket Historic District is in Freeport.
The town was once a part ofNorth Yarmouth called Harraseeket, after theHarraseeket River. First settled about 1700, it was set off and incorporated on February 14, 1789, as Freeport. It is probably named "from the openness of its harbor" (free from ice).[3] Freeport developed as four villages—Mast Landing, Porter's Landing, South Freeport and Freeport Corner—all of which are now part of theHarraseeket Historic District, listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
At thehead of tide on the Harraseeket River is Mast Landing, from whichtimber was shipped, particularly for use asmasts. Theestuary wasdammed to providewater power for agristmill,sawmill andfulling mill, with modest manufacturing andwoodworking.[3] Porter's Landing was involved inshipbuilding, important in Freeport following theRevolutionary War. The industry reached its peak in the decade between 1850 and 1860, but declined with theCivil War.[citation needed]South Freeport, the largest of the waterfront villages, once had fourshipyards. Other businesses includedfishing,canning andfarming. In 1903, theCasco Castle was built here byAmos Gerald to encourage travel bytrolley cars. The hotel burned in 1914, but its tower still stands.
Freeport Corner was an inland village for farming andtrade, but the 1849 entrance of therailroad helped it develop into the town's commercial center, which it remains. In the 19th century, fabric was sent from New York and Boston to be made into clothing by local piece workers. Businessman E. B. Mallet established here a sawmill,brickyard,granitequarry and largeshoe factory.[citation needed]
In 1912,Leon Leonwood Bean opened a store in the basement of his brother's apparel shop at Freeport Corner, selling the "Bean Boot" (or Maine Hunting Shoe). This store,L. L. Bean, became so popular that in 1951 it started remaining open 24 hours a day. Its retail andmail order catalog facilities expanded into Freeport's principal business, and a worldwide company with annual sales of over a billion dollars.[4] The L.L. Bean flagship store is the anchor tooutlet shopping in the town of Freeport. The town sees about 3.5 million visitors annually, spending $308 million in 2015 alone.[5] L.L. Bean, for its part, has invested heavily in activities for both visitors and residents, including theirOutdoor Discovery Schools, and their Summer Concert Series, which has attracted artists such asEdwin McCain,Great Big Sea,Buckwheat Zydeco, andRockapella.
In 1982,McDonald's made plans to tear down the Gore House, an 1850sGreek Revival house to build one of its stores. Outcry from residents caused the town to adopt new ordinances concerning what businesses could and could not do with their buildings, and McDonald's built the restaurant inside the house and opened it in 1984, maintaining the exterior appearance. This was one of the first times that McDonald's had been forced to change its restaurant design to fit local requirements.[6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.47 square miles (120.36 km2), of which 34.70 square miles (89.87 km2) is land and 11.77 square miles (30.48 km2) is water.[1] Situated at the northeastern extremity ofCasco Bay, Freeport is drained by theHarraseeket River.
Freeport bordersBrunswick andDurham to the north,Pownal to the west, andYarmouth to the southwest. Freeport also shares small borders withCumberland andHarpswell in Casco Bay. Cumberland and Harpswell are not connected to Freeport by roads, but since Freeport's town border ranges out into Casco Bay, the other towns' borders meet Freeport's.
Thisclimatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm, often humid summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to theKöppen climate classification system, Freeport has awarm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[7]
BothU.S. 1 andInterstate-295 run directly through Freeport, the latter with three exits northbound (20, 22 and 24) and two exits southbound (22 and 20).
Amtrak'sDowneaster train service stops atFreeport station with service to thePortland Transportation Center and Boston'sNorth Station.
Greater Portland Metro'sBREEZ provides bus service between Brunswick and Portland, with four stops in Freeport.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,320 | — | |
| 1800 | 2,237 | 69.5% | |
| 1810 | 2,184 | −2.4% | |
| 1820 | 2,184 | 0.0% | |
| 1830 | 2,623 | 20.1% | |
| 1840 | 2,662 | 1.5% | |
| 1850 | 2,629 | −1.2% | |
| 1860 | 2,792 | 6.2% | |
| 1870 | 2,457 | −12.0% | |
| 1880 | 2,279 | −7.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,482 | 8.9% | |
| 1900 | 2,339 | −5.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,460 | 5.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,488 | 1.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,184 | −12.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,764 | 26.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,280 | 18.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,055 | 23.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,781 | 17.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,863 | 22.6% | |
| 1990 | 6,905 | 17.8% | |
| 2000 | 7,800 | 13.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,879 | 1.0% | |
| 2020 | 8,737 | 10.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
As of thecensus[9] of 2010, there were 7,879 people, 3,209 households, and 2,173 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 227.1 inhabitants per square mile (87.7/km2). There were 3,690 housing units at an average density of 106.3 per square mile (41.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.2%White, 0.6%African American, 0.4%Native American, 2.3%Asian, 0.2% fromother races, and 1.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 3,209 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% weremarried couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.89.
The median age in the town was 45 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 34.7% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
As of thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 7,800 people, 3,065 households, and 2,151 families residing in the town. The population density was 224.8 inhabitants per square mile (86.8/km2). There were 3,276 housing units at an average density of 94.4 per square mile (36.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22%White, 0.42%Black orAfrican American, 0.31%Native American, 1.04%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.33% fromother races, and 0.64% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 3,065 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.4% were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,023, and the median income for a family was $58,134. Males had a median income of $41,703 versus $27,490 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $27,724. About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Freeport is part ofRegional school unit #5.[11]
Public schools
Private schools
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Municipalities and communities ofCumberland County, Maine,United States | ||
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