Rockland | |
|---|---|
 Rockland Downtown | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: Vacationland | |
| Motto: God Gives a Reward to Industry | |
 Location inKnox County and the state ofMaine. | |
  Rockland Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°6′34″N69°6′53″W / 44.10944°N 69.11472°W /44.10944; -69.11472 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Knox |
| Incorporated (town) | July 28, 1848 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1854 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nicole Kalloch |
| Area | |
• Total | 15.08 sq mi (39.05 km2) |
| • Land | 12.85 sq mi (33.28 km2) |
| • Water | 2.23 sq mi (5.77 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,936 |
| • Density | 539.81/sq mi (208.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04841 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-63590 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0574358 |
| Website | rocklandmaine |
Rockland is a city in and thecounty seat ofKnox County, Maine, United States. As of the2020 census, the town population was 6,936.[2][3] The city is a popular tourist destination. It is a departure point for theMaine State Ferry Service to the islands ofPenobscot Bay:Vinalhaven,North Haven andMatinicus.
AbenakiIndigenous People called it Catawamteak, meaning "great landing place." In 1767, John Lermond and his two brothers fromWarren built a camp to produce oak staves and pinelumber. Thereafter known as Lermond's Cove, it was first settled about 1769. When in 1777Thomaston was incorporated, Lermond's Cove became a district called Shore village. On July 28, 1848, it was set off as the town of East Thomaston. Renamed Rockland in 1850, it was chartered as a city in 1854.[4]
Rockland developed rapidly because ofshipbuilding andlime production. In 1854 alone, the city built elevenships, threebarks, sixbrigs and fourschooners. The city had twelve limequarries and 125 limekilns, with upwards of 300 vessels to transport the mineral to various ports in the country.[5]
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In March 1877, theGranite Cutters' International Union was formed in Rockland. It was one of the earliest craft unions in the United States and formed among the region's growing granite industry.
By 1886, shipbuilding was surpassed by the lime business, which had twelve manufacturers employing 1,000 workers. Nevertheless, Rockland had three or moreshipyards, amarine railway, five sail lofts and twoboatbuilders. Other industries included threegrain mills, twofoundries, threecarriage factories, sixlumber mills, twomachine shops, threecooperies, onetannery, fourgranite andmarble works, twoboot andshoe factories, and four printing offices.Fishing was also important. Fleets ofFriendship Sloops sailed between the harbor and fishing grounds acrossPenobscot Bay.[6]
The opening of theKnox and Lincoln Railroad in 1871 brought an influx of tourists. Inns and hotels were established to accommodate them, with the grandest being The Bay Point Hotel in 1889. With a commanding view near thebreakwater, the resort offered every luxury and amusement. Renamed The Samoset Hotel in 1902, it was successful until theGreat Depression, which began a slow decline. In the age of automobiles, travelers were no longer restricted to the limits of train service, but were free to explore elsewhere. Closed in 1969, theVictorian hotel burned in 1972. A new Samoset Resort opened in 1974.[7]
In 1915, the newsuper-dreadnoughtUSS Nevada (BB-36) conducted tests and completed her running trials just off the shore from Rockland.[8][9]
Today, Rockland is an officially designatedmicropolitan area. Since the early 1990s, Rockland has seen a shift in its economy away from thefishery and toward a service center city. It has also seen a substantial increase in tourism and the downtown has transformed into one of unique shops, boutiques, fine dining and art galleries. Rockland is the commercial center of the midcoast Maine region, with many historic inns, a coffee roaster, a food co-op, a community radio stationWRFR-LP, theFarnsworth Art Museum and theCenter for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA). Rockland was named a Coast Guard City in March 2008, in recognition of the long-standing and special relationship that the city and its residents have with theUnited States Coast Guard.[10][11][12] On March 13, 2017, the Rockland City Council approveda resolve to support community diversity.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.07 square miles (39.03 km2), of which 12.84 square miles (33.26 km2) is land and 2.23 square miles (5.78 km2) is water.[13] Rockland is located onPenobscot Bay and theGulf of Maine, part of theAtlantic Ocean. About ten miles to the east are the islands ofNorth Haven andVinalhaven, reached byferry from Rockland.
Rockland is crossed byU.S. 1 and 1A, and state routes17,73 and90. It borders the towns ofOwls Head to the southeast,Thomaston to the southwest,Warren to the northwest, andRockport to the northeast.
The coldest month is January and the warmest month is July.
| Climate data for Rockland, Maine | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) | 61 (16) | 74 (23) | 80 (27) | 95 (35) | 94 (34) | 96 (36) | 93 (34) | 90 (32) | 82 (28) | 74 (23) | 63 (17) | 96 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) | 33 (1) | 40 (4) | 52 (11) | 62 (17) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 76 (24) | 68 (20) | 57 (14) | 47 (8) | 36 (2) | 54 (12) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20 (−7) | 24 (−4) | 31 (−1) | 43 (6) | 53 (12) | 62 (17) | 68 (20) | 67 (19) | 59 (15) | 48 (9) | 39 (4) | 27 (−3) | 45 (7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10 (−12) | 14 (−10) | 22 (−6) | 33 (1) | 43 (6) | 53 (12) | 59 (15) | 58 (14) | 50 (10) | 39 (4) | 30 (−1) | 18 (−8) | 36 (2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) | −20 (−29) | −11 (−24) | 10 (−12) | 21 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 43 (6) | 37 (3) | 28 (−2) | 19 (−7) | 4 (−16) | −25 (−32) | −25 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.26 (108) | 4.00 (102) | 4.80 (122) | 5.02 (128) | 4.14 (105) | 4.06 (103) | 3.43 (87) | 3.28 (83) | 4.51 (115) | 5.14 (131) | 5.71 (145) | 4.99 (127) | 53.34 (1,356) |
| Source: weather.com[14] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5,052 | — | |
| 1860 | 7,316 | 44.8% | |
| 1870 | 7,074 | −3.3% | |
| 1880 | 7,599 | 7.4% | |
| 1890 | 8,174 | 7.6% | |
| 1900 | 8,150 | −0.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,174 | 0.3% | |
| 1920 | 8,100 | −0.9% | |
| 1930 | 9,075 | 12.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,899 | −1.9% | |
| 1950 | 9,284 | 4.3% | |
| 1960 | 8,769 | −5.5% | |
| 1970 | 8,505 | −3.0% | |
| 1980 | 7,919 | −6.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,972 | 0.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,609 | −4.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,297 | −4.1% | |
| 2020 | 6,936 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Per thecensus[15] of 2010, there were 7,297 people, 3,423 households, and 1,744 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 568.3 inhabitants per square mile (219.4/km2). There were 3,925 housing units at an average density of 305.7 per square mile (118.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8%White, 0.6%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.2% fromother races, and 2.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 3,423 households, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% weremarried couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.1% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.73.
The median age in the city was 43.5 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 7,609 people, 3,434 households, and 1,943 families living in the city. The population density was 589.2 inhabitants per square mile (227.5/km2). There were 3,752 housing units at an average density of 290.5 per square mile (112.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.90%White, 0.25%African American, 0.24%Native American, 0.57%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.11% fromother races, and 0.92% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 3,434 households, out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% weremarried couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,209, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $27,212 versus $20,708 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,659. About 10.4% of families and 14.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Voter registration
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of November 2012[17] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
| Unenrolled | 1,732 | 36.02% | |||
| Democratic | 1,576 | 32.77% | |||
| Republican | 1,294 | 26.91% | |||
| Green Independent | 206 | 4.28% | |||
| Total | 4,808 | 100% | |||
Rockland is home to the Maine Lobster Festival,[18] a celebration held annually in honor of the town's primary export: lobster. In the first week of August, thousands of people come from all over the world to participate in this five-day event.[19] Rockland also is home to the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, designed by internationally recognized architect Toshiko Mori, and theFarnsworth Art Museum, a world-famous art museum containing paintings byAndrew Wyeth and other well-known New England artists. Rockland's main street also features numerous small shops and businesses including coffee shops, book stores, art supply stores, restaurants, organic markets, computer repair and toy stores. Penobscot Bay, which Rockland borders, is known internationally as one of the best recreational sailing grounds in the world. The city's breakwater, built in the 19th century, also draws tourists.
U.S. Route 1 passes through the county from the west and to the north.Maine State Route 17 goes north from the town, andMaine State Route 73 goes from the town, to the peninsula to the south.
TheMaine State Ferry Service operates three ferry routes out ofRockland Ferry Terminal. There are multiple departures per day toVinalhaven andNorth Haven, while ferries toMatinicus depart less regularly. Intercity buses operated byConcord Coach Lines also stop at the ferry terminal, with service toBoston,Portland,Brunswick,Bangor, and other nearby towns.
Until 1958, the Rockland was the terminus forMaine Central Railroad passenger trains fromPortland, along theRockland Branch fromBrunswick. The Maine Central Railroad ran three trains a day on the days besides Sunday and fewer trains on Sunday. In Portland'sUnion Station, these trains made connections to trains to Boston, New York City, Bangor and the Canadian Maritimes.[33] In the final months, service diminished to one daily except Sunday trip in each direction, until finally discontinuing on April 4, 1959.[34]
From 2003 to 2015, theMaine Eastern Railroad offered seasonal excursion service to Rockland, Maine which connected toAmtrak'sDowneaster at Brunswick. In October 2017, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority announced plans to extend one weekendDowneaster round trip to Rockland between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning in 2018. Intermediate stops would be made at Bath, Wiscasset, and Newcastle.[35] As part of preparation, Amtrak, along with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority,Maine Department of Transportation and theCentral Maine and & Quebec Railroad, made a test run of a train on August 14.[36]
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
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