Brunswick, Maine | |
|---|---|
_julesvernex2.jpg) Androscoggin River, with the Free-Black railroad bridge in the foreground | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: "Beautifully balanced" | |
 Location inCumberland County and the state ofMaine | |
  Brunswick  Brunswick | |
| Coordinates:43°54′39″N69°57′47″W / 43.91083°N 69.96306°W /43.91083; -69.96306 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Cumberland |
| Settled | 1628 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1739 |
| Communities |
|
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council/Town Manager |
| • Town Manager | Julia Henze |
| Area | |
• Total | 54.34 sq mi (140.74 km2) |
| • Land | 46.73 sq mi (121.03 km2) |
| • Water | 7.61 sq mi (19.71 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 21,756 |
| • Density | 433.9/sq mi (167.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 04011 |
| Website | www |
Brunswick is atown inCumberland County, Maine, United States. Brunswick is included in theLewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census.[3] Part of thePortland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home toBowdoin College, theBowdoin International Music Festival, theBowdoin College Museum of Art, thePeary–MacMillan Arctic Museum, and theMaine State Music Theatre. It was formerly home to the U.S.Naval Air Station Brunswick, which was permanently closed on May 31, 2011, and has since been partially released to redevelopment as "Brunswick Landing".
Settled in 1628 byThomas Purchase and otherfishermen, the area was called by itsIndigenous Peoples' name,Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rockyrapids part [of the river]". In 1639, Purchase placed his settlement under protection of theMassachusetts Bay Colony. DuringKing Philip's War in 1676, Pejepscot was burned and abandoned, although agarrison calledFort Andros was built on the ruins duringKing William's War. During the war, in MajorBenjamin Church's second expedition a year later, he arrived on September 11, 1690, with 300 men at Casco Bay. He went up theAndroscoggin River to Fort Pejepscot (present day Brunswick, Maine).[4] From there he went 40 miles (64 km) upriver and attacked a native village. Three or four native men were shot in retreat. When Church discovered five captive settlers in the wigwams, six or seven prisoners were butchered as an example,[5] and nine prisoners were taken. A few days later, in retaliation, the natives attacked Church atCape Elizabeth on Purpooduc Point, killing seven of his men and wounding 24 others.[6] On September 26, Church returned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The1713 Treaty of Portsmouth brought peace to the region between theAbenaki Indians and theEnglish colonists.[7]
In 1714, aconsortium fromBoston andPortsmouth bought the land, thereafter called thePejepscot purchase. TheMassachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, naming it "Brunswick" in honor of theHouse of Brunswick and its scion,King George I. A stone fort calledFort George was built in 1715 near the falls. But duringDummer's War on July 13, 1722, Abenaki warriors fromNorridgewock burned the village. Consequently, GovernorSamuel Shute declared war on the Abenakis. In 1724, 208 English colonial militia leftFort Richmond and sacked Norridgewock duringDummer's War. Brunswick was rebuilt again in 1727, and in 1739 incorporated as a town. It became a prosperousseaport, whereBowdoin College was chartered in 1794.[7]
TheAndroscoggin River falls in three successive stages for a total vertical drop of 41 feet (12 m), providingwater power forindustry. Brunswick became a major producer oflumber, with as many as 25sawmills. Some of the lumber went intoshipbuilding. Other firms producedpaper,soap,flour,marble andgranite work,carriages andharness,plows,furniture,shoes andconfections. The town was site of the firstcotton mill in Maine, the Brunswick Cotton Manufactory Company, built in 1809 to makeyarn. Purchased in 1812, the mill was enlarged by the Maine Cotton & Woolen Factory Company.[8] In 1857, theCabot Manufacturing Company was established to make cottontextiles. It bought the failed Worumbo Mill and expanded the brick factory along the falls. Needing even more room, the company in 1890 persuaded the town to move Maine Street.[citation needed]
Principal employers for Brunswick includeL.L. Bean,Bath Iron Works, as well as companies that producefiberglass construction material and electrical switches. A number ofhealth services providers serving Maine's mid-coast area are located in Brunswick.[9] The formerNaval Air Station Brunswick was a major employer in Brunswick prior to its closure.
Brunswick has a number ofhistoric districts recognized on theNational Register of Historic Places:
The bookUncle Tom's Cabin was written byHarriet Beecher Stowe while she was living in Brunswick, during the time that her husband was a professor at Bowdoin. She got a key vision for the book in the First Parish Church.[10]
A scene in the 1993 movieThe Man Without a Face was filmed in the town.[9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.34 square miles (140.74 km2), of which 46.73 square miles (121.03 km2) is land and 7.61 square miles (19.71 km2) is water.[1] Brunswick is located at the north end ofCasco Bay, as well as thehead of tide andhead of navigation on theAndroscoggin River. It is the easternmost town in Cumberland County.
| Climate data for Brunswick, Maine | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61 (16) | 59 (15) | 73 (23) | 84 (29) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 104 (40) | 95 (35) | 85 (29) | 74 (23) | 68 (20) | 104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31 (−1) | 34 (1) | 43 (6) | 54 (12) | 65 (18) | 74 (23) | 79 (26) | 78 (26) | 70 (21) | 59 (15) | 47 (8) | 36 (2) | 56 (13) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10 (−12) | 14 (−10) | 23 (−5) | 33 (1) | 44 (7) | 53 (12) | 59 (15) | 58 (14) | 50 (10) | 38 (3) | 30 (−1) | 18 (−8) | 36 (2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −49 (−45) | −25 (−32) | −10 (−23) | 13 (−11) | 27 (−3) | 34 (1) | 37 (3) | 37 (3) | 28 (−2) | 18 (−8) | 1 (−17) | −21 (−29) | −49 (−45) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.72 (94) | 3.55 (90) | 4.37 (111) | 4.74 (120) | 4.52 (115) | 4.17 (106) | 4.00 (102) | 3.30 (84) | 4.23 (107) | 4.94 (125) | 5.62 (143) | 4.07 (103) | 51.23 (1,300) |
| Source: weather.com[11] | |||||||||||||
Places adjacent to Brunswick, Maine | |
|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,357 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,809 | 33.3% | |
| 1810 | 2,682 | 48.3% | |
| 1820 | 2,931 | 9.3% | |
| 1830 | 3,547 | 21.0% | |
| 1840 | 4,259 | 20.1% | |
| 1850 | 4,977 | 16.9% | |
| 1860 | 4,723 | −5.1% | |
| 1870 | 4,687 | −0.8% | |
| 1880 | 5,384 | 14.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,012 | 11.7% | |
| 1900 | 6,806 | 13.2% | |
| 1910 | 6,621 | −2.7% | |
| 1920 | 7,261 | 9.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,604 | 4.7% | |
| 1940 | 8,658 | 13.9% | |
| 1950 | 10,996 | 27.0% | |
| 1960 | 15,797 | 43.7% | |
| 1970 | 16,195 | 2.5% | |
| 1980 | 17,366 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 20,906 | 20.4% | |
| 2000 | 21,172 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 20,278 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 21,756 | 7.3% | |
| [12][13][14] | |||
As of 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $40,402; and the median income for a family was $49,088. Males had a median income of $32,141 versus $24,927 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $20,322. About 5.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus[2] of 2010, there were 15,175 people, 7,183 households, and 6,498 families residing in thecensus-designated place ofBrunswick. Thepopulation density was 433.9 inhabitants per square mile (167.5/km2). There were 9,599 housing units at an average density of 205.4 per square mile (79.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.0%White, 1.7%African American, 0.3%Native American, 2.1%Asian, 0.5% fromother races, and 2.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
There were 8,469 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 44.7% weremarried couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present; 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present; and 42.3% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the town was 41.4 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
TheBrunswick School Department operates the town's public schools, including:
Other local educational institutions include:
TheGrowstown School, on Woodside Road, is the last remaining of the town's formerly twenty-six one-room schoolhouses.
Brunswick'ssister city isTrinidad, Cuba.[15]
The town is served byInterstate 295,U.S. Routes 1 and201, andMaine State Route 24,Maine State Route 24 Business,Maine State Route 123 andMaine State Route 196.
Amtrak'sDowneaster train service terminates atBrunswick Maine Street Station and connects the town to thePortland Transportation Center and Boston'sNorth Station.
Greater Portland Metro provides several trips a day between thePortland Transportation Center and Brunswick Maine Street Station with itsMetro Breez bus service. A local bus service is provided byBrunswick Link.
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
Brunswick travel guide from Wikivoyage
Municipalities and communities ofCumberland County, Maine,United States | ||
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