Poland, Maine | |
|---|---|
 The Poland Spring House (1876–1975) | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Poland (in yellow) in Androscoggin County and the state of Maine | |
  Poland, Maine Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°2′57″N70°23′27″W / 44.04917°N 70.39083°W /44.04917; -70.39083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Androscoggin |
| Incorporated | 1795 |
| Villages | Poland East Poland Empire Hackett Mills Moussam Poland Spring South Poland West Poland |
| Area | |
• Total | 47.19 sq mi (122.22 km2) |
| • Land | 42.23 sq mi (109.38 km2) |
| • Water | 4.96 sq mi (12.85 km2) |
| Elevation | 374 ft (114 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,906 |
| • Density | 140/sq mi (54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-60020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582680 |
| Website | www |
Poland is atown inAndroscoggin County,Maine, United States. The population was 5,906 at the2020 census.[2] Set among rolling hills and numerous lakes, the town is home toRange Ponds State Park, which includes hiking trails and a pristine freshwater beach. Poland is also a historic resort area. It is included in theLewiston-Auburn, Mainemetropolitan statistical area, which itself is part of the GreaterPortland-LewistonCombined Statistical Area.
Land was granted by theMassachusetts General Court in 1765 to officers and soldiers who served with SirWilliam Phips in the 1690Battle of Quebec. It replaced a 1736 grant made to them called Bakerstown (nowSalisbury, New Hampshire) which was ruled invalid in 1741 at the separation ofNew Hampshire fromMassachusetts. The new plantation was also called Bakerstown (after Captain Thomas Baker), and included present-day Poland,Minot,Mechanic Falls and the greater part ofAuburn.[3]
Settled in 1767 by Nathaniel Bailey and Daniel Lane, Bakerstown Plantation would be incorporated as Poland on February 17, 1795. Poland is named after an "ancient melody" of the same name.[4]
At the beginning, Poland was anagricultural town, with 600 acres (2.4 km2) of the best landfarmed by theShakers who settled at Poland Hill, north of theSabbathday Lake Shaker Village inNew Gloucester. Called the North Family of Shakers, the village was founded by members who moved fromGorham in 1819. The village lasted until 1887.[5]
Industry was attracted to Poland'swater power sites. In 1859, when the population was 2,660, it had foursawmills, agristmill, atannery and acarriage factory. TheSt. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad passed through the northeastern corner of the town, spurring development and bringing tourists drawn to its scenic ponds and gentle hills. By 1893, when Mechanic Falls was set off as a separate town, Poland had evolved into aGilded Age resort town.[6]
In 1797, The Wentworth Ricker Inn in South Poland opened at the homestead Jabez Ricker, acquired from a 1794 land swap with the Alfred Shaker Village inAlfred. But when therailroad replacedstage travel, patronage declined and the inn closed. Then a grandson, Hiram Ricker, began proclaiming that themineral spring on his family's property had cured hisdyspepsia. People began arriving to sample the spring's curative waters, which flow 8 gallons a minute. Reopened in 1861, the inn was enlarged and renamed The Mansion House. But even that property could not handle the crowds of tourists, so in 1875 the family expanded the property, build an extravagant house that was dubbed "Ricker'sfolly" due to skepticism that such a large property would be successful.[7]
On July 4, 1876, the Poland Spring House opened atop Ricker's Hill, an elevation of 800 feet (244 m)above sea level with magnificent views to theWhite Mountains. The hotel would be augmented over the years by architectsJohn Calvin Stevens, Albert Winslow Cobb and Harry Wilkerson. It became a self-contained and exclusivespa, with guards atgatehouses instructed to turn away sightseers. With luxurious accommodations for 450 guests, the hotel attracted the rich and famous. Patrons includedGen. Benjamin Butler,Sen. James G. Blaine,Joan Crawford,Jimmy Durante,Jack Paar andRobert Goulet. But followingWorld War II, the era of grand hotels waned. When the Rickers sold the Poland Spring House, its new owners allowed the sprawling facilities to deteriorate. Apollo Industries purchased the hotel in 1963 and converted it to the largest Women'sJob Corps facility in the United States. The Job Corps dormitory was vacated in 1969, and was destroyed by a spectacular fire on July 3, 1975.[8]
Today, the water is bottled and sold asPoland Spring water byBlueTriton Brands.
Poland was the site of one of the last major accidents involving aircraft from Maine'sCold War air bases. AUnited States Navy patrol bomber fromNaval Air Station Brunswick Patrol Squadron 8 (VP-8) disintegrated over Poland on September 22, 1978. An over-pressurized fuel tank caused the port wing of theLockheed P-3 Orion to separate at the outboard engine.[9] The detached wing sheared off part of the tail; and aerodynamic forces caused the remaining engines and starboard wing to detach from the fuselage. Debris rained down over a wide area near the Tripp Corner intersection on Route 11 shortly after noon. No homes were hit, but an explosive fuel-air fire following impact broke some windows. There were no survivors from the plane's eight-man crew.[10]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.19 square miles (122.22 km2), of which 42.23 square miles (109.38 km2) is land and 4.96 square miles (12.85 km2) is water.[1] Poland is drained by theLittle Androscoggin River.
The town is crossed by state routes11,26 and 122. It is bordered by the towns ofMechanic Falls to the north,Minot to the northeast,Auburn to the east,New Gloucester to the southeast,Casco andRaymond to the southwest, andOtisfield andOxford to the northwest.
| Tripp Pond | |
|---|---|
 Tripp Pond | |
| Coordinates | 44°03′N70°26′W / 44.050°N 70.433°W /44.050; -70.433[11] |
| Max. length | 2.6 mi (4.2 km)[12] |
| Surface area | 735 acres (297 ha)[13] |
| Max. depth | 36 feet (11 m)[14] |
| Water volume | 9,237 acre⋅ft (11,394,000 m3)[13] |
| Surface elevation | 305 ft (93 m)[11] |
Tripp Pond is on the west side of Maine State Route 11, which provides shoulder parking for public access to the east shore of the pond. There is a ramp for trailered boats at the south end of the pond. Summer water temperatures are too high fortrout, but the pond provides good habitat forwhite perch andlargemouth bass.[14] The north end of the pond overflows through a series of shallow ponds to theLittle Androscoggin River near Welchville in the town ofOxford, Maine 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north.[12]
Thisclimatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to theKöppen climate classification system, Poland has ahumid continental climate,Dfb on climate maps.[15]
| Climate data for Poland, Maine, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) | 66 (19) | 83 (28) | 90 (32) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 94 (34) | 96 (36) | 95 (35) | 82 (28) | 73 (23) | 65 (18) | 96 (36) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.5 (10.8) | 49.4 (9.7) | 59.1 (15.1) | 75.3 (24.1) | 84.8 (29.3) | 88.2 (31.2) | 89.9 (32.2) | 88.9 (31.6) | 85.5 (29.7) | 73.9 (23.3) | 64.0 (17.8) | 53.7 (12.1) | 92.0 (33.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 38.2 (3.4) | 51.7 (10.9) | 63.5 (17.5) | 73.1 (22.8) | 78.0 (25.6) | 77.1 (25.1) | 68.9 (20.5) | 55.9 (13.3) | 43.8 (6.6) | 33.5 (0.8) | 53.4 (11.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.0 (−7.2) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 41.7 (5.4) | 53.3 (11.8) | 62.6 (17.0) | 68.2 (20.1) | 66.9 (19.4) | 58.6 (14.8) | 46.7 (8.2) | 35.9 (2.2) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 44.1 (6.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.6 (−11.9) | 12.4 (−10.9) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 43.0 (6.1) | 52.0 (11.1) | 58.5 (14.7) | 56.6 (13.7) | 48.3 (9.1) | 37.5 (3.1) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 18.3 (−7.6) | 34.8 (1.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −5.2 (−20.7) | −2.2 (−19.0) | 4.7 (−15.2) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 34.0 (1.1) | 43.3 (6.3) | 51.8 (11.0) | 48.5 (9.2) | 37.0 (2.8) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 15.5 (−9.2) | 3.0 (−16.1) | −7.4 (−21.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) | −19 (−28) | −6 (−21) | 14 (−10) | 30 (−1) | 35 (2) | 45 (7) | 44 (7) | 30 (−1) | 23 (−5) | 2 (−17) | −10 (−23) | −19 (−28) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.11 (79) | 3.00 (76) | 3.67 (93) | 4.38 (111) | 3.70 (94) | 4.92 (125) | 4.00 (102) | 3.91 (99) | 3.96 (101) | 5.94 (151) | 4.42 (112) | 4.20 (107) | 49.21 (1,250) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 18.0 (46) | 20.5 (52) | 14.8 (38) | 4.2 (11) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (3.6) | 3.8 (9.7) | 17.3 (44) | 80.1 (204.55) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 12.3 | 14.1 | 15.1 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 10.5 | 13.1 | 11.5 | 11.3 | 142.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.5 | 7.3 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 6.8 | 32.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA[16] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 2,125 | — | |
| 1810 | 850 | −60.0% | |
| 1820 | 1,353 | 59.2% | |
| 1830 | 1,916 | 41.6% | |
| 1840 | 2,360 | 23.2% | |
| 1850 | 2,660 | 12.7% | |
| 1860 | 2,746 | 3.2% | |
| 1870 | 2,436 | −11.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,442 | 0.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,472 | 1.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,648 | −33.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,382 | −16.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,399 | 1.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,503 | 7.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,441 | −4.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,503 | 4.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,537 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,015 | 31.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,578 | 77.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,342 | 21.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,866 | 12.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,376 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 5,906 | 9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] | |||
As of thecensus[19] of 2010, there were 5,376 people, 2,140 households, and 1,581 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 127.3 inhabitants per square mile (49.2/km2). There were 2,679 housing units at an average density of 63.4 per square mile (24.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4%White, 0.4%African American, 0.3%Native American, 0.4%Asian, 0.2% fromother races, and 1.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 2,140 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% 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 2.81.
The median age in the town was 43.4 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 35% were from 45 to 64; and 12.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
Per thecensus[20] of 2000, there were 4,866 people, 1,845 households, and 1,437 families living in the town.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,824, and the median income for a family was $55,427. Males had a median income of $33,284 versus $23,926 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $22,346. About 1.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Voter registration
| Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unenrolled | 1,639 | 39.7% | |
| Republican | 1,207 | 29.2% | |
| Democratic | 1,052 | 25.5% | |
| Green Independent | 230 | 5.6% | |
| Total | 4,128 | 100% | |
The Town of Poland is a member ofRegional School Unit 16 (RSU 16). Poland Regional High School (PRHS) serves as the district high school of RSU 16 and is open to all high school-age students of Poland,Mechanic Falls, andMinot, Maine. Students fromRaymond, Maine, as well, attend PRHS on a tuition basis. The school's athletic teams compete in Maine class "B" athletics. The school'smascot is the knight and theschool colors are blue and silver. Connected to the high school is Bruce M. Whittier Middle School. This school serves all three towns' 7th and 8th grade students (as of 2010). Both schools opened in 1999. Poland Community School, last expanded in 2002, serves Poland's K–6 students.
Élan School, a private 8–12behavior modificationboarding school that faced numerous reports of abuse throughout its existence, was established in Poland in 1970 and remained open until 2011.[22]
Two episodes of the popular 1960s television seriesRoute 66 were filmed in Poland: "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are" (1963) starringLon Chaney Jr.; and "Same Picture, Different Frame" (1963) starringJoan Crawford,Tom Bosley, andPatrick O'Neal.[23]
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Municipalities and communities ofAndroscoggin County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Other communities | ||
44°03′38″N70°23′37″W / 44.06056°N 70.39361°W /44.06056; -70.39361
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