Strong, Maine | |
|---|---|
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 Seal | |
| Motto: Toothpick Capital of the World | |
  Strong Location within the state of Maine | |
| Coordinates:44°48′32″N70°11′59″W / 44.80889°N 70.19972°W /44.80889; -70.19972 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Franklin |
| Incorporated | 1801 |
| Communities |
|
| Area | |
• Total | 28.94 sq mi (74.95 km2) |
| • Land | 28.35 sq mi (73.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.59 sq mi (1.53 km2) |
| Elevation | 741 ft (226 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,122 |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (15.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04983 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-74825 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582753 |
| Website | strong-maine |
Strong is atown inFranklin County,Maine, United States. The population was 1,122 at the2020 census.[2] Strong is home to the annual Sandy River Festival.
The plantation was called Township No. 3, First Range North of Plymouth Claim, West of Kennebec River (or T3 R1 NPC WKR), then successively known as Middletown and Readstown. It was first settled in 1784 by William Read fromNobleboro. Readstown was incorporated on January 31, 1801, and named forCaleb Strong, aFounding Father of the United States andgovernor of Massachusetts.[3] TheMaine Republican Party was founded here on August 7, 1854.[4]
Set on a hilly intervale above a big bend in theSandy River, the area provided fertile soil foragriculture. Farmers grewhay,wheat,corn,oats andpotatoes. The northeast branch of the Sandy River providedwater power formills, helping make Strong prosperous. By 1859, when the population was 1,008, it hadsawmills, agristmill, afulling mill, acarding machine, astarch factory and atannery.[5]
Thenarrow gaugeSandy River Railroad connectedFarmington andPhillips in 1879. By 1886, town industries included aboot andshoe factory,machine shops, Maine's firstcheese factory,[6] aclothespin manufacturer, a maker ofcane seat chair bottoms, and anexcelsior factory. It was noted as "one of the prettiest villages in the county."[7]
Strong was called "Toothpick Capital of the World"[8] due to the productivity of the Strong Wood Products Incorporated plant, which once manufactured 20 milliontoothpicks per day.[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.94 square miles (74.95 km2), of which 28.35 square miles (73.43 km2) is land and 0.59 square miles (1.53 km2) is water.[1] Strong is located above a bend in theSandy River, a tributary of theKennebec River.
The town borders the towns ofNew Vineyard to the east,Farmington to the south, andTemple andAvon to the west, and Freeman Township to the north.
Strong is crossed by state routes4,145,149 and234.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 424 | — | |
| 1820 | 862 | 103.3% | |
| 1830 | 985 | 14.3% | |
| 1840 | 1,109 | 12.6% | |
| 1850 | 1,008 | −9.1% | |
| 1860 | 754 | −25.2% | |
| 1870 | 634 | −15.9% | |
| 1880 | 596 | −6.0% | |
| 1890 | 627 | 5.2% | |
| 1900 | 637 | 1.6% | |
| 1910 | 720 | 13.0% | |
| 1920 | 779 | 8.2% | |
| 1930 | 878 | 12.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,007 | 14.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,036 | 2.9% | |
| 1960 | 976 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,132 | 16.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,506 | 33.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,217 | −19.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,259 | 3.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,213 | −3.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,122 | −7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
As of thecensus[10] of 2010, there were 1,213 people, 496 households, and 339 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 42.8 inhabitants per square mile (16.5/km2). There were 634 housing units at an average density of 22.4 per square mile (8.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.1%White, 0.4%African American, 0.5%Native American, 0.2%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, and 1.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 496 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% weremarried couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% 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 2.85.
The median age in the town was 41.5 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.
As of thecensus[11] of 2000, there were 1,259 people, 498 households, and 343 families living in the town. The population density was 43.8 inhabitants per square mile (16.9/km2). There were 614 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.21%White, 0.16%African American, 0.32%Native American, 0.08%Asian, 0.08% fromother races, and 0.16% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 498 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% weremarried couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% 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 2.92.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,568, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $26,111 versus $18,636 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $14,232. About 9.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
Municipalities and communities ofFranklin County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Plantations | ||
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| Other villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
| International | |
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| National | |
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44°48′27″N70°13′15″W / 44.80750°N 70.22083°W /44.80750; -70.22083
