Woolwich, Maine | |
|---|---|
 Country scene in 1912 | |
  Woolwich  Woolwich | |
| Coordinates:43°57′0″N69°46′59″W / 43.95000°N 69.78306°W /43.95000; -69.78306 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Sagadahoc |
| Incorporated (district) | 1759 |
| Incorporated (town) | August 23, 1775 |
| Area | |
• Total | 41.59 sq mi (107.72 km2) |
| • Land | 35.09 sq mi (90.88 km2) |
| • Water | 6.50 sq mi (16.83 km2) |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,068 |
| • Density | 88/sq mi (33.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04579 |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-87460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582829 |
| Website | woolwich |
Woolwich is atown inSagadahoc County,Maine, United States. The population was 3,068 at the2020 census.[2] It is part of thePortland–South Portland–Biddeford, Mainemetropolitan statistical area. Woolwich is a suburb of the city ofBath located on the opposite shore ofMerrymeeting Bay.
Called Nequasset afterNequasset Lake by theAbenakiIndians, it was first settled in 1638 by Edward Bateman and John Brown. They would purchase the land in 1639 from thesachem Mowhotiwormet, commonly known as Chief Robinhood, who lived near Nequasset Falls. At Day's Ferry on theKennebec River, Richard Hammond operated a fortifiedtrading post. His household of 16, including servants, workmen and stepchildren, conducted a lucrativefur trade with the Indians. But in the first blow ofKing Philip's War in the area, on the evening of August 13, 1676, warriors ingratiated themselves into thestockaded trading post, then killed the elderly Hammond and his stepson as they returned for the night. Others were either slain andscalped or taken into captivity. Buildings were looted and burned, and thecattle slain.[3][4][5]
Nequasset was attacked duringKing William's War, when inhabitants were againmassacred or forced to abandon their homes. It was assailed again in 1723 duringDummer's War, when theNorridgewocks and their 250 Indian allies fromCanada, incited by theFrenchmissionarySebastien Rale, burned dwellings and killed cattle. Following GovernorWilliam Dummer'speace treaty of 1725, resettlement would be slow. During theFrench and Indian War, on June 9, 1758, Indians raided the village, killing members of the Preble family and taking others prisoner to Quebec.[6] This incident became known as the last conflict on the Kennebec River.[7][8]
Nequasset had become a part ofGeorgetown, but on October 20, 1759, the plantation was set off and incorporated as a separate district by theMassachusetts General Court, named afterWoolwich, England. On August 23, 1775 Woolwich was officially incorporated as a town.[9][10][11][12]
The peninsula was heavily wooded, providingtimber forshipbuilding. It also had excellent soil foragriculture. By 1858, industries included twosawmills, twogristmills, and ashipyard. By 1886, the community also producedbricks andleather.[13]
TheU. S. Army Corps of Engineers twice widened Upper Hell Gate on the Sasanoa River, which separates Woolwich from Arrowsic. Originally constricted by curves and ledges, which were made even more dangerous by swift currents, the half mile (0.8 kilometer) stretch was widened in 1898 to a minimum of 90 feet (27 meters), then again in 1908 to a minimum of 140 feet (43 meters) and depth of 12 feet (3.7 meters). The Sasanoa River now permitsnavigation betweenBath andBoothbay Harbor.[14]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.59 square miles (107.72 km2), of which 35.09 square miles (90.88 km2) is land and 6.50 square miles (16.83 km2) is water.[1] Woolwich is situated on apeninsula, withMerrymeeting Bay and theKennebec River to the west, Sasanoa River to the southwest, and Back River to the southeast.
It is crossed byU. S. Route 1, and state routes 127 and 128. It borders the towns ofDresden to the north andWiscasset to the east. Separated by water, it is nearBowdoinham to the west,Bath to the southwest,Arrowsic to the south, andWestport to the southeast.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 797 | — | |
| 1800 | 868 | 8.9% | |
| 1810 | 1,050 | 21.0% | |
| 1820 | 1,330 | 26.7% | |
| 1830 | 1,495 | 12.4% | |
| 1840 | 1,416 | −5.3% | |
| 1850 | 1,420 | 0.3% | |
| 1860 | 1,317 | −7.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,168 | −11.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,154 | −1.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,007 | −12.7% | |
| 1900 | 880 | −12.6% | |
| 1910 | 868 | −1.4% | |
| 1920 | 875 | 0.8% | |
| 1930 | 671 | −23.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,144 | 70.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,344 | 17.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,417 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,710 | 20.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,156 | 26.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,570 | 19.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,810 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,072 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,068 | −0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 3,072 people, 1,241 households, and 908 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 87.5 inhabitants per square mile (33.8/km2). There were 1,415 housing units at an average density of 40.3 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.8%White, 0.3%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 0.3% fromother races, and 1.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 1,241 households, of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% weremarried couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.8% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the town was 44.6 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 33.7% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, there were 2,810 people, 1,101 households, and 824 families living in the town. The population density was 80.2 inhabitants per square mile (31.0/km2). There were 1,210 housing units at an average density of 34.5 per square mile (13.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62%White, 0.36%African American, 0.11%Native American, 0.46%Asian, 0.14% fromother races, and 1.32% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,101 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% weremarried couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,741, and the median income for a family was $47,984. Males had a median income of $34,673 versus $22,625 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $21,097. About 5.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
The town is home to one school serving grades K–8, Woolwich Central School, which is a part ofRSU 1.Ninth throughtwelfth grade students attendMorse High School in Bath. Woolwich is also home toChop Point School, a small, private K–12 Christian school.
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
43°55′07″N69°48′04″W / 43.91861°N 69.80111°W /43.91861; -69.80111
Municipalities and communities ofSagadahoc County, Maine,United States | ||
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