Belgrade, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belgrade, Maine
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The Belgrade Hotel, c. 1920
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| Motto(s):
"A Bedroom Community"
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Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Kennebec |
| Incorporated | 1796 |
| Villages | Belgrade Belgrade Lakes North Belgrade |
| Area | |
| • Total | 57.93 sq mi (150.04 km2) |
| • Land | 43.24 sq mi (111.99 km2) |
| • Water | 14.69 sq mi (38.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,250 |
| • Density | 29.0/sq mi (11.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
04917 (Belgrade)
04918 (Belgrade Lakes) |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-04020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582348 |
Belgrade is a small town located in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 3,250 people lived there. However, during the summer, the number of people in Belgrade almost doubles! This is because many people have seasonal homes or camps on the shores of lakes like Great Pond, Long Pond, and Messalonskee Lake. Belgrade includes smaller areas called North Belgrade, Belgrade Depot, and Belgrade Lakes. It's part of the wider Augusta area.
Contents
History of Belgrade
The land where Belgrade is now was first owned by the Plymouth Company. The first settlers arrived in 1774, including Philip Snow from New Hampshire. On February 3, 1796, the area officially became a town and was named Belgrade. It was named after the city of Belgrade in Serbia.
The town's land is quite hilly, and a large part of it is covered by a chain of connected lakes. The biggest lake is Great Pond, which is a very important part of the town. In the early days, farming was the main job for people living in Belgrade, and potatoes were a major crop.
How Water Power Helped Belgrade Grow
The lakes and ponds had outlets that created water power. This power was used to run different kinds of mills. By 1859, Belgrade had factories that made shovels and spools, along with several sawmills (for cutting wood) and gristmills (for grinding grain). Later, by 1886, factories also made rakes, shingles, excelsior (wood wool), scythes (a tool for cutting grass), and boxes.
Belgrade as a Tourist Spot
When the railroad arrived, Belgrade started to become a popular place for tourists. People came for fishing, boating, and to stay in lakeside cottages. The famous Belgrade Hotel was built at Belgrade Lakes. It was designed by a well-known Portland architect named John Calvin Stevens.
Belgrade was also a favorite summer spot for famous writers like E.B. White and Ernest Thompson. Ernest Thompson's time at Great Pond inspired his 1979 play, On Golden Pond. This play later became an Academy Award-winning movie in 1981, also called On Golden Pond. E.B. White also wrote about Belgrade Lake in his short story, "Once More to the Lake". In 1998, a golf course called Belgrade Lakes Golf Club opened. It was even named one of the top 100 public courses by Golf Digest magazine!
Geography of Belgrade
Belgrade covers a total area of about 57.93 square miles (150.04 square kilometers). About 43.24 square miles (111.99 square kilometers) of this is land, and 14.69 square miles (38.05 square kilometers) is water. The town's water flows into the Belgrade Stream.
Several main roads pass through Belgrade, including Maine State Routes 11, 27, 135, and 225. Belgrade shares its borders with several other towns: Smithfield to the northeast, Oakland and Sidney to the east, Manchester and Readfield to the south, Mount Vernon to the southwest, and Rome to the northwest.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 295 | — | |
| 1810 | 996 | 237.6% | |
| 1820 | 1,121 | 12.6% | |
| 1830 | 1,375 | 22.7% | |
| 1840 | 1,748 | 27.1% | |
| 1850 | 1,722 | −1.5% | |
| 1860 | 1,592 | −7.5% | |
| 1870 | 1,485 | −6.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,321 | −11.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,090 | −17.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,058 | −2.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,037 | −2.0% | |
| 1920 | 957 | −7.7% | |
| 1930 | 978 | 2.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,046 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,099 | 5.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,102 | 0.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,302 | 18.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,043 | 56.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,375 | 16.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,978 | 25.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,189 | 7.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,250 | 1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, the census showed that 3,189 people lived in Belgrade. There were 1,265 households, and 935 of these were families. The average number of people in each household was about 2.51.
About 33.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (60.8%) were married couples living together. About 22.7% of the people in Belgrade were under 18 years old. About 14.6% were 65 years old or older. The median age in the town was 43.8 years.
Economy
Belgrade is mostly a commuter town. This means many residents travel to other towns for work. Tourism is also a very important part of Belgrade's economy, especially during the summer months.
Notable People from Belgrade
Many interesting people have connections to Belgrade:
- Harold Alfond – A shoe manufacturer and a philanthropist (someone who gives money to good causes). He had a summer cabin in Belgrade.
- Joseph Force Crater – A New York judge who had a summer cabin in Belgrade.
- Anson P. Morrill – A congressman and the 24th governor of Maine.
- Lot M. Morrill – A U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, a U.S. senator, and the 28th governor of Maine.
- Daniel J. Newman – A state legislator (someone who makes laws for the state).
- Wyatt Omsberg – A Major League Soccer player.
- Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr – A naturalist (someone who studies nature), author, and filmmaker.
- John Franklin Spalding – An Episcopal Bishop of Colorado.
- Greenlief T. Stevens – A military officer.
See also
In Spanish: Belgrade (Maine) para niños
