Bethel, Maine facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Bethel, Maine
Town
Bethel Common
Motto(s): "Maine's Most Beautiful Mountain Village"
Bethel, Maine Location in Maine Show map of Maine Bethel, Maine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Oxford
Incorporated	1796
Villages	Bethel East Bethel Mayville West Bethel
Area
• Total	65.91 sq mi (170.71 km²)
• Land	64.60 sq mi (167.31 km²)
• Water	1.31 sq mi (3.39 km²)
Elevation	679 ft (207 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	2,504
• Density	39/sq mi (15.0/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	04217 (Bethel) 04286 (West Bethel) 04219 (Bryant Pond)
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-04825
GNIS feature ID	0582352

A barn in Bethel, Maine

The Androscoggin River in late March

Bethel is a charming town located in Oxford County, Maine. It's home to about 2,500 people, according to the 2020 census. The town includes the small communities of Bethel and West Bethel. Bethel is well-known for Gould Academy, a private school, and is very close to the popular Sunday River ski resort.

History of Bethel
Organizational Development
Geography of Bethel
Population and People
- How Many People Live Here?
- Families and Age Groups
Fun Things to Do in Bethel
- Places to Visit
Education in Bethel
Notable People from Bethel
Images for kids
See also

History of Bethel

Early Days and First Settlers

Long ago, an Abenaki Indian village stood on the north side of the Androscoggin River. This village was empty before English settlers arrived. In 1769, the land was given to Josiah Richardson and others from Sudbury, Massachusetts. This was a reward for their service in the Battle of Quebec in 1690.

The first settler, Nathaniel Segar from Newton, Massachusetts, began clearing land in 1774. However, the Revolutionary War slowed down new settlers. Only 10 families lived there when the community was attacked on August 3, 1781. This was the last Native American attack in Maine. Two people, Benjamin Clark and Nathaniel Segar, were taken to Quebec. They were held captive until the war ended.

Becoming a Town

After the war, the community grew quickly. On June 10, 1796, the area became an official town named Bethel. The name "Bethel" comes from the Book of Genesis and means "House of God."

In 1802, a new trade road (now Route 26) was finished. It connected Portland to Errol, New Hampshire, and passed right through Bethel. This road helped the town grow even more. More settlers and businesses came to the area.

Farming and Industry

Farmers planted crops in the rich river valleys and meadows. These areas were once used by Native Americans. Bethel became one of the best farming towns in Maine, especially for hay and potatoes. In winter, farmers often worked in logging. They cut lumber at sawmills powered by water.

Other businesses made flour, leather, harnesses, furniture, boots, shoes, carriages, and worked with marble and granite. The Bethel House, a large hotel, was built in 1833.

A ferry crossing the Androscoggin River in West Bethel in 1909
The Prospect Hotel, a large hotel in Bethel, around 1909
Church Street in Bethel around 1912
Main and Church streets in Bethel in 1913

Tourism and Changes Over Time

On March 10, 1851, the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad opened in Bethel. This brought goods and summer tourists. People from cities wanted to escape the noise and heat. Between the Civil War and World War I, Bethel was a popular summer resort. Many hotels were built facing the town common or on Bethel Hill.

The Prospect Hotel, started in 1863, was the biggest. It had a special dome where guests could see the mountains. Horse-drawn Tally-ho coaches took tourists on trips through the White Mountains and Maine. Famous musicians also performed at the Maine Music Festivals in Bethel.

When cars became popular, tourists could travel anywhere. They were no longer limited by train routes. Because of this, many big hotels near the train tracks lost visitors and were eventually torn down. The Prospect Hotel was mostly destroyed by fire in 1911. Even with these changes, Bethel is still a popular place to visit. People enjoy its beautiful nature, history, and fun outdoor activities.

Organizational Development

Starting in 1947, Bethel became a key place for "pioneering work" in organizational development. This field helps groups and companies work better together. Psychologist Kurt Lewin and his team did research here. They helped create the ideas and methods for organizational development.

They improved T-groups and sensitivity training. These methods use behavioral science to help people understand themselves and how groups work. This was done to make organizations more efficient. The National Training Laboratories (NTL) was formed by Lewin to lead this work. Much of it happened during summer at Gould Academy.

These summer training sessions were very popular. People came from all over the country and the world. NTL became an important part of Bethel's economy. This was especially true as the traditional wood product industries declined. NTL moved its main office to Alexandria, Virginia in 2008. However, it still has a small summer presence in Bethel.

Geography of Bethel

Bethel is located on the western edge of the Oxford Hills. It is also on the southern side of the rugged Mahoosuc Range. Nearby Locke and Barker Mountains are part of the Mahoosuc Range. This range is a smaller part of the White Mountains, which are in the Northern Appalachian Mountains.

The Androscoggin River flows through Bethel and the surrounding area. Smaller rivers like Alder, Pleasant, and Sunday Rivers also flow into it. Part of Songo Pond is within Bethel's borders. Just south of Bethel are South Pond, North Pond, and Bryant Ponds.

The town covers about 65.91 square miles (170.71 square kilometers). Of this, 64.60 square miles (167.31 square kilometers) is land. The remaining 1.31 square miles (3.39 square kilometers) is water.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	616	—
1810	975	58.3%
1820	1,267	29.9%
1830	1,620	27.9%
1840	1,994	23.1%
1850	2,253	13.0%
1860	2,523	12.0%
1870	2,286	−9.4%
1880	2,077	−9.1%
1890	2,209	6.4%
1900	1,835	−16.9%
1910	1,930	5.2%
1920	1,792	−7.2%
1930	2,025	13.0%
1940	2,034	0.4%
1950	2,367	16.4%
1960	2,408	1.7%
1970	2,220	−7.8%
1980	2,340	5.4%
1990	2,329	−0.5%
2000	2,411	3.5%
2010	2,607	8.1%
2020	2,504	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

How Many People Live Here?

In 2010, about 2,607 people lived in Bethel. There were 1,121 households, which are groups of people living together. Most residents (97.2%) were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Families and Age Groups

About 29.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Nearly half (47.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.33 people. The average family had 2.83 people.

The average age in Bethel was 42.9 years old. About 23.3% of residents were under 18. About 15.9% were 65 years or older. The town had slightly more females (52.0%) than males (48.0%).

Fun Things to Do in Bethel

Places to Visit

Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: Learn about the town's past.
Middle Intervale Meeting House and Common: A historic meeting house and green space.
Bethel Inn Resort: A great place to stay and enjoy activities.
Sunday River Ski Resort: A popular spot for skiing and snowboarding.
Maine Mineral Museum: Discover amazing rocks and minerals.
Bethel Library Association: A local library for reading and learning.
Annual Bethel Fest: A yearly celebration with fun for everyone.

Education in Bethel

Bethel is part of Maine School Administrative District 44 (MSAD 44).

Crescent Park Elementary School: For younger students.
Telstar Regional Middle/High School: For middle and high school students.
Gould Academy: A private school that prepares students for college.

Notable People from Bethel

Many interesting people have connections to Bethel:

Henry J. Bean: A judge and state representative in Oregon.
Matt Bevin (born 1967): A former student at Gould Academy and Governor of Kentucky.
Richard Blanco: A famous poet who read at a U.S. presidential inauguration.
Timothy J. Carter and Luther C. Carter: Both served as U.S. Representatives.
Simon Dumont: A well-known Freeskier.
Cuvier Grover: A general during the Civil War.
La Fayette Grover: A former Governor of Oregon and a U.S. Senator.
Moses Mason: A doctor and congressman.
Edward Sylvester Morse (1838–1925): A Gould Academy student who directed a museum.
Patty Bartlett Sessions: A midwife and important figure in early Mormon history.