Bowdoin, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bowdoin, Maine
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Maine State Route 125 Going into Bowdoin Center from Bowdoinham
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 Bowdoin, Maine
Location in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Sagadahoc |
| Incorporated | 1788 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 43.58 sq mi (112.87 km2) |
| • Land | 43.46 sq mi (112.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 295 ft (90 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,136 |
| • Density | 27.9/sq mi (10.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04287
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-06260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582360 |
Bowdoin is a small town located in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. It is part of the larger Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan area. In 2020, about 3,136 people lived in Bowdoin.
The town is about 31 miles north of Portland. It is also 21 miles south of Augusta, which is Maine's state capital.
Contents
History of Bowdoin
Bowdoin was once part of a large area of land. This land stretched from Merrymeeting Bay to the Androscoggin River. In 1752, a company called Kennebec gave this land to William Bowdoin. He was from Boston. William was the older brother of James Bowdoin.
The area was first called West Bowdoinham Plantation. People started settling here before the Revolutionary War. William Bowdoin passed away in 1773. By 1779, James Bowdoin officially owned the land. He began giving out deeds, which are legal papers for land ownership.
About 121 families lived in the area at that time. The town officially became a town on March 21, 1788. This was done by the Massachusetts General Court. It was named after the Bowdoin family. In 1799, Bowdoin gave some of its land to create a new town. This new town was first called Thompsonborough. Its name changed to Lisbon in 1802. Bowdoin gave more land to Lisbon in 1834.
Bowdoin grew as a farming town. Farmers raised sheep and grew many crops. These crops included apples, wheat, hay, and potatoes. Other businesses in town included an ice company and a sawmill. There was also a gristmill (for grinding grain) and a carding mill (for preparing wool). A brickyard also operated here. Since 1993, some farms in Bowdoin have started raising alpacas.
Geography of Bowdoin
Bowdoin covers a total area of about 43.58 square miles (112.87 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 43.46 square miles (112.56 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.12 square miles (0.31 square kilometers), is water.
Several rivers and streams flow through Bowdoin. These include the Little River and the Dead River. The east and west streams of the Cathance River also flow through the town.
Important roads serve the town. These include U.S. Route 201 and State Routes 138 and 125. Bowdoin shares its borders with several other towns. To the west are Lisbon and Sabattus. Litchfield is to the north. To the east are Richmond and Bowdoinham. Finally, Topsham is to the south.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 984 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,260 | 28.0% | |
| 1810 | 1,649 | 30.9% | |
| 1820 | 1,777 | 7.8% | |
| 1830 | 2,094 | 17.8% | |
| 1840 | 2,073 | −1.0% | |
| 1850 | 1,857 | −10.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,744 | −6.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,345 | −22.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,136 | −15.5% | |
| 1890 | 940 | −17.3% | |
| 1900 | 937 | −0.3% | |
| 1910 | 814 | −13.1% | |
| 1920 | 749 | −8.0% | |
| 1930 | 568 | −24.2% | |
| 1940 | 467 | −17.8% | |
| 1950 | 638 | 36.6% | |
| 1960 | 668 | 4.7% | |
| 1970 | 858 | 28.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,629 | 89.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,207 | 35.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,727 | 23.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,061 | 12.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,136 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, the town of Bowdoin had 3,061 people. There were 1,143 households, and 867 of these were families. The population density was about 70.4 people per square mile. There were 1,202 housing units in total.
Most of the people in Bowdoin were White (96.9%). A small number were African American (0.5%), Native American (0.4%), or Asian (0.5%). About 0.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 36.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (62.7%) were married couples. The average household had 2.67 people. The average family had 3.02 people.
The average age in Bowdoin was 40.4 years old. About 24% of residents were under 18. About 9.4% were 65 years or older. Slightly more than half of the population (50.9%) was male.
Education in Bowdoin
Public schools in the Bowdoin area are managed by Maine School Administrative District 75. Younger students, from kindergarten to 5th grade, attend Bowdoin Central School. Students in grades 6-8 go to Mt. Ararat Middle School. High school students, from grades 9-12, attend Mt. Ararat High School.
Notable People
- Mike McHugh – He was a professional hockey player. He played as a left wing. Most of his career was in minor leagues. However, he did play twenty games in the NHL.
See also
In Spanish: Bowdoin (Maine) para niños
