Brownfield, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brownfield, Maine
|
|
|---|---|
East Brownfield in 1908
|
|
 Brownfield, Maine
Location in Maine
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Incorporated | 1802 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 45.45 sq mi (117.71 km2) |
| • Land | 44.47 sq mi (115.18 km2) |
| • Water | 0.98 sq mi (2.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 528 ft (161 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,631 |
| • Density | 37/sq mi (14.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04010
|
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-08150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582373 |
Brownfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,631 at the 2020 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center.
History
The area was once territory of the Pequawket Abenaki Indians, whose main village was located at what is today Fryeburg. It was granted on January 23, 1764, by the Massachusetts General Court to Captain Henry Young Brown for his services in the French and Indian Wars. Settlement began about 1765. Brown was required to settle 38 families by June 10, 1770, with a minister recruited by three years after that. Unfortunately, a portion of the original grant was found to lie in New Hampshire.
Replacement land in Maine was granted to Brown on June 25, 1766. It was called Brownfield Addition, one part of which now lies within Hiram and Denmark. The township was first organized as Brownfield Plantation, named in honor of its principal proprietor. On February 20, 1802, it was incorporated as Brownfield. By the War of 1812, it had nearly 900 residents.
Farming was the chief occupation, with the Saco River providing water power for industry. Products of the mills included flour, long lumber, barrel staves, rocking chairs, clothing, carriages, sleighs and harness. After the Civil War, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad passed through the town, following the general course of the river.
But the Great Fires of 1947 would destroy 85% of Brownfield. In an effort to replace lost commerce, a ski resort was proposed for Burnt Meadow Mountain. It opened in 1971 with a 3,400-foot (1,000 m) T-bar lift, but after being renamed Zodiac Skiway in 1980, closed in 1982. Today, the T-bars are still hanging in place.
In 2002, Brownfield celebrated its 200th anniversary.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.45 square miles (117.71 km2), of which 44.47 square miles (115.18 km2) is land and 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is water. Situated beside the New Hampshire border, Brownfield is drained by the Saco River.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 146 | — | |
| 1800 | 287 | 96.6% | |
| 1810 | 388 | 35.2% | |
| 1820 | 747 | 92.5% | |
| 1830 | 936 | 25.3% | |
| 1840 | 1,360 | 45.3% | |
| 1850 | 1,320 | −2.9% | |
| 1860 | 1,398 | 5.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,323 | −5.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,229 | −7.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,134 | −7.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,019 | −10.1% | |
| 1910 | 933 | −8.4% | |
| 1920 | 835 | −10.5% | |
| 1930 | 689 | −17.5% | |
| 1940 | 741 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 612 | −17.4% | |
| 1960 | 538 | −12.1% | |
| 1970 | 478 | −11.2% | |
| 1980 | 767 | 60.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,034 | 34.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,251 | 21.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,597 | 27.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,631 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
-
Saco River at East Brownfield c. 1912
-
M.C.R.R. depot in 1912, East Brownfield
-
Breslin homestead c. 1910
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,597 people, 662 households, and 453 families living in the town. The population density was 35.9 inhabitants per square mile (13.9/km2). There were 973 housing units at an average density of 21.9 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 662 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.6% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the town was 44.8 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 35.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
Sites of interest
- Brownfield Historical Society & Museum
- Stone Mountain Arts Center
Notable people
- Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor
- Paris Gibson, entrepreneur, senator
- Robert Goodenow, US congressman
- Rufus K. Goodenow, US congressman
- Carol Noonan, singer and songwriter
- Augustus G. Paine, Sr., financier
See also
In Spanish: Brownfield (Maine) para niños
