Columbia, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbia
Town
Columbia, Maine Location in Maine
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Washington
Area
• Total	36.61 sq mi (94.82 km2)
• Land	36.30 sq mi (94.02 km2)
• Water	0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
Elevation	148 ft (45 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	435
• Density	12/sq mi (4.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	04623
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-13750
GNIS feature ID	0582414

Columbia is a small and friendly town located in Washington County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 435 people lived here. Europeans first settled this area in the 1750s. For a long time, Columbia was connected to its neighbor, Columbia Falls, Maine, until Columbia Falls became its own town in 1863.

Where is Columbia Located?

Columbia is in the western part of Washington County. It's about 65 miles (105 km) east of Bangor. The town is surrounded by other towns like Columbia Falls to the east, Harrington and Addison to the south, and Cherryfield to the west.

The town covers about 36.61 square miles (94.82 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Columbia?

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Columbia has changed a lot over the years. Here's a quick look at how the population has grown and shrunk:

Columbia's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 486 people living in Columbia. Most of the people were White. A small number were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 198 households in the town. About 32% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Columbia was 40 years old.

A Look at Columbia's History

Many important events from Columbia's past have been recorded from local stories and old newspapers.

Early Settlers and Native Americans

Before European families arrived from southern Maine, Native American groups lived along the Pleasant River. The first European settlers, William and Noah Mitchell, came in the 1750s. They traveled up the Pleasant River from a nearby area called Addison.

Schools in the Past

The very first school in this area, known then as Township 12, was in Upper Epping. It was built in 1892 and is the only one-room schoolhouse left in town. It was fixed up in 1996 and is now used as the Town Office.

Churches and Religion

The Union Church was built in 1829 and was originally a Baptist church. Another church, the Little River Church, was built in 1858 but was taken down in 1997. Some parts of it were used to build the new Faith United Methodist Church on Route 1.

Farming, Forests, and Boats

The first settlers came to the Pleasant River Valley for the marsh hay and wood. They built special structures called "aboiteaux" in the marshes to make the hay better. This area is still called "the abadors."

As lumber mills grew, people started building boats. At one time, there were three shipyards in the Four Corners area. Early settlements grew near these mills.

When the railroad was built, a factory was set up near the train station. This factory canned blueberries, then string beans, and later froze fish. The factory burned down in 1972.

Blueberry Farming

Blueberries are one of only three fruits that naturally grow in this area, along with cranberries and grapes. Native Americans knew that burning the fields in spring helped the blueberry crop grow better. They also dried blueberries to make a food called pemmican.

During the Civil War, blueberries were picked by hand, canned, and sent to the Union Army. They were also shipped in wooden barrels to Boston. In the 1880s, canning factories opened in nearby towns, and a special tool called a blueberry rake was invented in 1883.

Today, blueberries and forestry (like Christmas trees) are still important ways for many people in Columbia to earn money.

Historic Buildings and Places

Columbia has several old buildings and places that are important to its history:

• The oldest house still standing was built in 1790 at 515 Station Road. People still live there today.
• The Columbia Union Church on Epping Road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Geodetic Survey East Base Line Marker (from 1857) is at the east end of Base Line Road. This line was used to help map the North Atlantic.

Transportation Over Time

In 1898, the Washington County Railroad came to Columbia. The train station was on Station Road. However, by the 1950s and 1960s, fewer people used the trains because trucking became cheaper. The rail line was closed in 1986.

Today, U.S. Route 1 is the main road in Columbia. It was finished in 1953.

Cemeteries in Columbia

Cemeteries are important places that tell us about the history of a community. Columbia has several cemeteries, some of which are still in use today. The town helps maintain four of them:

• Columbia Cemetery
• Mailley Hill Cemetery
• Nash Cemetery
• Friendship Cemetery

There are also older cemeteries with tombstones from the early 1800s, like McCaslin Cemetery and White Cemetery.

Water Resources

Columbia has important water resources, including Schoodic Lake and the Pleasant River. The town's water quality is generally good, but there are some concerns about pollution from things like failing septic systems and farming.

Water quality is important for fish and other animals that live in the water. Schoodic Lake is home to both warm water and cold-water fish.

Notable Person

• Sara J. Dorr (1855–1924), a person who worked to stop the sale of alcohol.

See also

In Spanish: Columbia (Maine) para niños