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Cumberland, Maine
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Country United States
State Maine
County Cumberland
Villages Cumberland Center
Cumberland Foreside
West Cumberland
Area
 • Total 26.25 sq mi (67.99 km2)
 • Land 22.88 sq mi (59.26 km2)
 • Water 3.37 sq mi (8.73 km2)
Elevation
180 ft (55 m)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total 8,754
 • Density 370/sq mi (143.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-15430
GNIS feature ID 0582427
Website www.cumberlandmaine.com

Cumberland is a town located in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It's a part of the larger Portland area. In 2020, about 8,473 people lived here. Cumberland is known as one of the richest towns in Maine.

History of Cumberland

Morrison Hill station at Seashore Trolley Museum, May 2010
The former Morrison Hill station, which served Cumberland from 1915 to 1933.

Cumberland, Maine, also known as Cumberland Center, became its own town in March 1821. Before that, it was part of North Yarmouth. Ephraim Sturdivant officially named the town. He was chosen by the new town government to do this important job.

The Cumberland Fair is a big event held every September. It's an agricultural fair that has been happening since 1868. This area near Portland has a long history of farming. Today, only a few working farms remain, like Sweetser's Apple Barrel & Orchards.

For a long time, Chebeague Island was part of Cumberland. But in 2007, it became its own separate town. Since 1960, Cumberland's motto has been: "Where what comes around keeps going around!"

Geography and Nature

Cumberland covers about 26.25 square miles (67.99 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with about 3.37 square miles (8.73 square kilometers) being water. The town stretches from Cumberland Foreside, which is on Casco Bay, all the way inland to West Cumberland, which borders Windham.

There's a nice park called Twin Brook near the center of town. The town runs and takes care of this park. People can go cross-country skiing, walking, or practice sports there. The local Little League teams play at the Drowne Road School ballfields.

Knight's Pond Preserve is another great outdoor spot. It's on the border with North Yarmouth. This preserve has a pond and a large natural area. People enjoy it for recreation all year round.

Population in Cumberland

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 1,558
1840 1,616 3.7%
1850 1,656 2.5%
1860 1,713 3.4%
1870 1,626 −5.1%
1880 1,619 −0.4%
1890 1,487 −8.2%
1900 1,404 −5.6%
1910 1,403 −0.1%
1920 1,150 −18.0%
1930 1,378 19.8%
1940 1,491 8.2%
1950 2,030 36.2%
1960 2,765 36.2%
1970 4,096 48.1%
1980 5,284 29.0%
1990 5,836 10.4%
2000 7,159 22.7%
2010 7,211 0.7%
2020 8,473 17.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 7,211 people living in Cumberland. These people lived in 2,697 households. About 2,079 of these households were families. The town had about 315 people per square mile (121 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people living in Cumberland were White (97.2%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (37.9%) had kids under 18 living with them. Most households (67.4%) were married couples. The average age of people in Cumberland was 45 years old. About 26.9% of residents were under 18 years old.

Schools in Cumberland

The schools that serve Cumberland are part of Maine School Administrative District 51, also known as MSAD 51. This school district also includes North Yarmouth.

There are three schools in the district:

  • Mabel I. Wilson School
  • Greely Middle School
  • Greely High School

In June 2014, the North Yarmouth Memorial School closed. Its students moved to the expanded Greely Middle School. The Drowne Road School also closed in 2010 due to budget reasons. Jeff Porter is the superintendent, who leads the district. The Friends School of Portland is also in the area and teaches students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.

Famous People from Cumberland

Many interesting people have connections to Cumberland:

  • Matt Apuzzo: A journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012.
  • Peter Askim: A composer of modern classical music, a conductor, and a music teacher.
  • Joseph Brackett: An American songwriter and a leader of the Shakers. He wrote the famous song "Simple Gifts".
  • Robert G. Dillenback: A state legislator, meaning he helped make laws for the state.
  • Toni Fiore: A well-known chef.
  • William J. Garsoe: A state legislator and a leader in the Maine House of Representatives.
  • Hoddy Hildreth: A state legislator and someone who worked to protect nature.
  • Captain Reuben Merrill: A sea captain.
  • Stephen Moriarty: A state legislator and a lawyer.
  • D. P. B. Pride: A politician and lawyer in Idaho.
  • Captain Ephraim Sturdivant: The person who named Cumberland and was its treasurer.
  • Karl Turner: A state legislator.
  • Oliver Wahlstrom: A professional hockey player who grew up in Cumberland.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cumberland (Maine) para niños

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