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Cushing, Maine
Olson House, 1995
Olson House, 1995
Location in Knox County and the state of Maine
Location in Knox County and the state of Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Knox
Incorporated 1789
Villages Cushing
North Cushing
South Cushing
Area
 • Total 26.05 sq mi (67.47 km2)
 • Land 19.24 sq mi (49.83 km2)
 • Water 6.81 sq mi (17.64 km2)
Elevation
85 ft (26 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,502
 • Density 78/sq mi (30.1/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04563
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-15780
GNIS feature ID 0582428

Cushing is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,502 at the 2020 census. A favorite of artists for its unspoiled natural setting, Cushing includes the villages of North Cushing, Cushing, South Cushing, and Pleasant Point.

History

Part of the Waldo Patent, it was called the Lower Plantation of St. Georges, once extending across both sides of the St. George River. It was first permanently settled in 1733 with Scots and Irish immigrants recruited from Ireland by Brigadier-General Samuel Waldo, who offered 100 acres (0.40 km2) for each household. Attacks during the French and Indian Wars, however, deterred habitation. A stone blockhouse known as Burton's Fort was built in 1753 by its commander, Captain Benjamin Burton. Hostilities finally ceased in 1759 with the Fall of Quebec. On January 28, 1789, the town was incorporated and named for Thomas Cushing, statesman and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. On February 7, 1803, the town of St. George was set off and incorporated.

The Olson House was depicted in Andrew Wyeth's 1948 painting, Christina's World, which in turn was used as Dahlia Gillespie's house in the horror video game series Silent Hill, and inspired the farmer's house in the 1978 film Days of Heaven. The building is now operated by the Farnsworth Art Museum of Rockland.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.05 square miles (67.47 km2), of which 19.24 square miles (49.83 km2) is land and 6.81 square miles (17.64 km2) is water. Cushing, which includes Gay Island, is situated on Muscongus Bay between the Meduncook River to the west and St. George River to the east.

The town is served by Maine State Route 97. It borders Friendship to the west, Warren and Thomaston to the north, and separated by the St. George River, South Thomaston and St. George to the east.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 942
1800 1,415 50.2%
1810 532 −62.4%
1820 600 12.8%
1830 681 13.5%
1840 790 16.0%
1850 807 2.2%
1860 796 −1.4%
1870 704 −11.6%
1880 805 14.3%
1890 688 −14.5%
1900 604 −12.2%
1910 535 −11.4%
1920 416 −22.2%
1930 350 −15.9%
1940 362 3.4%
1950 376 3.9%
1960 479 27.4%
1970 522 9.0%
1980 795 52.3%
1990 988 24.3%
2000 1,322 33.8%
2010 1,534 16.0%
2020 1,502 −2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,534 people, 642 households, and 431 families residing in the town. The population density was 79.7 inhabitants per square mile (30.8/km2). There were 926 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 642 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 44 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

Notable people

  • Raymond Cazallis Davis, librarian
  • Peter Halley, artist
  • Elisabeth Ogilvie, writer
  • Edward Robinson, US congressman
  • Dudley Willis Rockwell, metallurgist
  • Andrew Wyeth, artist

See also

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

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