Cushing, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cushing, Maine
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Olson House, 1995
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Location in Knox County and the state of Maine
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| 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)
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| • Total | 1,502 |
| • Density | 78/sq mi (30.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04563
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| 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
In Spanish: Cushing (Maine) para niños
