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Fayette, Maine
Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine
Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Kennebec
Incorporated February 28, 1795
Villages Fayette
North Fayette
Area
 • Total 31.51 sq mi (81.61 km2)
 • Land 29.17 sq mi (75.55 km2)
 • Water 2.34 sq mi (6.06 km2)
Elevation
456 ft (139 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,160
 • Density 40/sq mi (15.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-24950
GNIS feature ID 0582475
Website fayettemaine.org

Fayette is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,160 as of the 2020 census. A popular recreation spot in central Maine, Fayette is part of the Winthrop Lakes Region.

History

Fayette was first settled as Sterling (or Starling) Plantation in 1781, and became incorporated as the town of Fayette on February 28, 1795. Other sources state that Starling Plantation was first settled in 1779 on 7,000 acres granted by the State of Massachusetts to "Robert Paige and associates." Further publishings indicate that one Asa Wiggin laid claim to clearing the first land in Starling Plantation in the year 1779. Fayette was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French nobleman who offered his services to the Americans during the Revolution. Kent Burying Ground, which was built in 1880, is located in Fayette.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.51 square miles (81.61 km2), of which, 29.17 square miles (75.55 km2) of it is land and 2.34 square miles (6.06 km2) is water. Fayette is home to 9 lakes and ponds, which are all popular sites for recreation.

List of Lakes and Ponds in Fayette
Name of Lake or Pond Area in Acres Adjoining Towns or Cities
Basin Pond 27 None
Burgess Pond 24 None
David Pond 284 Chesterville
Echo Lake 1185 Mt. Vernon, Readfield
Hales Pond 82 None
Lovejoy Pond 372 Readfield, Wayne
Mosher Pond 76 None
Parker Pond 1610 Vienna
Tilton Pond 114 None

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 532
1810 804 51.1%
1820 824 2.5%
1830 1,049 27.3%
1840 1,016 −3.1%
1850 1,085 6.8%
1860 910 −16.1%
1870 900 −1.1%
1880 765 −15.0%
1890 649 −15.2%
1900 560 −13.7%
1910 533 −4.8%
1920 523 −1.9%
1930 396 −24.3%
1940 438 10.6%
1950 397 −9.4%
1960 328 −17.4%
1970 447 36.3%
1980 812 81.7%
1990 855 5.3%
2000 1,040 21.6%
2010 1,140 9.6%
2020 1,160 1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,140 people, 491 households, and 330 families living in the town. The population density was 39.1 inhabitants per square mile (15.1/km2). There were 813 housing units at an average density of 27.9 per square mile (10.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 491 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.75.

The median age in the town was 48 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 40.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

Education

Fayette Central School is located in Fayette. Michael Cormier is the Superintendent of Schools. Fayette Central School received an A in Governor Lepage's Maine DOE Report Cards in 2014. Children who live in Fayette attend Fayette Central School through grade 5 and are sent to either Spruce Mountain, Winthrop, or Maranacook school districts on tuition for secondary education.

Notable people

  • Emeline Gurney (née Batchelder) (1816–1897), according to a town legend, she gave birth to a boy out of wedlock at the age of 14. The father was her boss at a Massachusetts cotton mill most likely in Lowell where her family sent her to work at the age of 13. She then sold her baby to a wealthy couple. Years later, she unknowingly married her son while in her early thirties. The town then ostracized her and refused her charity, resulting in her death as an old woman by starvation after an unusually cold winter. However, census and marriage documents tell a different story

See also

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

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