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Harrington, Maine
View of Harrington c. 1908
View of Harrington c. 1908
Harrington, Maine is located in Maine
Harrington, Maine
Harrington, Maine
Location in Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Washington
Incorporated 1797
Area
 • Total 50.31 sq mi (130.30 km2)
 • Land 21.11 sq mi (54.67 km2)
 • Water 29.20 sq mi (75.63 km2)
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 962
 • Density 46/sq mi (17.6/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04643
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-31530
GNIS feature ID 0582512

Harrington is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. In 2020, the population was 962 people. Harrington is known as an old village with a history of seafaring and shipbuilding.

History of Harrington

Originally, this area was called Plantation Number 5. It was one of six townships given out in 1762. This grant came from the Massachusetts General Court, which was like the government at that time.

The first settlers arrived around 1765. By June 17, 1797, 177 people lived there. On that date, it officially became a town and was named Harrington.

Early Industries and Trade

Farmers in Harrington grew crops like wheat and potatoes. The town also became important for its lumber trade. By 1859, Harrington had several mills. These included two sawmills, three mills for making shingles, and two mills for lath (thin strips of wood).

Other businesses in town included a gristmill (for grinding grain) and two brickyards. There was also a tannery, which processed animal hides into leather. Shipbuilding was a major industry, with eighteen different shipbuilders working in the town.

By 1886, Harrington's industries also included a sailmaker. There was also a company that made boots and shoes. Today, the Gallison Memorial Library still serves the community in Harrington.

Geography of Harrington

According to the United States Census Bureau, Harrington covers a total area of about 50.31 square miles (130.30 square kilometers). Of this, about 21.11 square miles (54.67 square kilometers) is land. The remaining 29.20 square miles (75.63 square kilometers) is water.

The town is located at the top of Narraguagus Bay. It is also next to Harrington Bay and Pleasant Bay. These bays are part of the Gulf of Maine. Several waterways flow through Harrington, including Curtis Creek, the Mill River, and the Harrington River.

Harrington is connected by major roads. U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 1A both pass through the town. Harrington shares its borders with several other towns. These include Milbridge to the west and Cherryfield to the northwest. To the north is Columbia, and to the east is Addison.

Population Information

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 298
1810 469 57.4%
1820 732 56.1%
1830 1,118 52.7%
1840 1,542 37.9%
1850 963 −37.5%
1860 1,130 17.3%
1870 1,142 1.1%
1880 1,290 13.0%
1890 1,150 −10.9%
1900 1,165 1.3%
1910 1,020 −12.4%
1920 1,024 0.4%
1930 865 −15.5%
1940 918 6.1%
1950 853 −7.1%
1960 717 −15.9%
1970 553 −22.9%
1980 859 55.3%
1990 893 4.0%
2000 882 −1.2%
2010 1,004 13.8%
2020 962 −4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 Census Details

In 2010, the census showed that 1,004 people lived in Harrington. There were 419 households and 290 families. The town had about 47.6 people per square mile (18.4 per square kilometer).

Most residents were White (97.5%). A small number of people identified as African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people also identified as being of Hispanic or Latino background.

About 29.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (54.2%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.38 people, and the average family had 2.76 people.

The median age in Harrington was 44.9 years. About 21.1% of residents were under 18 years old. About 18.7% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.8%) and females (50.2%).

Education in Harrington

  • The town is home to Narraguagus High School.

Notable People from Harrington

  • Irv Ray – An MLB (Major League Baseball) player for teams like the Boston Beaneaters and Baltimore Orioles.
  • Tiffany Strout – A member of the Maine House of Representatives, which is part of the state's government.

See also

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

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