Kennebec County, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kennebec County
U.S. county
Kennebec County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Maine
Founded	1799
Named for	Kennebec River
Seat	Augusta
Largest city	Augusta
Area
• Total	951 sq mi (2,460 km2)
• Land	868 sq mi (2,250 km2)
• Water	84 sq mi (220 km2)  8.8%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	123,642
• Density	130.01/sq mi (50.198/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 2nd

Kennebec County is a place in the middle of Maine, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 123,642 people lived here. Its main city is Augusta, which is also the capital city of Maine.

Kennebec County was created on February 20, 1799. It was formed from parts of other counties called Cumberland and Lincoln. The name Kennebec comes from the Abenaki language. It means "large body of still water" or "large bay."

This county is part of a special area called the Augusta–Waterville Micropolitan Area. In 2010, the middle point of Maine's population was right here in Augusta.

Geography of Kennebec County

Kennebec County covers about 951 square miles. Most of this area, about 868 square miles, is land. The rest, about 84 square miles, is water. This means about 8.8% of the county is covered by water.

The Kennebec River flows almost completely through the county. It also forms parts of the county's northern and southern borders. Many lakes and ponds are found here. The Kennebec Highlands are in the northwest part of the county.

Neighboring Counties

Kennebec County shares borders with several other counties:

• Somerset County to the north
• Waldo County to the east
• Sagadahoc County to the south
• Lincoln County to the south
• Androscoggin County to the southwest
• Franklin County to the northwest

Main Roads and Highways

Many important roads and highways pass through Kennebec County. These roads help people travel and transport goods. Some of the major routes include:

• I-95
• I-295
• US 201
• US 202
• SR 8
• SR 9
• SR 11
• SR 17
• SR 23
• SR 27
• SR 32
• SR 41
• SR 100
• SR 104
• SR 105
• SR 126
• SR 132
• SR 133
• SR 135
• SR 139
• SR 194
• SR 197
• SR 226

People of Kennebec County

In 2010, about 122,151 people lived in Kennebec County. There were over 51,000 households. The county had about 140 people per square mile. Many different backgrounds make up the population. Some of the main ancestries include English, Irish, German, and French Canadian.

The average income for a household in the county was about $45,973. For families, it was around $56,853. About 12.5% of the people in the county lived below the poverty line.

Augusta–Waterville Micropolitan Area

Kennebec County is known as the Augusta–Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area. This is a special way the government groups areas with a city and its nearby communities. It helps them understand population and economy.

As of 2010, this micropolitan area was the most populated in Maine. It was also the only one in the state. In July 2022, it ranked as the 14th most populated micropolitan area in the United States. Its population was about 125,540 people.

Economy and Jobs

For a long time, Kennebec County's economy was based on industry. Many paper and textile mills were built along the Kennebec River. These mills produced a lot of goods.

Today, the average income for a household is around $36,498. The unemployment rate, which is the number of people looking for jobs, is about 4.2%.

Education in Kennebec County

Kennebec County has several colleges and many school districts. This offers many learning opportunities for students.

Colleges and Universities

There are three colleges in the county:

• Colby College in Waterville
• Thomas College in Waterville
• University of Maine at Augusta in Augusta

School Districts

The county has 19 school districts, including some that have joined together. For example, in China, Maine, there isn't a public high school. However, the town pays for students to attend a private school called Erskine Academy if they choose. Students from Vassalboro can pick from four different school districts. Many towns also have their own local public high schools.

Here are some of the K-12 school districts:

Cities and Towns

Kennebec County is made up of several cities and many towns. Each community has its own unique character.

Cities

• Augusta (This is the county seat, meaning it's the main administrative city.)
• Gardiner
• Hallowell
• Waterville

Towns

Unorganized Territory

• Unity

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for statistical purposes. They are like towns but don't have their own local government.

• Clinton
• Farmingdale
• Oakland
• Winthrop

Other Villages

These are smaller, unincorporated communities within the towns.

• China Village
• East Vassalboro
• East Winthrop
• Libby Hill
• North Monmouth
• North Vassalboro
• South China