Lebanon, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lebanon, Maine
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Ironwell, the Ole Bull residence c. 1915
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 Lebanon, Maine
Location in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | York |
| Incorporated | 1767 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55.83 sq mi (144.60 km2) |
| • Land | 55.00 sq mi (142.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.83 sq mi (2.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,469 |
| • Density | 118/sq mi (45.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04027
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-38425 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582550 |
Lebanon is a town located in York County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 6,469 people lived there. Lebanon is made up of several small villages, including Center Lebanon, West Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and East Lebanon. It is the westernmost town in the state of Maine. Lebanon is also part of the larger Portland area.
Contents
History of Lebanon
Early Settlement and Naming
The area now known as Lebanon was first called Towwoh by the Abenaki tribe. Their main village was located further along the Salmon Falls River. In 1733, a group of 60 colonists were given permission to settle Towwoh Plantation. They started building their homes there in 1743.
The township officially became a town on June 17, 1767. It was renamed Lebanon, which is a name from the Bible. Lebanon was the 23rd town created in Maine. Over the years, Lebanon gained more land from nearby areas. It added land in 1785 and some from Sanford in 1787. It also exchanged land with Shapleigh in 1793 and 1825.
Farming and Industry
Early settlers found that the land in Lebanon was quite flat in the southeast. There were also large areas of pine trees in the northwest. Farmers mainly grew hay as their most important crop.
The Salmon Falls River and the Little River were important. They provided water power for different types of mills. Lebanon had several mills, including:
- Four sawmills for cutting wood.
- Three gristmills for grinding grain.
- A shingle mill for making roof tiles.
- A wool carding mill for preparing wool.
- A tannery for making leather.
In 1850, Oren B. Cheney started West Lebanon Academy, a school in the town. Later, in the 1870s, railroads came to Lebanon. The Portland and Rochester Railroad ran through the southeast part of town. The Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad also crossed a small part of the western side.
Geography and Landscape
Lebanon covers a total area of about 55.83 square miles (144.60 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 55.00 square miles (142.45 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.83 square miles (2.15 square kilometers) is water.
The town's water comes from the Little River and the Salmon Falls River. The highest point in Lebanon is Prospect Hill, which is 880 feet (268 meters) above sea level. The lowest point is along the Salmon Falls River, at about 170 feet (52 meters) above sea level.
Roads and Neighboring Towns
Major roads that go through Lebanon include U.S. Route 202 and State Route 11.
Lebanon shares its borders with several other towns:
- To the north: Acton
- To the east: Sanford
- To the southeast: Berwick and North Berwick
- To the west: The New Hampshire towns of Milton and Rochester
Population Data
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,296 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,657 | 27.9% | |
| 1810 | 1,938 | 17.0% | |
| 1820 | 2,223 | 14.7% | |
| 1830 | 2,391 | 7.6% | |
| 1840 | 2,273 | −4.9% | |
| 1850 | 2,208 | −2.9% | |
| 1860 | 2,040 | −7.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,953 | −4.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,601 | −18.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,263 | −21.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,335 | 5.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,316 | −1.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,192 | −9.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,148 | −3.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,452 | 26.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,499 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,534 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,983 | 29.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,234 | 63.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,263 | 31.8% | |
| 2000 | 5,083 | 19.2% | |
| 2010 | 6,031 | 18.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,469 | 7.3% | |
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the town of Lebanon had 6,031 people living there. There were 2,204 households, which are groups of people living together. Most of the people living in Lebanon were White (97.1%). A small number of residents were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Lebanon was about 39.3 years old. About 25.2% of the residents were under 18 years old.
Education in Lebanon
Lebanon is part of the MSAD60/RSU 60 school district. The Superintendent of Schools is Audra Beauvais.
The town has two schools for younger students:
- Lebanon Elementary School, which teaches grades 4 and 5.
- Hanson School, which teaches grades K (kindergarten) through 3.
Notable People from Lebanon
- Ole Bull: A famous violinist and composer who spent summers in Lebanon.
- Oren B. Cheney: A clergyman and abolitionist who founded Bates College.
- Claudius B. Grant: A Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Elihu B. Hayes: A manufacturer, newspaper owner, and politician.
- Charles Coffin Jewett: The superintendent of the Boston Public Library.
- Sumner Increase Kimball: He helped organize the United States Life-Saving Service.
- Charles E. Littlefield: A U.S. congressman.
See also
In Spanish: Lebanon (Maine) para niños
