Machias, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Machias, Maine
Town
Seal
Machias, Maine Location in Maine
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Washington
Incorporated	June 23, 1784
Government
• Type	Town meeting
Area
• Total	14.80 sq mi (38.33 km2)
• Land	13.87 sq mi (35.92 km2)
• Water	0.93 sq mi (2.41 km2)  6.28%
Elevation	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,060
• Density	148/sq mi (57.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	04654
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-41960
GNIS feature ID	0582573

Machias is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. It is the main town of the county. In 2020, about 2,060 people lived there. Machias is home to the University of Maine at Machias. It also has a small public airport called Machias Valley Airport. The name Machias comes from a Native American word meaning "bad little falls," which describes the Machias River. Machias is famous for being the place of the first naval battle of the American Revolution.

History of Machias

The English first came to this area in 1633. Richard Vines set up a trading post for the Plymouth Company in what is now Machiasport.

Early Conflicts and Settlement

In 1633, Charles de la Tour, a French commander, attacked the trading post. He killed two defenders and took the others and their goods. For over 120 years, neither the English nor the French tried to hold this spot.

In 1762, people from Scarborough came looking for grass for their animals. They found a lot of it in the marshes. Many people decided to settle here the next year. By 1770, about 80 people asked the government for permission to settle the area, and it was approved. Early settlers included families like Scott, Libby, Stone, and Larabee. In 1765, Morris O'Brien and his sons built a sawmill.

Machias and the American Revolution

Machias played a big part in the start of the American Revolution at sea.

The Battle of Machias (1775)

The first naval battle of the American Revolution happened in June 1775. It is sometimes called the "Lexington of the Seas." This battle happened because the people of Machias refused to give the British wood for their buildings. Settlers, led by Captain Jeremiah O'Brien and Captain Benjamin Foster, captured the British ship HMS Margaretta.

A British ship, the Margaretta, came to Machias on May 9, 1775. It brought news of the battles at Lexington and Concord. The people of Machias soon showed their support for the revolution. They put up a "liberty pole" to show they wanted freedom. The British commander ordered it to be taken down, but the townspeople refused.

One Sunday, a plan was made to capture the British commander. But he saw armed men and escaped to his ship. The Margaretta then fired some shots and left the river.

The next morning, Benjamin Foster, Jeremiah O'Brien, and others took over a wood ship. They sailed down the river to attack the Margaretta. Some had muskets, others had pitchforks and axes. The British ship fired first, hurting some of the Americans. But the Americans fought back bravely. They used a small cannon and muskets to clear the British ship's deck. The British commander was hurt, and his crew gave up.

The Margaretta was the first British ship captured by the Americans. The Massachusetts Congress thanked the heroes of Machias. Jeremiah O'Brien became a successful privateer, capturing more British ships.

Machias is home to Burnham Tavern, built in 1770. It is now a museum with items from the Battle of Machias. This tavern is one of only 21 buildings in the United States recognized as very important to the American Revolution.

The Burnham Tavern in 1911, a historic building in Machias.

Raid on Machias (1777)

In 1777, the British tried to attack Machias again. They burned some buildings and a mill. But the people of Machias, with help from Passamaquoddy Indians led by Chief Joseph Neeala, fought them off. The British ships had to leave the bay. A famous story from this time is about Hannah Weston. She traveled 20 miles (32 km) to bring gunpowder to the patriots.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, British troops occupied Machias in September 1814. The local American forces and civilians agreed not to fight if their property was protected. The British stayed until the war ended in 1817.

Buildings and Landmarks

The first meeting-house in Machias was built in 1774. Later, in 1786, the town decided to build two more.

Machias has several important buildings. The court-house and jail were built in the 1850s using brick and granite. The United States building, which holds the post office, was built in 1871. The Centre Street Congregational Church and Libby Hall are also notable wooden buildings. Many homes in Machias are old and beautiful, with shade trees lining the streets.

The Porter Memorial Library has been the town's public library since the 1890s.

Main Street in Machias.

Newspapers

The first newspaper in Machias was The Eastern State, started in 1823. In the past, there were two weekly papers: the Machias Republican and the Machias Union. Today, the weekly newspaper is the Machias Valley News Observer, published every Wednesday.

Community and Education

The first organized church in Machias was the Congregationalist church, started in 1782. Other churches in town include Baptist, Methodist, Universalist, and Catholic.

Machias has a good high school and a graded school system. There are nine public schoolhouses. The town also has a public library with many books.

Machias was officially made a town on June 23, 1784. It was the first town created between the Penobscot and St. Croix rivers. Over time, parts of Machias became separate towns like East Machias, Whitneyville, Machiasport, and Marshfield.

In the 1800s, Machias became a major center for moving lumber by railroad.

The 2004 PBS show, Colonial House, was filmed in the Machiasport area, with some scenes in Machias.

Education in Machias

• Machias Memorial High School
• Machias Valley Christian School
• Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School
• University of Maine at Machias
• Washington Academy

Industry Today

In the late 1800s, Machias had many sawmills, shipyards, and factories. It also had a bank and connections to other cities by steamboat and stagecoach.

Today, Machias is the largest town in the southern part of Washington County. It is a business hub for a large area of Maine's coast. It is home to:

• The University of Maine at Machias, which used to be a teacher's college.
• The main office of the Machias Savings Bank.
• The DownEast Community Hospital.
• The Washington County court house.
• Many stores, gas stations, and a supermarket.
• Helen's Restaurant, a well-known local eatery.

Geography and Climate

Machias is located on the south shore of Washington County, along the Machias River. The town's land is uneven but fertile. There are granite quarries nearby. The Machias River has powerful falls that were once used to create energy for mills.

The town covers about 14.80 square miles (38.33 km²) of land and water. It is at the head of Machias Bay and Little Kennebec Bay, which are part of the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean.

Major roads like U. S. Route 1 and 1A pass through Machias. It is surrounded by other towns like Machiasport, Roque Bluffs, Whitneyville, and Marshfield.

Climate in Machias

Machias has a humid continental climate. This means it has big differences in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold.

Population Data

2010 Census Information

In 2010, Machias had 2,221 people living in 949 households. About 22% of households had children under 18. The average age in town was 37.7 years old.

Notable People from Machias

• Edward Franklin Albee II, a famous vaudeville show organizer
• Col. John Allan, a Revolutionary War officer
• Phineas Bruce, a US congressman
• George Donworth, a US district judge
• Grace Donworth, a writer
• Stephen Clark Foster, a US congressman
• Stephen Clark Foster, the first American mayor of Los Angeles; born in Machias
• Albert Gallatin, an ethnologist and US treasury secretary
• Samuel Hill, a sea captain and adventurer
• George Stillman Hillard, a Maine state senator and author
• Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, a naval officer and hero of the Battle of Machias
• Jeremiah O'Brien, a US congressman
• Nellie Parker Spaulding, a silent film actress

See also

In Spanish: Machias (Maine) para niños