Milford, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milford, Maine
Town
Motto(s):  "Best Little Town by a Dam Site..."
Milford, Maine Location in Maine Show map of Maine Milford, Maine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Penobscot County
Area
• Total	45.80 sq mi (118.62 km2)
• Land	45.63 sq mi (118.18 km2)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,069
• Density	67/sq mi (26.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC+5 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	04461
Area code(s)	207

Milford is a friendly town in Maine, located in Penobscot County. It sits right across the Penobscot River from the city of Old Town. In 2020, about 3,069 people lived there.

Milford's fun slogan is "Best little town by a dam site." This refers to the Milford Dam. The dam is on the Penobscot River, just south of the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation.

Milford's Past: A Look at Its History

Milford was first known as Sunkhaze plantation. It officially became the town of Milford in 1833.

Early Industry: Sawmills and Water Power

In the 1800s, Milford was a big center for sawmills. These sawmills used the power of the Penobscot River to cut wood. Most of the cut lumber was then sent from nearby Bangor.

A very large sawmill, the Bodwell Water Power Co. sawmill, was built in 1889. It was owned by Joseph Robinson Bodwell, who was the governor of Maine. In 1891, this sawmill burned down. The fire almost destroyed the whole village!

Modern Power and Historic Buildings

The current Bodwell Water Power Co. plant was built in 1906. It is also known as the Milford Plant of Bangor Hydro. This important building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Wallace C. Johnson, a smart engineer who also worked on projects at Niagara Falls.

The Milford Congregational Church is another historic building in town. It was designed and built by Asa T. Wing. This church is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Just outside of Milford, the Milford Air Force Auxiliary Airfield used to operate.

Milford's Location and Natural Features

Milford is a town with a total area of about 45.80 square miles (118.62 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 45.63 square miles (118.18 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers), is water.

The beautiful Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located right in Milford. This refuge is a special place for wildlife.

Milford's Climate: Weather Patterns

Milford has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means the town experiences big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and can be humid. Winters are cold, and sometimes very cold.

Milford's Population: Who Lives There

Milford's People in 2010

In 2010, there were 3,070 people living in Milford. These people lived in 1,289 households. About 819 of these households were families.

Most of the people in Milford were White (95.7%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 0.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Milford was about 39.7 years old. About 18.8% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 12.1% were 65 years or older. The town had a nearly equal number of males (49.3%) and females (50.7%).

Famous People from Milford

Milford has been home to several interesting people:

• Gary Drinkwater – A person who served as a state legislator.
• Lulu Hunt Peters – A doctor and writer who shared health advice in newspapers.
• Jane Weinberger – An author and publisher. She was married to Caspar Weinberger, who was a Secretary of Defense.

See also

In Spanish: Milford (Maine) para niños