Newry, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newry, Maine
Town
Newry, Maine Location in Maine Show map of Maine Newry, Maine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Oxford
Incorporated	1805
Area
• Total	61.55 sq mi (159.41 km2)
• Land	61.52 sq mi (159.34 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	712 ft (217 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	411
• Density	7/sq mi (2.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	04261
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-49275
GNIS feature ID	0582623

Newry (pronounced like "new-ree") is a small resort town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. It's known for being home to the Sunday River Ski Resort, which means many people visit in the winter. In 2020, about 411 people lived there all year round. Newry was also the place of a serious plane crash during the Cold War.

History

The Bear River in 1905

Poplar Tavern around 1918

Newry was first settled in 1781 by Benjamin Barker and his two brothers, along with Ithiel Smith. They called the area Sunday River Plantation. However, the settlement was attacked in 1782 and everyone left.

Later, in 1794, John J. Holmes bought the land. On June 15, 1805, the settlers renamed the area "Newry." This name came from a town called Newry in what is now Northern Ireland. The word "Newry" comes from an old Irish phrase that means "the grove of yew trees."

An important trade route, now called Route 26, was finished in 1802 and passed through Newry. This helped the town grow. Farmers grew hay in the fertile river valleys. They also used the mountain slopes for grazing animals. A sawmill and a gristmill (for grinding grain) were built on the Bear River. By 1870, the town had 416 people. Today, Newry is famous for the Sunday River Ski Resort, a popular place for skiing and snowboarding.

1960 Plane Crash

Bear River Grange

On June 27, 1960, a United States Air Force tanker plane crashed near Newry. The plane was a Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and was trying to refuel a bomber plane high in the sky. During the refueling, a part in the tanker's engine broke, causing fuel to leak and catch fire.

The bomber saw the fire and quickly moved away. The tanker plane then started to turn and spin as the fire damaged its wing. People at a drive-in movie theater seven miles away saw the plane spinning down with burning pieces falling off. When the plane hit the ground in a forested area, it caused a huge fireball that could be seen from 50 miles away.

Sadly, all five crew members on the tanker plane died in the crash. Even though the area was wet, the fire burned trees where the plane crashed. The crash site was visible for many years afterward.

Lithium Discoveries

In 2018, a lot of lithium was found on Plumbago Mountain, which is partly in Newry. Lithium is a metal used in batteries for phones, electric cars, and more. As of 2023, people in the state government were discussing rules about how to dig up this valuable metal.

Geography

Newry covers about 61.55 square miles (159.41 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water. The town has two main rivers, the Bear River and Sunday River. Both of these rivers flow into the larger Androscoggin River.

Demographics

Artists' Covered Bridge, built in 1872

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 329 people living in Newry. These people lived in 157 households. About 18% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in Newry was about 50 years old.

Sites of interest

• Artists' Covered Bridge (1872) - A historic bridge built in 1872.
• Step Falls Preserve - A beautiful natural area with waterfalls.
• Sunday River Ski Resort - A popular place for skiing and snowboarding.
• Grafton Notch State Park - A state park just north of Newry, great for hiking and enjoying nature.

See also

In Spanish: Newry (Maine) para niños