Shapleigh, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shapleigh, Maine
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Town
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Mousam Lake in 1905
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 Shapleigh, Maine
Location in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | York |
| Incorporated | 1785 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 41.19 sq mi (106.68 km2) |
| • Land | 38.75 sq mi (100.36 km2) |
| • Water | 2.44 sq mi (6.32 km2) 5.92% |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,921 |
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code |
04076
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-67475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582722 |
| Website | http://www.shapleigh.net/ |
Shapleigh, pronounced "SHAP-lee," is a town in Maine, USA. It's located in York County. The town became official in 1785. In 2020, about 2,921 people lived there. Shapleigh has smaller areas like North Shapleigh and Emery Mills. It's part of the greater Portland area.
Contents
History of Shapleigh
In 1668, a Native American leader named Chief Captain Sunday gave a large area of land to Francis Small. This land included what is now Shapleigh. Francis Small then sold half of his share to Nicholas Shapleigh.
Years later, in 1770, Nicholas Shapleigh's family found the old land deed. They claimed parts of the land, including Shapleigh. The area was first called Hubbardstown. People started settling there in 1772. Simeon Emery built a sawmill near Mousam Pond.
On March 5, 1785, the town officially became Shapleigh. It was named after Nicholas Shapleigh. In 1830, the western part of Shapleigh became a new town called Acton. Later, in 1846, some land from Shapleigh was given to Newfield. Shapleigh also gained some land from Waterboro in 1854.
Early Industries and Fires
Shapleigh had several sawmills in its villages. North Shapleigh also had a factory that made woolen fabric. For a few years starting in 1837, people even made iron in North Shapleigh. They used "bog iron" found in Little Ossipee Pond.
In 1947, Shapleigh was one of the towns badly hit by the Great Fires of 1947. These fires caused a lot of damage across Maine.
Water Rights Dispute
In 2009, people in Shapleigh and Newfield worked together. They successfully stopped a company from taking large amounts of water from their underground water supply. This water was meant for bottled water.
Geography and Nature
Shapleigh covers about 41 square miles (106 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with some water. The town has two main rivers: the Little Ossipee River and the Mousam River. All the forests in Shapleigh are protected by a group called The Nature Conservancy.
Mountains in Shapleigh
Shapleigh has three mountains that are over 1,000 feet (305 meters) tall.
- Fort Ridge is the tallest, reaching 1,114 feet (340 meters).
- Abbott Mountain is the second tallest at 1,078 feet (329 meters). Many people hike here.
- There's also an unnamed mountain nearby.
Neighboring Towns
Shapleigh is connected by state routes 11 and 109. It shares borders with several other towns:
- Acton to the west
- Waterboro to the east
- Alfred to the southeast
- Newfield to the north
- Sanford to the south
Population of Shapleigh
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,320 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,778 | 34.7% | |
| 1810 | 2,362 | 32.8% | |
| 1820 | 2,815 | 19.2% | |
| 1830 | 1,479 | −47.5% | |
| 1840 | 1,510 | 2.1% | |
| 1850 | 1,348 | −10.7% | |
| 1860 | 1,273 | −5.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,087 | −14.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,128 | 3.8% | |
| 1890 | 968 | −14.2% | |
| 1900 | 847 | −12.5% | |
| 1910 | 691 | −18.4% | |
| 1920 | 457 | −33.9% | |
| 1930 | 530 | 16.0% | |
| 1940 | 290 | −45.3% | |
| 1950 | 531 | 83.1% | |
| 1960 | 515 | −3.0% | |
| 1970 | 559 | 8.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,370 | 145.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,911 | 39.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,326 | 21.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,668 | 14.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,921 | 9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, about 2,668 people lived in Shapleigh. There were 1,072 households. Most residents were White (96.6%). About 29.4% of households had children under 18. The average age in town was 43.6 years.
Education in Shapleigh
Students in Shapleigh attend Shapleigh Memorial School. This school is part of Regional School Unit 57. Middle school students (grades 6-8) go to Massabesic Middle School. High school students (grades 9-12) attend Massabesic High School. Both of these schools are located in Waterboro.
General Information
- Shapleigh has one post office with zip code 04076.
- Telephone numbers in Shapleigh start with 793 or 636.
- The town has two fire stations:
- Shapleigh Fire Department
- Ross Corner Fire Company (which is privately owned)
Places to Visit
- Acton-Shapleigh Historical Society & Museum: Learn about the history of Shapleigh and nearby Acton.
- Shapleigh Woods-Waterboro Barrens: Explore natural areas and enjoy the outdoors.
Notable People from Shapleigh
- Frank Abbott: A famous dentist and author. He was also the president of the American Dental Association in 1888.
- Levi J. Ham: A politician and surgeon.
- Bruce McMillan: A children's book author, photo-illustrator, and artist.
- Joshua Maria Young: A bishop from Erie, Pennsylvania.
See also
In Spanish: Shapleigh (Maine) para niños
