South Windham, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Windham, Maine
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South Windham Community Church and Center
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Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Cumberland |
| Town | Windham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.26 sq mi (3.27 km2) |
| • Land | 1.19 sq mi (3.09 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,215 |
| • Density | 1,017.59/sq mi (392.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-72900 |
South Windham is a special area in the town of Windham, located in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because the U.S. Census Bureau defines it for counting people. In 2020, about 1,215 people lived here. Before 2010, South Windham was part of a larger CDP called Little Falls-South Windham.
South Windham is also part of the larger Portland–South Portland–Biddeford area. This is known as a Metropolitan Statistical Area, which means it's a region with a large population and close economic ties.
Contents
Where is South Windham?
South Windham is located at coordinates 43°44′10″N 70°25′19″W / 43.73611°N 70.42194°W, right next to the Presumpscot River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the total area of South Windham is about 3.3 square kilometers (1.26 square miles). Most of this area, about 3.1 square kilometers (1.19 square miles), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square kilometers (0.07 square miles), is water, making up about 5.31% of its total area.
The area called Little Falls is just across the Presumpscot River, in the town of Gorham. Major roads like U.S. Route 202 and Maine State Route 4 pass through both South Windham and Little Falls, running from north to south.
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,215 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of South Windham was counted in the 2020 U.S. Census. At that time, 1,215 people lived in the area.
A Look at South Windham's Past
The Presumpscot River was very important in the early days. It helped people travel into Maine's inland areas and provided strong water power at a spot called Little Falls. As early as 1756, a man named Major William Knight had a sawmill operating there.
As the local forests were cut down, the sawmill was replaced. William Johnson built a mill to grind grain, and Leonard Bacon and Lathrop Crockett ran a mill that prepared wool. In 1832, special water locks were built around the falls to complete the Cumberland and Oxford Canal. This canal helped boats move goods.
However, the canal was used less after the Portland and Ogdensburg Railway was built through South Windham in 1875. The Maine Central Railroad later took over this railway in 1888, calling it their Mountain Division. Having year-round train transportation encouraged businesses to grow. For example, C.A. Brown and Company built a large factory in 1875 that made wood-paper board. Later, Androscoggin Pulp Company bought this factory. The town of South Windham grew up around this pulp mill.
On April 4, 1919, the state government of Maine passed a law to create a facility in South Windham. Today, this facility is known as the Maine Correctional Center. It is a place for adults who have committed crimes, and it has different levels of security, from minimum to medium.
Famous People from South Windham
- Jeff Donnell: She was an actress who appeared in movies like The Iron Maiden, The Amazing Spider-Man, and the TV show General Hospital. She was born in South Windham.
