Sullivan, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sullivan, Maine
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 Sullivan, Maine
Location in Maine
Sullivan, Maine
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Hancock |
| Villages | Sullivan Harbour Ashville Alderville East Sullivan North Sullivan West Sullivan Tunk Station Punkinville Morancy |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29.62 sq mi (76.72 km2) |
| • Land | 26.67 sq mi (69.07 km2) |
| • Water | 2.95 sq mi (7.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 479 ft (146 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,219 |
| • Density | 46/sq mi (17.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04664
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-74965 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582754 |
Sullivan is a town located in Hancock County, Maine, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,219 people lived there. The town got its name from Daniel Sullivan, who was one of the first people to settle in the area.
People sometimes call the town "Sully" or "the Sullivans." This is because it has several smaller villages within it. Sullivan officially became a town in 1789. It is part of the Upper Schoodic Peninsula area in Maine's Downeast Acadia region.
In the past, Sullivan was known by other names like "Waukeag" and "New Bristol." It used to include nearby communities such as Hancock and Sorrento. The town was once famous for its many granite quarries. Today, Sullivan is mostly a place where people live and commute to jobs in nearby Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island.
Sullivan is located along U.S. Route 1, the Taunton River, and Hog Bay. It features a unique reversing tidal falls. Many beautiful viewpoints are found along the Schoodic National Scenic Byway, which runs through the Upper Schoodic Peninsula.
Contents
Exploring Sullivan's Geography
Sullivan covers a total area of about 29.62 square miles (76.72 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 26.67 square miles (69.07 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 2.95 square miles (7.64 square kilometers) is water.
Understanding Sullivan's Population Changes
The population of Sullivan has changed quite a bit over the years. Here is a look at how many people have lived in the town since 1790.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 504 | — | |
| 1800 | 533 | 5.8% | |
| 1810 | 711 | 33.4% | |
| 1820 | 872 | 22.6% | |
| 1830 | 538 | −38.3% | |
| 1840 | 649 | 20.6% | |
| 1850 | 810 | 24.8% | |
| 1860 | 862 | 6.4% | |
| 1870 | 796 | −7.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,023 | 28.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,379 | 34.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,034 | −25.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,132 | 9.5% | |
| 1920 | 916 | −19.1% | |
| 1930 | 873 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 801 | −8.2% | |
| 1950 | 762 | −4.9% | |
| 1960 | 709 | −7.0% | |
| 1970 | 824 | 16.2% | |
| 1980 | 967 | 17.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,118 | 15.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,185 | 6.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,236 | 4.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,219 | −1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details from 2010
In 2010, there were 1,236 people living in Sullivan. These people lived in 528 households, and 332 of these were families. The town had about 46.3 people per square mile (17.9 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Sullivan were White (95.6%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people identified as being from two or more races. About 1.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 25.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. Nearly half (49.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.34 people, and the average family had 2.81 people. The average age in Sullivan was 44.7 years.
Discovering Sullivan's Villages
The Town of Sullivan has its main offices on U.S. 1. Sullivan is often called "the Sullivans" because it is made up of several smaller villages. This is common in many towns in New England.
- West Sullivan
- This village is also known simply as "Sullivan" on maps. It is located on Taunton Bay.
- The US Route 1 Bridge connects Sullivan to the town of Hancock here. This bridge is sometimes called the 'Silent Bridge'.
- West Sullivan has many old homes and a public park called Sumner Memorial Park.
- Greeley Hall, which houses the Frenchman's Bay Library and the Sullivan-Sorrento Rec Centre, is also in West Sullivan.
- The Sullivan Municipal Building and Town Hall are located in the old Sullivan High School building.
- North Sullivan
- This area is also called North Village or North Sully. It is mostly a residential area along Taunton Bay.
- North Sullivan once had many granite quarries. The granite was shipped to big cities like Portland, Boston, and New York.
- Today, it is a community where people live and work in nearby Ellsworth or Mount Desert Island.
- The Old Hooper Havey & Crabtree Co Quarry is now a popular swimming spot.
- East Sullivan
- East Sullivan stretches along Frenchman's Bay and into the Schoodic Foothills. It has several lakes and trails.
- This village is mainly located along US Route 1.
- East Sullivan is home to Sumner Memorial High School, which serves the region.
- Lakes like Tunk Lake, Donnell's Pond, and Flander's Pond are found here.
- In 2020, plans were made to build a new high school and junior high school facility.
- Sullivan Harbor
- This is the central part of Sullivan and has some of the town's oldest homes.
- It is directly across Frenchman's Bay from Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.
- Sullivan Harbor has many bed and breakfasts and seasonal summer 'cottages'.
- The Frenchman's Bay Scenic Overlook offers great views of Mount Desert Island.
- The historic Old Granite Store building is made of local granite from the 1800s.
- Alderville Township & Taunton Shores
- These communities are located along Franklin's Hog Bay on South Bay Road.
- They are residential areas between Sullivan and Franklin.
- Alderville Township is home to the University of Maine Aquaculture Co-operative.
- Punkinville
- This is a small, rural, and residential area located inland between Long Cove and East Sullivan.
- Ashville & Morancy
- These villages are off US Route 1 (East) and are mostly rural.
- They are next to the Sunrise Road Recreational Trail.
- Ashville has one of Sullivan's historic chapels that is still in use.
The town's inland area, along Route 200, is mostly wooded. It is home to Mountain View School (K–8), which serves students from Sullivan, Sorrento, and Franklin.
Sullivan is part of the Upper Schoodic Peninsula. It is about 11 miles from Winter Harbor, Maine, and the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park. The town is also about 17 miles from Ellsworth and 35 miles from Bar Harbor.
Sullivan in Art and Culture
The villages of Sullivan, Maine, have been featured in books. The novel Seven Steeples focused on the communities that grew around the local chapels and churches. Sullivan Harbor was the inspiration for the setting of the novel The Tinker of Salt Cove. Author Jack Havey wrote about West Sullivan in his memoir West Sullivan Days.
Many of Sullivan's villages were once separate communities. Over time, they became more connected. Some old stores, customs houses, and post offices have been turned into homes or businesses.
The area, including nearby Hancock, was used as a filming location for parts of the movie Pet Sematary, based on a book by Stephen King.
The word "Schoodic" comes from a Native American term. Some believe it means "where land and sea meet." "Waukeag," an old name for the Sullivan area, also has Native American roots. It can mean "crossing place" or "horsehead." Maine's history as a border area between British and French territories, and later as part of Massachusetts, gives it a special historical background.
Notable People from Sullivan
- Alice Turner Curtis (1860–1958), an author who wrote historical fiction for young people, was born in Sullivan.
- William Henry Sherman (1865–1928), a publisher.
See also
In Spanish: Sullivan (Maine) para niños
