Vassalboro, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vassalboro, Maine
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East Vassalboro falls in 1910
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Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Kennebec |
| Incorporated | 1771 |
| Villages | Vassalboro Center Vassalboro East Vassalboro North Vassalboro Riverside South Vassalboro |
| Area | |
| • Total | 47.81 sq mi (123.83 km2) |
| • Land | 44.27 sq mi (114.66 km2) |
| • Water | 3.54 sq mi (9.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,520 |
| • Density | 102/sq mi (39.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-78745 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582778 |
Vassalboro is a town located in Kennebec County, Maine, in the United States. It was originally spelled Vassalborough. In 2020, about 4,520 people lived here.
Vassalboro is made up of several smaller communities. These include Riverside, Getchell's Corner, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro. East Vassalboro is where you can find the town library and a sports field. The town is part of the larger Augusta area.
Contents
History of Vassalboro
Vassalboro was first settled by people from other places in 1760. It officially became a town in 1771. The town was named after one of its original owners, William Vassall.
Who Was William Vassall?
William Vassall was born in 1715. His family owned sugar plantations in Jamaica. His family's wealth came from the sugar business, which had started in 1648.
As a child, Vassall moved to Philadelphia, then to Boston. He studied at Harvard University. During the American Revolution, he supported the British. Because of this, he moved to England. He passed away in 1800. For many years, he tried to get money back for his properties in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He felt these properties were taken from him unfairly.
In 1770, William Vassall gave a piece of land in Vassalboro to his niece, Mary Prescott. This land was one of the "Proprietor's Lots" set aside for the town's founders. Nine months later, Mary Prescott sold this land to someone from Hallowell.
Geography and Location
Vassalboro covers an area of about 47.81 square miles (123.83 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 44.27 square miles (114.66 square kilometers). The rest, about 3.54 square miles (9.17 square kilometers), is water.
The town has a stream called Seven Mile Brook. The Kennebec River forms the western border of Vassalboro. Part of China Lake is also located within the town.
Getting Around Vassalboro
Several main roads pass through Vassalboro. These include U.S. Route 201 and U.S. Route 202. Other state routes like Route 3, Route 9, Route 32, and Route 100 also serve the town.
Vassalboro shares its borders with several other towns:
- To the east: China
- To the south: Augusta
- To the north: Winslow
- Across the Kennebec River to the west: Sidney
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,253 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,188 | −5.2% | |
| 1810 | 2,063 | 73.7% | |
| 1820 | 2,434 | 18.0% | |
| 1830 | 2,761 | 13.4% | |
| 1840 | 2,952 | 6.9% | |
| 1850 | 3,099 | 5.0% | |
| 1860 | 3,181 | 2.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,919 | −8.2% | |
| 1880 | 2,621 | −10.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,052 | −21.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,062 | 0.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,107 | 2.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,815 | −13.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,936 | 6.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,981 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,261 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,446 | 8.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,618 | 7.0% | |
| 1980 | 3,410 | 30.3% | |
| 1990 | 3,679 | 7.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,047 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,340 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,520 | 4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Vassalboro has changed a lot over the years. In 1790, there were 1,253 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 4,520.
Vassalboro in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 4,340 people living in Vassalboro. These people lived in 1,788 households. About 1,206 of these households were families.
The average household had about 2.42 people. The average family had about 2.86 people. The median age in the town was 44 years old. About 21.6% of the people were under 18 years old. About 14.7% were 65 years or older.
Education in Vassalboro
Vassalboro is home to the Vassalboro Community School. This school has about 420 students. It serves students up to the middle school grades.
Vassalboro does not have its own public high school. Students from Vassalboro can choose to attend high schools in nearby towns. Popular choices include Winslow High School, Waterville High School, Cony High School in Augusta, and Erskine Academy in South China. Many students choose Erskine Academy because it offers a lower tuition rate for Vassalboro students.
Places to Visit
- Vassalboro Historical Society & Museum: You can learn about the town's past here.
Notable People from Vassalboro
Many interesting people have come from Vassalboro, including:
- Edward Augustus Brackett, a sculptor
- Holman Day, an author and editor
- Henry H. Goddard, a psychologist
- Amy Morris Homans, a physical educator
- Alfred Atmore Pope, an industrialist and art collector
See also
In Spanish: Vassalboro para niños
