Westport Island, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westport Island, Maine
|
|
|---|---|
| Nickname(s):
Jeremysquam
|
|
Location in Lincoln County and the state of Maine
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Lincoln |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.24 sq mi (36.88 km2) |
| • Land | 8.81 sq mi (22.82 km2) |
| • Water | 5.43 sq mi (14.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 719 |
| • Density | 82/sq mi (31.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04578
|
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-84135 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582810 |
Westport Island is a small and charming town located in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. It used to be called Westport. In the 1800s, people also knew it as Jeremysquam, a fun nickname that some islanders still use today. According to the 2020 census, about 719 people live on Westport Island.
Contents
Exploring Westport Island's Geography
Westport Island is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Portland. What makes it special is that it's an actual island! Two saltwater rivers, the Sheepscot River and the Back River, separate it from the mainland.
Even though it's an island, you can easily get there. A modern bridge, built in 1972, connects the island to the mainland. This bridge crosses a narrow part of the Back River called Cowsegan Narrows. The island is surrounded by water, with the towns of Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Southport, and Georgetown nearby.
The United States Census Bureau says that the town covers about 14.24 square miles (36.88 square kilometers) in total. Most of this is land, about 8.81 square miles (22.82 square kilometers), and the rest is water, about 5.43 square miles (14.06 square kilometers).
Westport Island's Climate
Westport Island has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The weather changes quite a bit throughout the year. Here's a look at the typical weather:
| Climate data for Westport Island, Maine, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002–2013 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
54 (12) |
79 (26) |
81 (27) |
91 (33) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
91 (33) |
93 (34) |
78 (26) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
96 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.0 (−0.6) |
33.3 (0.7) |
40.5 (4.7) |
51.4 (10.8) |
62.5 (16.9) |
70.1 (21.2) |
76.3 (24.6) |
75.9 (24.4) |
69.2 (20.7) |
57.8 (14.3) |
47.3 (8.5) |
36.9 (2.7) |
54.4 (12.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.7 (−5.2) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
32.4 (0.2) |
42.9 (6.1) |
53.3 (11.8) |
61.7 (16.5) |
67.8 (19.9) |
67.2 (19.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
49.7 (9.8) |
39.8 (4.3) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
46.0 (7.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.3 (−9.8) |
15.9 (−8.9) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
34.3 (1.3) |
44.1 (6.7) |
53.4 (11.9) |
59.2 (15.1) |
58.6 (14.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
41.7 (5.4) |
32.3 (0.2) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
37.6 (3.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) |
−16 (−27) |
−5 (−21) |
18 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
38 (3) |
48 (9) |
43 (6) |
33 (1) |
24 (−4) |
12 (−11) |
−2 (−19) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.37 (111) |
3.91 (99) |
4.92 (125) |
4.33 (110) |
3.60 (91) |
4.43 (113) |
3.69 (94) |
3.24 (82) |
4.32 (110) |
5.17 (131) |
4.35 (110) |
5.39 (137) |
51.72 (1,313) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.5 | 10.1 | 11.2 | 11.8 | 14.7 | 15.7 | 12.3 | 11.7 | 9.0 | 13.8 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 148.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 | |||||||||||||
Westport Island's Population Story
The number of people living on Westport Island has changed over many years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 554 | — | |
| 1840 | 655 | 18.2% | |
| 1850 | 761 | 16.2% | |
| 1860 | 798 | 4.9% | |
| 1870 | 699 | −12.4% | |
| 1880 | 612 | −12.4% | |
| 1890 | 451 | −26.3% | |
| 1900 | 330 | −26.8% | |
| 1910 | 284 | −13.9% | |
| 1920 | 165 | −41.9% | |
| 1930 | 108 | −34.5% | |
| 1940 | 111 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 146 | 31.5% | |
| 1960 | 133 | −8.9% | |
| 1970 | 228 | 71.4% | |
| 1980 | 420 | 84.2% | |
| 1990 | 663 | 57.9% | |
| 2000 | 745 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 718 | −3.6% | |
| 2020 | 719 | 0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2020 Census Shows
In 2020, the census counted 719 people living on Westport Island. There were 378 households, which are like homes where people live. The island has about 81.6 people per square mile.
About 16.4% of the households had children under 18 living there. Many households, 57.1%, had at least one person who was 60 years old or older. Most households, 56.1%, were married couples living together. The average family size was about 2.49 people.
The average income for a household was $73,594. Only a small number of people, about 4%, lived below the poverty line. Many adults on the island, 39.8%, have a college degree or higher. Also, 91.4% have at least a high school diploma.
The average age of people on Westport Island was 51.7 years. About 10.1% of the people were under 18. About 11.5% were between 18 and 24 years old. A larger group, 34.7%, were 65 years old or older.
Westport Island's Economy and Jobs
Fishing is a very important job for many people on Westport Island, just like in other towns along the coast of Maine. Fishermen often catch lobster and crabs. They sell these to local fish markets. Other seafood caught includes groundfish, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, quahogs, and bloodworms.
Another big employer nearby is the Bath Iron Works. This is a large shipyard where they build powerful ships called Aegis-class destroyers for the U.S. Navy. Many people from Westport Island work there.
Some local residents also have small businesses from their homes, called "cottage industries." Others work in building and construction, helping to build or fix homes for other people on the island.
The average income for a household on the island is $73,594. For families, the average income is $75,139. About 4% of the people on Westport Island live below the poverty line.
See also
In Spanish: Westport Island para niños
