Baldwin, Maine
Pequawket Trail
Baldwin, Maine Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 43°49′24″N 70°43′27″W / 43.82333, -70.72417
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Cumberland
Incorporated	1802
Area
- Total	36.3 sq mi (94.1 km²)
- Land	35.3 sq mi (91.4 km²)
- Water	1.0 sq mi (2.7 km²)
Elevation	679 ft (207 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,290
- Density	36.5/sq mi (14.1/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-02655
GNIS feature ID	0582338

Baldwin is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,290 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Great Falls in 1869, Saco River

First called Flintstown Plantation, it was granted in 1774 by the Massachusetts General Court to survivors of the Concord, Massachusetts company commanded by Captain John Flint. It replaced a grant of about 1735 which gave them Township No. 3, because when state borders were adjusted in 1741, the town turned out to be in New Hampshire -- present-day Walpole. On June 23, 1802, Flintstown was incorporated as Baldwin, named for Colonel Loammi Baldwin, namesake of the Baldwin apple. Sebago was set off and incorporated in 1826.

The surface of the town is broken, but with soil favorable to grain and hay. Baldwin would be noted for its orchards, and a factory was established in East Baldwin for drying apples. There was also a corn factory. Brooks provided water power for various mills, which produced board lumber, barrel staves and shooks. During drought, the Saco Water Power Company could regulate water at Great Falls to run mills down the Saco River in Saco and Biddeford. The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad followed the Saco River valley for the length of Baldwin.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94.1 km²), of which, 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (2.84%) is water. Baldwin is drained by Breakneck Brook and the Saco River.

The town is crossed by state routes 5, 107, 113 and 117. It is bordered by Sebago on the north, Standish on the east, Hiram on the west, and Cornish and Limington on the south.

Demographics

East Baldwin in c. 1915

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,290 people, 493 households, and 385 families residing in the town. The population density was 36.5 people per square mile (14.1/km²). There were 577 housing units at an average density of 16.3/sq mi (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.91% White, 0.31% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 493 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.89.

Cottage at Dyke Mt. Farm in 1919

In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,500, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,689. About 8.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Site of interest

• Baldwin Historical Society & Museum

References

• History of Baldwin, Maine (1886)
• A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England, 1859, H. O. Houghton, printers; Cambridge, Massachusetts

External links

• Brown Memorial Library
• Maine.gov -- Baldwin, Maine

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