Brownfield, Maine
Burnt Meadow Mountain
Brownfield, Maine Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 43°56′19″N 70°54′2″W / 43.93861, -70.90056
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Oxford
Incorporated	1802
Area
- Total	46.1 sq mi (119.5 km²)
- Land	44.9 sq mi (116.2 km²)
- Water	1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²)
Elevation	528 ft (161 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,251
- Density	27.9/sq mi (10.8/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	04010
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-08150
GNIS feature ID	0582373

Brownfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center.

History

East Brownfield in 1908

The area was once territory of the Pequawket Abenaki Indians, whose main village was located at what is today Fryeburg. It was granted on January 23, 1764 by the Massachusetts General Court to Captain Henry Young Brown for his services in the French and Indian Wars. Settlement began about 1765. Brown was required to settle 38 families by June 10, 1770, with a minister recruited by 3 years after that. Unfortunately, a portion of the original grant was found to lie in New Hampshire.

Replacement land in Maine was granted to Brown on June 25, 1766. It was called Brownfield Addition, one part of which now lies within Hiram and Denmark. The township was first organized as Brownfield Plantation, named in honor of its principal proprietor. On February 20, 1802, it was incorporated as Brownfield. By the War of 1812, it had nearly 900 residents.

Farming was the chief occupation, with the Saco River providing water power for industry. Products of the mills included flour, long lumber, barrel staves, rocking chairs, clothing, carriages, sleighs and harness. After the Civil War, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad passed through the town, following the general course of the river. But the Great Fires of 1947 would destroy 85% of Brownfield. In an effort to replace lost commerce, a ski resort was proposed for Burnt Meadow Mountain. It opened in 1971 with a 3400 foot T-bar lift, but after being renamed Zodiac Skiway in 1980, closed in 1982. Today, the T-bars are still hanging in place.

Notable residents

• Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor
• Paris Gibson, entrepreneur & politician
• Robert Goodenow, congressman
• Rufus K. Goodenow, congressman
• Bryan Smith, driver who struck Stephen King
• Carol Noonan, singer/songwriter

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.2 square miles (119.5 km²), of which, 44.9 square miles (116.2 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it (2.77%) is water. Situated beside the New Hampshire border, Brownfield is drained by the Saco River.

Demographics

Covered bridge over the Saco River at East Brownfield in c. 1912

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,251 people, 512 households, and 352 families residing in the town. The population density was 27.9 people per square mile (10.8/km²). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 17.6/sq mi (6.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 512 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.

Breslin Homestead in c. 1910

In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,304, and the median income for a family was $39,886. Males had a median income of $30,893 versus $22,778 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,037. About 4.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

• Brownfield Historical Society & Museum
• Stone Mountain Arts Center

References

• History of Brownfield, Maine (1886)
• History of Brownfield, Maine
• History of Burnt Meadow Mountain Ski Area, 1971-1982

External links

• Town of Brownfield, Maine
• Brownfield Public Library

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Coordinates: 43°56′17″N, 70°54′31″W