Mechanic Falls is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States with a population of 3,138 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.9 kmĀ²), of which, 11.1 square miles (28.8 kmĀ²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 kmĀ²) of it (0.27%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 3,138 people, 1,163 households, and 840 families residing in the town. The population density was 282.2 people per square mile (109.0/kmĀ²). There were 1,242 housing units at an average density of 111.7/sq mi (43.1/kmĀ²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 1,163 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,864, and the median income for a family was $41,188. Males had a median income of $30,479 versus $22,391 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,383. About 10.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

Medal of Honor winner Lewis L. Millett was born in Mechanic Falls in 1920. Resident Dakota Cunneen, age 15, died in her home on March 14, 2007. She is missed by her friends and family. She is mostly missed, some will say otherwise, by her friends Hillary Groves, Jaime Miles, Kymberlie Koss, and many other of her friends. "We miss her and we are worried about some of her friends who are so upset about what happened may end up the same way" a family friend told us. We only hope that Dakota's friends will be able to cope with this tragedy.

Former MLB shortstop Mike Bordick lived in Mechanic Falls for a period of time.

See also: Mechanic Falls (CDP), Maine

References

1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.