Long Island, Maine
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Long Island is a town located in Cumberland County, Maine that seceded from the City of Portland in 1993. The decision to separate was caused primarily by a desire for independent control of island taxation and spending. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 202.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 23.2 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 86.24% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 202 people, 93 households, and 61 families residing in the town. The population density is 54.5/km² (141.2/mi²). There are 353 housing units at an average density of 95.3/km² (246.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.03% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 93 households out of which 31.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% are non-families. 32.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.70.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $35,833, and the median income for a family is $43,214. Males have a median income of $28,125 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,278. 10.0% of the population and 10.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
There are 175 registered voters on Long Island.
Long Island maintains it own elementary school from grades K-5, but sends students to the City of Portland for schooling from grades 6 through 12.
History
Long Island, like other Casco Bay islands, was originally inhabited by Native Americans until settlers first arrived in the 1600’s. Ignatius Cushing became the first permanent resident to live on the island in 1730, and soon after, other settlers arrived to make a livelihood out of farming, fishing, and catching lobsters.
During WWII, supply stations and army buildings were constructed on the island to add to Casco Bay’s defenses in the event of an Axis powers attack. This included a fuel annex, which is often cited as a source of contamination for both the island's marsh and Casco Bay.
After the war, tourism became the most popular industry, and several small stores, a fire station, and a K-5 school 1953 were built. In the summer, several hundreds or even thousands of tourists traveled from places such as Massachusetts and New York in order to vacation in their summer cottages.
The island was originally part of the City of Portland, which re-evaluated property taxes in 1990. Due in part to high real estate prices paid by out-of-state residents, property taxes increased substantially. Many residents, although dependant upon Portland for jobs, medical care, transportation and education, felt this move created an unfair discrepancy between the money paid to the City of Portland and the services they received in return. The island voted to secede from Portland, and on July 1, 1993, the island was declared the Town of Long Island.
Long Island is still a popular destination in the summer, and is an approximately 45-minute ferry ride from Portland. Popular attractions include Sandy Beach and its alleged "singing sands," the Town of Long Island Conservation Area, or and the backshore rocks on the east end of the island.
External Links
Town of Long Island (http://www.townoflongisland.com/)