Parsonsfield is a town located in York County, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,584.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 155.5 km² (60.0 mi²). 152.7 km² (59.0 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.78% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 1,584 people, 634 households, and 438 families residing in the town. The population density is 10.4/km² (26.9/mi²). There are 996 housing units at an average density of 6.5/km² (16.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.17% White, 0.13% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 634 households out of which 30.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% are married couples living together, 9.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% are non-families. 24.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 2.89.

In the town the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $32,214, and the median income for a family is $36,016. Males have a median income of $30,815 versus $20,917 for females. The per capita income for the town is $16,968. 12.1% of the population and 10.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

Note: The following section is largely copied from the book "History of Parsonsfield, Maine: 1771-1888," published by Brown Thurston & Company, 1888.

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Geography

The town of Parsonsfield is in the extreme northwest corner of York County, Maine. Center Square, on the northern slope of Cedar Mountain, is about 30 miles (50 km) from the ocean, at Old Orchard and thirty-two from Wells Beach on an air line, and 33 miles (55 km) west-north-west from Portland.

Its northern boundary is the Great Ossipee River (Ossipee signifies "River of Pines" in the Indian dialect.) The towns of Porter and Hiram are north of the river. Effingham and Wakefield, NH, are on the western border, Newfield is on the south, Limerick and Cornish on the east. The outer lines of the town have been measured several times, giving an area from 62.23 to 64 square miles (161 to 166 km²). The length of the western line is nearly 8.5 miles (13.7 km), the eastern something over 9 miles (14 km), the northern and southern about 7.3 miles (12 km).

The surface of Parsonsfield is quite broken, or more properly, rises into high swells. Ricker's Mountain, in the southwest, is the highest, it being not far from 1,600 feet (488 m) above the level of the sea. Cedar Mountain, in the center, comes up within one hundred feet of Ricker's, while Randall's Mountain in the east, may fall 100 feet (30 m) below Cedar. The Seminary varies but little from 1,200 feet (366 m) above sea level, while the average altitude of the town is estimated at 1,000 feet (300 m).

Ricker's Mountain takes its name from Dea. Dominicus Ricker, who lived and died near the summit. Cedar is so called from the mountain cedar growing there. A legend tells how a hunter named Randall perished from cold on the mountain called by his name. Another tradition goes something like this: "Many years ago a famous hunter, named Randall, hunted hereaway among these mountains and caught much game. He usually reposed on the top of the high mountain by the rivulet, where it is supposed he was murdered by another hunter for his furs. The supposed murderer was absent only a few days from the settlements and returned heavily laden with valuable skins."

The high ridge, of which Cedar Mountain is the apex, runs east and west across the town. It is the water-shed, or divide, between the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers. The town is dotted all over with hills and swells, some of them hard to climb, but generally productive.

The principal river is the Great Ossipee. By estimation, the average yearly discharge is nine billion cubic feet (8 m³/s), the length 33 miles (53 km), draining an area of about 240 square miles (622 km²). There is an excellent water power at Kezar Falls, the descent being 50 feet per mile (9 m/km).

South River is next in size. It enters the Ossipee above Porter Bridge. The privilege at Lord's mills is the best within the town. The Bickford and Blaisdall mill streams run into the Little Ossipee. Smaller brooks are found in all parts of the town. It would be hard to find a lot of land not having one or more living springs, and as many never failing rivulets.

A small part of Province Pond is in Parsonsfield. The state line is one-fourth of a mile (400 m) from the eastern shore, and the distance across, by that line, is about one mile (1.6 km). Long Pond, in the northeast, is a beautiful sheet of water, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, and about one-third (800 m) that in width. Mudgett's Pond, separated from Long Pond by a ridge, is nearly half as large. Smaller ponds are found among the hills.

Coarse granite rock projects here and there, but surface ledges cover only a small part of the town. Less than half the wells extend down to the rock bed. The prevailing soil may be denominated granite. There are patches of sand, but clay, even of inferior quality, is scarce. From one to two feet (300 to 600 mm) below the surface there is a hard pan or subsoil.

There are but few swamps or bog meadows, for the reason that the surface is tilted this, that, and every way, but valuable intervales lie along the brooks and rivers.

There are very few farms without stones enough to fence them. A large surplus of this imperishable fence material is the rule.

The original forest growth was maple, beech, hemlock, pine, birch, oak, and ash, with scores of other trees interspersed. Each variety prevailing in its favored locality, but not holding exclusive possession of a single farm. Where a second growth has been allowed to spring up, the soft woods in many cases have succeeded the hard, while the hard has been followed by soft. It is known that the present growth is a little more mixed than the first.

Since people made a break in the forest, there have been some climatic changes. Winter weather is more variable. Summer days are hotter and droughts more severe.