Dexter, Maine
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Dexter is a town located in Penobscot County, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,890.
The town is composed of three main sections. The first section is the downtown area. It is two roads forked off each other. Downtown is home of architect John Morrison's memorial building. On the top of the building is the largest clock in the town and it is named "Nancy" after Morrison's wife. The second area of town is the residential area. It is composed of several streets including Maple St., Forrest St., High St., and Main St. Hill. The third part is on the other side where the schools are located, overlooking Lake Wassookeag.
The tallest building in Dexter is the Unitarian Universalist Church, and it is also the first church in the town. It was built in 1826, ten years after Dexter was incorporated as a town.
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History
Dexter was inhabited in 1801. The first business in the town was the Beacon Feeds Saw mill and the Beacon Feeds Grist mill. They were operated both until the late 1960s, when they were both shut down. The Dexter Historical Society uses the saw and grist mill as its main building, and owns and works out of two other buildings in the town.
Dexter grew because of a stream that it sits on. It made it possible for the water-driven saw and grist mill to operate, and it was also very helpful in the operation of the woolen mill, operated and owned by Amos and Issac Abbott. The Abbott Mill is the first mill in Maine, and it is the sole mill in the United States to be owned by one family in the history of its operation.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 96.3 km² (37.2 mi²). 91.1 km² (35.2 mi²) of it is land and 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.38% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 3,890 people, 1,615 households, and 1,106 families residing in the town. The population density is 42.7/km² (110.6/mi²). There are 2,054 housing units at an average density of 22.5/km² (58.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.56% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,615 households out of which 29.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% are married couples living together, 11.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% are non-families. 26.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 2.80.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $26,000, and the median income for a family is $31,204. Males have a median income of $27,130 versus $18,805 for females. The per capita income for the town is $14,197. 17.8% of the population and 15.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
See also: Dexter (CDP), Maine
External link
- Dexter, Maine Official Website (http://www.dextermaine.org/)