Content deleted Content added
Ripogenus77 (talk | contribs) →History: no such office as "Lt. Governor" in Maine |
m Dating maintenance tags: {{Cn}} |
||
| (270 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Town in Maine, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Freeport, Maine
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| nickname =
| motto = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline = Freeport, Maine.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = View of downtown
| image_flag =
| image_seal = Seal of Freeport, Maine.png
<!-- Maps -->| image_map = Cumberland County Maine incorporated and unincorporated areas Freeport highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Location in [[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland County]] and the state of [[Maine]].
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Maine}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Maine|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland]]
| parts_type = Communities
| parts = {{ubl|[[Freeport (CDP), Maine|Freeport]]|[[Bustins Island]]|Cushing Briggs|Mast Landing|Pleasant Hill|Porter Landing|[[South Freeport, Maine|South Freeport]]|Wardtown}}
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = February 14, 1789
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name ="Gazetteer files"/>
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 120.36
| area_land_km2 = 89.87
| area_water_km2 = 30.48
| area_total_sq_mi = 46.47
| area_land_sq_mi = 34.70
| area_water_sq_mi = 11.77
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 8737
| population_density_km2 = 97.2
| population_density_sq_mi = <!-- General information -->
| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 11
| elevation_ft = 36
| coordinates = {{coord|43|50|38|N|70|6|6|W|region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code = 04032–04034
| area_code = [[Area code 207|207]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 23-26525
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0582481
| website = {{URL|www.freeportmaine.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Freeport''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Cumberland County, Maine]], United States. Freeport is included in the [[Lewiston-Auburn]], Maine metropolitan New England City and town area. The population was 8,737 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2300526525|title=Census - Geography Profile: Freeport town, Cumberland County, Maine|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> Once home to a prominent shipbuilding industry, timber operations, and farming, it is now known for its numerous outlet stores; Freeport is home to [[L.L. Bean]], [[Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park]], and the [[Desert of Maine]].
Freeport is part of the [[Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area]]. The [[Harraseeket Historic District]] is in Freeport.
==History==
The town was once a part of [[North Yarmouth, Maine|North Yarmouth]] called Harraseeket, after the [[Harraseeket River]]. First settled about 1700, it was set off and incorporated on February 14, 1789, as Freeport. It is probably named "from the openness of its harbor" (free from ice).<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book | last = Coolidge | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge | year = 1859| ___location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n165 131]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859. }}</ref> Freeport developed as four villages—Mast Landing, Porter's Landing, South Freeport and Freeport Corner—all of which are now part of the [[Harraseeket Historic District]], listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
At the [[head of tide]] on the Harraseeket River is Mast Landing, from which [[timber]] was shipped, particularly for use as [[Mast (sailing)|masts]]. The [[estuary]] was [[dam]]med to provide [[water power]] for a [[gristmill]], [[sawmill]] and [[fulling]] mill, with modest manufacturing and [[woodworking]].<ref name="Coolidge"/> Porter's Landing was involved in [[shipbuilding]], important in Freeport following the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. The industry reached its peak in the decade between 1850 and 1860, but declined with the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].{{cn|date=April 2025}} [[South Freeport, Maine|South Freeport]], the largest of the waterfront villages, once had four [[shipyard]]s. Other businesses included [[fishing]], [[canning]] and [[farming]]. In 1903, the [[Casco Castle]] was built here by [[Amos F. Gerald|Amos Gerald]] to encourage travel by [[tram|trolley]] cars. The hotel burned in 1914, but its tower still stands.
Freeport Corner was an inland village for farming and [[trade]], but the 1849 entrance of the [[railroad]] helped it develop into the town's commercial center, which it remains. In the 19th century, fabric was sent from New York and Boston to be made into clothing by local piece workers. Businessman E. B. Mallet established here a sawmill, [[brickmaking|brickyard]], [[granite]] [[quarry]] and large [[shoemaking|shoe factory]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}
In 1912, [[Leon Leonwood Bean]] opened a store in the basement of his brother's apparel shop at Freeport Corner, selling the "[[Bean Boot]]" (or Maine Hunting Shoe). This store, [[L. L. Bean]], became so popular that in 1951 it started remaining open 24 hours a day. Its retail and [[mail order catalog]] facilities expanded into Freeport's principal business, and a worldwide company with annual sales of over a billion dollars.<ref name=LLInfo>There is now a park that is dedicated in his name.
{{cite web
|url= http://www.llbean.com/customerService/aboutLLBean/background.html
|access-date= August 9, 2007
|title= Company Information:Background
|publisher= L.L. Bean
}}</ref> The L.L. Bean flagship store is the anchor to [[outlet store|outlet shopping]] in the town of Freeport. The town sees about 3.5 million visitors annually, spending $308 million in 2015 alone.<ref>http://www.freeportecon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/160510-Retail-Sales-Report.pdf Freeport, Maine Retail Sales Report
Prepared by: Freeport Economic Development Corporation
Updated: May 10, 2016</ref> L.L. Bean, for its part, has invested heavily in activities for both visitors and residents, including their [[L.L.Bean#Outdoor Discovery Schools|Outdoor Discovery Schools]], and their Summer Concert Series, which has attracted artists such as [[Edwin McCain]], [[Great Big Sea]], [[Buckwheat Zydeco]], and [[Rockapella]].
In 1982, [[McDonald's]] made plans to tear down the Gore House, an 1850s [[Greek Revival]] house to build one of its stores. Outcry from residents caused the town to adopt new ordinances concerning what businesses could and could not do with their buildings, and McDonald's built the restaurant inside the house and opened it in 1984, maintaining the exterior appearance. This was one of the first times that McDonald's had been forced to change its restaurant design to fit local requirements.<ref name=HTHPBigBox>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/
|access-date= August 9, 2008
|title= Thinking Outside the Big Box
|work= Preservation Online
|publisher= National Trust for Historic Preservation
}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="160">
File:Old Schoolhouse, South Freeport, ME.jpg|Old Ledge Schoolhouse {{circa|1905}}
File:View of Main Street, Freeport, ME.jpg|Main Street {{circa|1910}}
File:Main Street in Freeport, ME.jpg|Main Street {{circa|1912}}
File:Jameson-Codman Tavern, Freeport, ME.jpg|[[Jameson Tavern]] {{circa|1915}}
File:Rockapella-LLBean-Concert.jpg|[[Rockapella]] performs at the L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series, July 2003
File:McDonalds of Freeport - cropped.jpg|Facade of [[McDonald's]] located in Freeport where the restaurant was forced to maintain the pre-existing exterior of the house.
File:Freeport main street 07.07.2012 14-19-36.jpg|Main Street, 2012
</gallery>
==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of
Freeport borders [[Brunswick, Maine|Brunswick]] and [[Durham, Maine|Durham]] to the
==
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm, often humid summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Freeport has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=439071&cityname=Freeport,+Maine,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Freeport, Maine Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>
==Transportation==
Both [[U.S. Route 1 in Maine|U.S. 1]] and [[Interstate 295 (Maine)|Interstate-295]] run directly through Freeport, the latter with three exits northbound (20, 22 and 24) and two exits southbound (22 and 20).
[[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Downeaster (train)|Downeaster]]'' train service stops at [[Freeport station (Maine)|Freeport station]] with service to the [[Portland Transportation Center]] and Boston's [[North Station]].
[[Greater Portland Metro Bus|Greater Portland Metro]]'s [[Metro Breez|BREEZ]] provides bus service between Brunswick and Portland, with four stops in Freeport.
==Demographics==
{{See also|Freeport (CDP), Maine}}
{{US Census population
|1790= 1320
|1800= 2237
|1810= 2184
|1820= 2184
|1830= 2623
|1840= 2662
|1850= 2629
|1860= 2792
|1870= 2457
|1880= 2279
|1890= 2482
|1900= 2339
|1910= 2460
|1920= 2488
|1930= 2184
|1940= 2764
|1950= 3280
|1960= 4055
|1970= 4781
|1980= 5863
|1990= 6905
|2000= 7800
|2010= 7879
|2020= 8737
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 7,879 people, 3,209 households, and 2,173 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|227.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,690 housing units at an average density of {{convert|106.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 3,209 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.89.
The median age in the town was 45 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 34.7% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 7,800 people, 3,065 households, and 2,151 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|224.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,276 housing units at an average density of {{convert|94.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.04% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.64% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 3,065 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.4% were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,023, and the median income for a family was $58,134. Males had a median income of $41,703 versus $27,490 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,724. About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
==
Freeport is part of [[Regional school unit]] #5.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rsu5.org/|title=Home - Regional School Unit 5|first=SchoolPointe|last=Inc.|website=rsu5.org|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>
'''Public schools'''
* Morse Street School, grades K–2
* Mast Landing School, grades 3–5
* Freeport Middle School, grades 6–8
* [[Freeport High School (Maine)|Freeport High School]], grades 9–12
'''Private schools'''
* École Française du Maine, grades K–7 ([[French immersion]])
* [[Pine Tree Academy]] ([[Seventh-day Adventist Church]])
==Sites of interest==
* [[Desert of Maine]]
* [[Mann Cemetery]]
* [[Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park]]
* [[Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment]]
== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Freeport, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->
* [[Cyrus Augustus Bartol]], pastor and writer
* [[Melissa Coleman]], author, columnist, and writer
* [[Aaron Lufkin Dennison]], watchmaker
* [[Beth Edmonds]], president of the state senate
* [[Sara Gideon]], [[Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives]], Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020
* [[John Gould (columnist)|John Gould]], humorist, columnist
* [[Donald B. MacMillan]], admiral, Arctic explorer
* [[Christopher McCormick]], businessman
* [[Edward C. Plummer]], historian
* [[Joan Benoit|Joan Benoit Samuelson]], Olympic marathon gold medalist (1984)
* [[Stephen Gill Spottswood]] - Bishop of the [[African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church]], Chairman of the [[NAACP]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Price |first1=H. H. |last2=Talbot |first2=Gerald |title=Maine's visible Black history : the first chronicle of its people |date=2006 |publisher=Tilbury House |___location=Gardiner, Me. |isbn=9780884482758 |page=xii }}</ref>
* [[Rufus Soule]], shipbuilder and state politician
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Freeport (Maine)|Freeport, Maine}}
* [http://www.freeportmaine.com/ Town of Freeport official website]
{{Cumberland County, Maine}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Casco Bay]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Maine]]
[[Category:Portland metropolitan area, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Cumberland County, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Maine]]
| |||