Blaine, Maine

Blaine is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 726 at the 2010 census. It was known as Alva prior to incorporation in 1874, when it was renamed in honor of James G. Blaine, then Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. According to local history, Blaine offered to donate a large bell for the tower of the town's new meeting hall, if the citizens would rename the town after him. The town's name was changed, but Blaine never donated a bell. The building still stands on the north end of town, on Route 1.[4]

Blaine, Maine
Town
Location of Blaine, Maine
Coordinates: 46°29′19″N 67°50′46″W
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Aroostook
Villages	Blaine Robinsons
Area [1]
• Total	18.65 sq mi (48.30 km^2)
• Land	18.60 sq mi (48.17 km^2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km^2)
Elevation	479 ft (146 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	726
• Estimate  (2012[3])	719
• Density	39.0/sq mi (15.1/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	04734
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-05385
GNIS feature ID	0582355

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.65 square miles (48.30 km²), of which 18.60 square miles (48.17 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	646		—
1890	784		21.4%
1900	954		21.7%
1910	1,013		6.2%
1920	1,117		10.3%
1930	1,061		−5.0%
1940	1,049		−1.1%
1950	1,118		6.6%
1960	945		−15.5%
1970	903		−4.4%
1980	922		2.1%
1990	784		−15.0%
2000	806		2.8%
2010	726		−9.9%
Est. 2014	700	[5]	−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 726 people, 299 households, and 217 families living in the town. The population density was 39.0 inhabitants per square mile (15.1/km²). There were 360 housing units at an average density of 19.4 per square mile (7.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.7% White, 1.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 299 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 43.9 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 30.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 806 people, 313 households, and 234 families living in the town. The population density was 43.6 people per square mile (16.8/km²). There were 340 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.27% White, 0.37% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.

There were 313 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,693, and the median income for a family was $33,056. Males had a median income of $25,333 versus $20,078 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,980. About 7.5% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Blaine, Maine mainly went for John McCain in the 2008 USA presidential election[8] and in 2009, the town's voters backed a referendum against same-sex marriage.[9]

Notable people

• Ben Bubar, temperance activist and Prohibition Party member

References

1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
3. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
4. Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson (ed.). Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc. p. 291.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. CNN
9. Bangor Daily News Archived 2010-12-23 at the Wayback Machine