Harrington, Maine

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Harrington, Maine
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Maine
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maine
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Washington
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1797

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 136.9
area_land_km2 = 54.8
area_water_km2 = 82.1
area_total_sq_mi = 52.9
area_land_sq_mi = 21.2
area_water_sq_mi = 31.7

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 882
population_density_km2 = 16.1
population_density_sq_mi = 41.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 4
elevation_ft = 13
latd = 44 |latm = 35 |lats = 57 |latNS = N
longd = 67 |longm = 49 |longs = 31 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 04643
area_code = 207
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 23-31530
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0582512
website =
footnotes =

Harrington is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 882 at the 2000 census. Harrington is a picturesque old seafaring village.

History

Originally called Plantation Number 5, it was one of 6 townships east of Union River granted in 1762 by the Massachusetts General Court to an association of petitioners. First settled about 1765, it had a population of 177 on June 17, 1797 when incorporated as Harrington.

Farmers grew wheat and potatoes in the town's sandy loam. Harrington developed a considerable trade in lumber, and by 1858 contained 2 sawmills, 3 shingle mills and 2 lath mills. There was a gristmill, 2 brickyards, a tannery -- and 18 shipbuilders. In 1886, industries also included a sailmaker and a boot and shoe manufacturer.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.9 square miles (136.9 km²), of which, 21.2 square miles (54.8 km²) of it is land and 31.7 square miles (82.1 km²) of it (59.97%) is water. Located at the head of Narraguagus Bay on the Gulf of Maine, Harrington is drained by Curtis Creek, Mill River and the Harrington River.

The town is crossed by U. S. Route 1 and 1A. It borders the towns of Milbridge to the west, Cherryfield to the northwest, Columbia to the north, and Addison to the east.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 882 people, 364 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density was 41.7 people per square mile (16.1/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 26.6/sq mi (10.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.07% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.57% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 364 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,579, and the median income for a family was $29,211. Males had a median income of $24,038 versus $16,447 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,224. About 14.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

* The town is home to Narraguagus High School.

ite of interest

* Flint Island Nature Preserve

References

Further reagind

* [http://history.rays-place.com/me/harrington-me.htm History of Harrington, Maine (1886)]
* A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, "A History and Description of New England", 1859; H. O. Houghton & Company, printers; Cambridge, Massachusetts

External links

* [http://www.washingtoncountymaine.com/towns/harrington.html Town of Harrington, Maine]
* [http://www.jpshellfish.com/oak_point_oysters.php Shellfish Hatchery -- Oak Point Oysters]
* [http://maine.gov/local/washington/harrington/ Maine.gov -- Harrington, Maine]