Alna, Maine Explained

Official Name:Alna, Maine
Mapsize:260px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Maine
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lincoln
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1760
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1794
Government Type:Town Meeting
Leader Title1:Board of
   Selectmen
Area Total Km2:55.22
Area Total Sq Mi:21.32
Area Land Km2:54.13
Area Land Sq Mi:20.90
Area Water Km2:1.09
Area Water Sq Mi:0.42
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:710
Population Density Km2:13.1
Elevation M:39
Timezone:Eastern
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:Eastern
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:128
Coordinates:44.085°N -69.6253°W
Website:http://alna.maine.gov
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:04535
Area Code:207
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:23-01010
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0582321

Alna is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 710 at the 2020 census.[1] Alna is home to the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum and is noted for its historic architecture, including the early mill village of Head Tide.

History

Originally a part of old Pownalborough, the town was settled around 1760 and incorporated in 1794 by the Massachusetts General Court as New Milford. But residents did not like the name, so it was changed in 1811 to Alna, Latin for alder, the tree which grows in profusion along the banks of the Sheepscot River.[2]

Alna was the site of the first fish hatchery in Maine, started shortly after the Civil War. Between 1895 and 1933, the narrow gauge Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway operated three stations in the town: Head Tide, Alna Center, and Sheepscot. The latter now serves as the base of operations for a heritage railway in town.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.32sqmi, of which 20.9sqmi is land and 0.42sqmi is water.[4] Alna is drained by the Sheepscot River.

The town in crossed by Maine State Route 194 and Maine State Route 218. It borders the towns of Wiscasset to the south; Dresden to the west; Pittston, Whitefield and Jefferson to the north; and across the Sheepscot River, Newcastle to the east.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 709 people, 295 households, and 210 families living in the town. The population density was 33.9PD/sqmi. There were 346 housing units at an average density of 16.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.1% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 295 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.8% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% 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 2.78.

The median age in the town was 45.7 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 35.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 675 people, 266 households, and 197 families living in the town. The population density was 32.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 315 housing units at an average density of 15.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 99.56% White, 0.30% Native American and 0.15% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population. 0.1% African Americans.

There were 266 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,125, and the median income for a family was $48,611. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $23,977 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,340. About 6.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census - Geography Profile: Alna town, Lincoln County, Maine. January 23, 2022.
  2. Book: Coolidge, Austin J.. John B. Mansfield . A History and Description of New England. A.J. Coolidge . 1859. Boston, Massachusetts. 29. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859. .
  3. http://www.wwfry.org/ WW&F Railway History
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. December 16, 2012.
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. December 16, 2012.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .