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Augusta, Maine

Augusta is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Kennebec County.[3]

Augusta, Maine
The Maine State House in 2017
Motto: 
A Capital Opportunity[1]
Coordinates: 44°18′38″N 69°46′46″W / 44.31056°N 69.77944°W / 44.31056; -69.77944Coordinates: 44°18′38″N 69°46′46″W / 44.31056°N 69.77944°W / 44.31056; -69.77944
CountryUnited States
RegionNew England
StateMaine
CountyKennebec
Settled1754
Incorporated (town)February 20, 1797
Incorporated (city)August 20, 1849
VillageNorth Augusta
Government
 • MayorMark O’Brien
Area
 • Total58.04 sq mi (150.31 km2)
 • Land55.15 sq mi (142.83 km2)
 • Water2.89 sq mi (7.48 km2)  5.00%
Elevation
68 ft (20 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,899
 • Density342.70/sq mi (132.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
04330, 04332-04333, 04336, 04338
Area code207
FIPS code23-02100
GNIS feature ID581636
WebsiteAugustaMaine.gov

The city's population was 18,899 at the 2020 census,[4] making it the tenth-most populous city in Maine, and third-least populous state capital in the United States after Montpelier, Vermont, and Pierre, South Dakota.

Located on the Kennebec River at the head of tide, it is the principal city in the Augusta-Waterville micropolitan statistical area and home to the University of Maine at Augusta.

History

The area was first explored by the English of the short-lived Popham Colony in September 1607. 21 years later, English settlers from the Plymouth Colony settled in the area in 1628 as part of a trading post on the Kennebec River. The settlement was known by its Native American name Cushnoc (or Coussinoc or Koussinoc), meaning "head of the tide." Fur trading was at first profitable, but because of Native uprisings and declining revenues, Plymouth Colony sold the Kennebec Patent in 1661. Cushnoc would remain unoccupied for the next 75 years.[5]

The area around Cushnoc was inhabited by the Kennebec, a band of the larger Abenaki nation. During the 17th century, they were on friendly terms with the English settlers in the region.[6][7]

A hotbed of Abenaki hostility toward British settlements was located further up the Kennebec at Norridgewock. In 1722, the tribe and its allies attacked Fort Richmond (now Richmond) and destroyed Brunswick. In response, English forces sacked Norridgewock in 1724 during Dummer's War, when the English gained tentative control of the Kennebec.

During the height of the French and Indian War, in 1754, the English colonists built a blockhouse named Fort Western at Cushnoc on the eastern bank of the Kennebec River. It was intended as a supply depot for Fort Halifax upriver, as well as a regional defense from French attack.[8] Later, during the American Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold and his 1,100 troops would use Fort Western as a staging area before continuing their journey up the Kennebec to the Battle of Quebec.

 
The Maine State House, built 1829–1832

Cushnoc was incorporated as part of Hallowell in 1771. Known as "the Fort", it was set off and incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court in February 1797 as Harrington. In August, however, the name was changed to Augusta after Pamela Augusta Dearborn, daughter of Henry Dearborn. In 1799, it was designated as the county seat for the newly created Kennebec County.[8]

Maine became a state in 1820 as a result of the Missouri Compromise. Augusta was designated as its capital in 1827, over the current capital of Portland, and rival communities Brunswick and Hallowell. The Maine State Legislature continued meeting in Portland, however, until the completion of the Maine State House in 1832, designed by Charles Bulfinch. Augusta was incorporated as a city in 1849.[9] After being named the state capital and the introduction of new industry, the city flourished. In 1840 and 1850, the city ranked among the 100 largest urban populations in the country. During the next decade, however, the city was quickly bypassed by rapidly growing metropolizes in the Midwest.[10]

Excellent soil provided for agriculture, and water power from streams provided for the industry. In 1837, a dam was built across the Kennebec where the falls drop 15  feet at the head of a tide. By 1838, 10 sawmills were contracted. With the arrival of the Kennebec & Portland Railroad in 1851, Augusta became an even more productive mill town. In 1883, the property of A. & W. Sprague Company was purchased by the Edwards Manufacturing Company, which erected extensive brick mills for manufacturing cotton textiles. They imported cotton from the South for processing and export to Europe. In the late 19th century, a paper and pulp plant was constructed.[11]

Other Augusta firms produced lumber, sash, doors, window shutters, broom handles, stone cutters' tools, shoes, headstones, ice and furniture. The city developed as a publishing and shipping center. Today, government and post-secondary education are important businesses.[12]

Since the mid-eighteenth century, there has been a military presence in Augusta. Fort Western has not had troops garrisoned there since the 1790s, but in 1828, the U.S. Government built an arsenal to protect their interests from Britain. During the Civil War, Augusta was a rendezvous point for Union soldiers traveling to the front. Many of the soldiers camped on the green in front of the capitol building. In 1862, Camp E.D. Keyes was established in the northwestern portion of the city.

During World War I, Camp Keyes was used as a mobilization and training camp for soldiers. The camp eventually became a headquarters for the Maine National Guard. In 1929, the state legislature approved the placement of the Augusta State Airport next to the camp. As the airport grew, the use of the camp as a training facility was no longer possible. Today, it is still used for administrative and logistical purposes by the National Guard.

In the 19th century, Augusta got a regular steamboat service and the railroad. The city installed gas lights in 1859. A telephone service was available in 1880 and a local hospital in 1898. In the early 20th century, Augusta built two movie houses and a film production studio.

Downtown revitalization

For much of Augusta's history, the central business district was on and near Water Street on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The street, laid out in the late 1700s, was the location of the area's commercial and industrial life. Many fires damaged this concentrated area, including one in 1865 that destroyed nearly 100 buildings. In 1890, the first trolley line began operation down Water Street, connecting Augusta with Gardiner and Hallowell to the south.

In 1932, buses replaced the trolley line. With the completion of the Maine Turnpike and Interstate 95 in 1955, local commercial developments began to move away from Water Street and closer to the highway. Among the results was a storefront vacancy rate downtown of about 60 percent.[13]

Since the late 2000s, there has been a renewed and ongoing focus by city officials, the Augusta Downtown Alliance, and private developers to revitalize the downtown area.

Geography

Augusta is located at 44°18′38″N 69°46′46″W / 44.31056°N 69.77944°W / 44.31056; -69.77944,[14] making it the easternmost state capital in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.03 sq mi (150.30 km2), of which 55.13 sq mi (142.79 km2) is land and 2.90 sq mi (7.51 km2) is water.[15] Augusta is drained by Bond's Brook, Woromontogus Stream and the Kennebec River.

Roads

The city is crossed by Interstate 95, U.S. Route 201, State Route 11, U.S. Route 202, State Route 9, State Route 3, State Route 100, State Route 27, State Route 8, State Route 104, and State Route 105.

Bordering

Augusta borders the towns of Manchester to its west, Sidney and Vassalboro to its north, Windsor to its east, Chelsea to its south, and the city of Hallowell to its southwest.

Climate

Augusta's climate is classified as a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb). Summers are typically warm, rainy, and humid, while winters are cold, windy, and snowy. Spring and fall are usually mild, but conditions are widely varied, depending on wind direction and jet stream positioning.

The hottest month is July, with an average high temperature of 80 °F (26.7 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average low of 10 °F (−12.2 °C). Most snowfall occurs from December through March. There is usually little or no snow in April and November, and snow is rare in May and October.[16]

Climate data for Augusta, Maine (Augusta State Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16)
64
(18)
85
(29)
90
(32)
94
(34)
98
(37)
99
(37)
100
(38)
96
(36)
85
(29)
76
(24)
67
(19)
100
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 49.7
(9.8)
48.7
(9.3)
59.4
(15.2)
74.5
(23.6)
85.5
(29.7)
89.4
(31.9)
90.7
(32.6)
89.9
(32.2)
86.0
(30.0)
74.6
(23.7)
63.7
(17.6)
53.5
(11.9)
93.1
(33.9)
Average high °F (°C) 28.8
(−1.8)
31.9
(−0.1)
40.6
(4.8)
53.5
(11.9)
65.8
(18.8)
74.4
(23.6)
79.9
(26.6)
78.9
(26.1)
70.9
(21.6)
57.9
(14.4)
45.7
(7.6)
34.7
(1.5)
55.2
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 20.4
(−6.4)
23.2
(−4.9)
32.0
(0.0)
43.8
(6.6)
55.3
(12.9)
64.2
(17.9)
70.1
(21.2)
68.9
(20.5)
61.0
(16.1)
49.2
(9.6)
38.0
(3.3)
27.2
(−2.7)
46.1
(7.8)
Average low °F (°C) 12.1
(−11.1)
14.4
(−9.8)
23.4
(−4.8)
34.2
(1.2)
44.7
(7.1)
54.1
(12.3)
60.3
(15.7)
58.8
(14.9)
51.0
(10.6)
40.4
(4.7)
30.3
(−0.9)
19.8
(−6.8)
37.0
(2.8)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −7.6
(−22.0)
−4.1
(−20.1)
4.0
(−15.6)
23.8
(−4.6)
34.4
(1.3)
44.2
(6.8)
52.5
(11.4)
49.6
(9.8)
37.8
(3.2)
28.4
(−2.0)
16.2
(−8.8)
1.3
(−17.1)
−9.7
(−23.2)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30)
−23
(−31)
−11
(−24)
9
(−13)
26
(−3)
36
(2)
43
(6)
39
(4)
28
(−2)
21
(−6)
4
(−16)
−15
(−26)
−23
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.62
(67)
2.32
(59)
3.21
(82)
3.82
(97)
3.27
(83)
4.01
(102)
3.20
(81)
3.41
(87)
3.90
(99)
4.69
(119)
3.95
(100)
3.44
(87)
41.84
(1,063)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 19.0
(48)
14.8
(38)
15.2
(39)
4.5
(11)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.76)
3.6
(9.1)
13.9
(35)
71.3
(181)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.1 9.5 11.0 11.9 13.1 12.7 12.2 10.7 10.2 12.3 11.3 12.3 137.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.7 6.9 6.1 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.8 6.9 33.6
Source: NOAA (snow 1981–2010)[17][18][19]

See or edit raw graph data.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18001,211
18101,80549.1%
18202,45736.1%
18303,98062.0%
18405,31433.5%
18508,22554.8%
18607,609−7.5%
18707,8082.6%
18808,66511.0%
189010,52721.5%
190011,68311.0%
191013,21113.1%
192014,1146.8%
193017,19821.9%
194019,36012.6%
195020,9138.0%
196021,6803.7%
197021,9451.2%
198021,819−0.6%
199021,325−2.3%
200018,560−13.0%
201019,1363.1%
202018,899−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

2010 census

As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 19,136 people, 8,802 households, and 4,490 families residing in the city. The population density was 347.1/sq mi (134.0/km2). There were 9,756 housing units at an average density of 177.0/sq mi (68.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% White, 1.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 8,802 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.0% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 18,560 people, 8,565 households, and 4,607 families residing in the city. The population density was 335.1 inhabitants per square mile (129.4/km2). There were 9,480 housing units at an average density of 171.2 per square mile (66.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.21% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,565 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,921, and the median income for a family was $42,230. Males had a median income of $31,209 versus $22,548 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,145. About 11.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Augusta is governed by a mayor and council-manager system. The City Council oversees all City government activities and establishes the legislative policies of the city, adopts and amends ordinances and local laws, appropriates municipal resources, and sets the tax rate. The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer and purchasing agent of the city. The mayor presides at all meetings of the council, and is recognized ceremonially as the official head of the city.

The city maintains a police department; it is remarkable for not having had an officer killed in the line of duty for over a century.[23]

Political makeup

Augusta has historically been Democratic. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama received 5,192 of the votes to Mitt Romney's 3,339.[24] In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden won 5,248 votes to Donald Trump's 4,155.[25]

The city has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H. W. Bush in the Republican landslide of 1988. Democrats are the majority political affiliation in all four voting wards. There are more voters who are not enrolled than there are registered Republicans in the City.

Voter registration
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of November 2012[26]
Party Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 4,780 34.82%
Unenrolled 4,778 34.80%
Republican 3,656 26.63%
Green Independent 512 3.70%
Total 13,726 100%

Education

There are five public schools, one private school, and one college (the University of Maine at Augusta).[27] There are two public libraries in Augusta.

Farrington, Gilbert, Hussey, and Lincoln are the four public elementary schools that are located in the city.[28]

Cony serves students in grades 7–12 from Augusta and the surrounding towns; Cony comprises Cony Middle School and Cony High School.[29]

St. Michaels is a private Catholic school; it charges tuition to its students.[30]

The University of Maine at Augusta is third-largest university in the University of Maine System.[31]

The Maine State Library[32] and Lithgow Public Library[33] are both located in Augusta.

Media

Printed media

Radio

Television

Augusta is part of the Portland, Maine television market, and receives most of that market's channels. WCBB channel 10, licensed to Augusta, is the local television outlet for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. [34]

Transportation

Interstate 95 runs by the western outskirts of Augusta. U.S. 202 runs east-west through the city. U.S. 201 runs north-south through the city.

Augusta State Airport in the western part of the city has commercial flights.

Sites of interest

Notable people

 
A View of Old Fort Western.

See also

References

  1. ^ "City of Augusta, Maine". City of Augusta, Maine. from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Population and Population Centers by State December 12, 2001, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Augusta city, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Forgotten Inhabitants of Cushnoc". from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
  6. ^ The History of Augusta, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... By James W. North, page 4
  7. ^ North, James W. (1870). "The History of Augusta, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time: With Notices of the Plymouth Company, and Settlements on the Kennebec; Together with Biographical Sketches and Genealogical Register".
  8. ^ a b Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson (ed.). Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc. pp. 148–152.
  9. ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 38–42. Retrieved November 21, 2015. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
  10. ^ "Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990". from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  11. ^ "New Page 2". from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ Varney, George J. (1886), Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Augusta, Boston: Russell, retrieved March 30, 2006
  13. ^ "Influx of arts, events in downtown Augusta signals new push for activity". July 15, 2018. from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  15. ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  16. ^ . Intellicast.com. 2003. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  17. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "Station: Augusta State AP, ME". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "Station: Augusta State AP, ME". U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1981-2010). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  22. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  23. ^ The Daily Caller, "American arms race heats up at local police level", May 7, 2012
  24. ^ . Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  25. ^ https://cms6.revize.com/revize/augustame/Official%20State%20and%20City%20ROVC%20November%2003%202020%20Signed.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  26. ^ (PDF). November 6, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  27. ^ "University of Maine at Augusta". from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved September 26, 2007.
  28. ^ "City of Augusta, Maine School Department". from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  29. ^ . Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  30. ^ "St. Michael School". from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  31. ^ "UMA Quick Facts". from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  32. ^ "Maine State Library". from the original on August 28, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  33. ^ "Lithgow Public Library". from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2007.
  34. ^ "WCBB Channel 10". from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  35. ^ "HHRC Website". from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  36. ^ Maine State Museum December 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ . Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  38. ^ Clark, Ernie (December 20, 2013). "Augusta's Julia Clukey looks to the future after Olympic luge near-miss". Bangor Daily News. from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  39. ^ Levinson, Marc (2011). The Great A&P and the struggle for small business in America. Hill and Wang. ISBN 978-0-8090-9543-8.
  40. ^ "Medal of Honor recipients". United States Army. from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2010.

External links

  • City of Augusta, Maine
  • Lithgow Public Library
  • University of Maine at Augusta
  • Epodunk City Profile
  • "Augusta, a city of Maine" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.
  • Down East, March 2020. Wright, Virginia M. "Best Places to Live in Maine: Augusta; A new crop of downtown entrepreneurs has a message: Don’t Dis ’Gusta,"

augusta, maine, augusta, capital, city, state, maine, seat, kennebec, county, state, capital, citythe, maine, state, house, 2017flagseallogomotto, capital, opportunity, coordinates, 31056, 77944, 31056, 77944, coordinates, 31056, 77944, 31056, 77944countryunit. Augusta is the capital city of the U S state of Maine and the seat of Kennebec County 3 Augusta MaineState capital cityThe Maine State House in 2017FlagSealLogoMotto A Capital Opportunity 1 Coordinates 44 18 38 N 69 46 46 W 44 31056 N 69 77944 W 44 31056 69 77944 Coordinates 44 18 38 N 69 46 46 W 44 31056 N 69 77944 W 44 31056 69 77944CountryUnited StatesRegionNew EnglandStateMaineCountyKennebecSettled1754Incorporated town February 20 1797Incorporated city August 20 1849VillageNorth AugustaGovernment MayorMark O BrienArea 2 Total58 04 sq mi 150 31 km2 Land55 15 sq mi 142 83 km2 Water2 89 sq mi 7 48 km2 5 00 Elevation68 ft 20 m Population 2020 Total18 899 Density342 70 sq mi 132 32 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern Summer DST UTC 4 Eastern ZIP Codes04330 04332 04333 04336 04338Area code207FIPS code23 02100GNIS feature ID581636WebsiteAugustaMaine govThe city s population was 18 899 at the 2020 census 4 making it the tenth most populous city in Maine and third least populous state capital in the United States after Montpelier Vermont and Pierre South Dakota Located on the Kennebec River at the head of tide it is the principal city in the Augusta Waterville micropolitan statistical area and home to the University of Maine at Augusta Contents 1 History 2 Downtown revitalization 3 Geography 3 1 Roads 3 2 Bordering 3 3 Climate 4 Demographics 4 1 2010 census 4 2 2000 census 5 Government 5 1 Local government 5 2 Political makeup 6 Education 7 Media 7 1 Printed media 7 2 Radio 7 3 Television 8 Transportation 9 Sites of interest 10 Notable people 11 See also 12 References 13 External linksHistory EditThe area was first explored by the English of the short lived Popham Colony in September 1607 21 years later English settlers from the Plymouth Colony settled in the area in 1628 as part of a trading post on the Kennebec River The settlement was known by its Native American name Cushnoc or Coussinoc or Koussinoc meaning head of the tide Fur trading was at first profitable but because of Native uprisings and declining revenues Plymouth Colony sold the Kennebec Patent in 1661 Cushnoc would remain unoccupied for the next 75 years 5 The area around Cushnoc was inhabited by the Kennebec a band of the larger Abenaki nation During the 17th century they were on friendly terms with the English settlers in the region 6 7 A hotbed of Abenaki hostility toward British settlements was located further up the Kennebec at Norridgewock In 1722 the tribe and its allies attacked Fort Richmond now Richmond and destroyed Brunswick In response English forces sacked Norridgewock in 1724 during Dummer s War when the English gained tentative control of the Kennebec During the height of the French and Indian War in 1754 the English colonists built a blockhouse named Fort Western at Cushnoc on the eastern bank of the Kennebec River It was intended as a supply depot for Fort Halifax upriver as well as a regional defense from French attack 8 Later during the American Revolutionary War Benedict Arnold and his 1 100 troops would use Fort Western as a staging area before continuing their journey up the Kennebec to the Battle of Quebec The Maine State House built 1829 1832 Cushnoc was incorporated as part of Hallowell in 1771 Known as the Fort it was set off and incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court in February 1797 as Harrington In August however the name was changed to Augusta after Pamela Augusta Dearborn daughter of Henry Dearborn In 1799 it was designated as the county seat for the newly created Kennebec County 8 Maine became a state in 1820 as a result of the Missouri Compromise Augusta was designated as its capital in 1827 over the current capital of Portland and rival communities Brunswick and Hallowell The Maine State Legislature continued meeting in Portland however until the completion of the Maine State House in 1832 designed by Charles Bulfinch Augusta was incorporated as a city in 1849 9 After being named the state capital and the introduction of new industry the city flourished In 1840 and 1850 the city ranked among the 100 largest urban populations in the country During the next decade however the city was quickly bypassed by rapidly growing metropolizes in the Midwest 10 Excellent soil provided for agriculture and water power from streams provided for the industry In 1837 a dam was built across the Kennebec where the falls drop 15 feet at the head of a tide By 1838 10 sawmills were contracted With the arrival of the Kennebec amp Portland Railroad in 1851 Augusta became an even more productive mill town In 1883 the property of A amp W Sprague Company was purchased by the Edwards Manufacturing Company which erected extensive brick mills for manufacturing cotton textiles They imported cotton from the South for processing and export to Europe In the late 19th century a paper and pulp plant was constructed 11 Other Augusta firms produced lumber sash doors window shutters broom handles stone cutters tools shoes headstones ice and furniture The city developed as a publishing and shipping center Today government and post secondary education are important businesses 12 Since the mid eighteenth century there has been a military presence in Augusta Fort Western has not had troops garrisoned there since the 1790s but in 1828 the U S Government built an arsenal to protect their interests from Britain During the Civil War Augusta was a rendezvous point for Union soldiers traveling to the front Many of the soldiers camped on the green in front of the capitol building In 1862 Camp E D Keyes was established in the northwestern portion of the city During World War I Camp Keyes was used as a mobilization and training camp for soldiers The camp eventually became a headquarters for the Maine National Guard In 1929 the state legislature approved the placement of the Augusta State Airport next to the camp As the airport grew the use of the camp as a training facility was no longer possible Today it is still used for administrative and logistical purposes by the National Guard In the 19th century Augusta got a regular steamboat service and the railroad The city installed gas lights in 1859 A telephone service was available in 1880 and a local hospital in 1898 In the early 20th century Augusta built two movie houses and a film production studio Downtown revitalization EditFor much of Augusta s history the central business district was on and near Water Street on the west bank of the Kennebec River The street laid out in the late 1700s was the location of the area s commercial and industrial life Many fires damaged this concentrated area including one in 1865 that destroyed nearly 100 buildings In 1890 the first trolley line began operation down Water Street connecting Augusta with Gardiner and Hallowell to the south In 1932 buses replaced the trolley line With the completion of the Maine Turnpike and Interstate 95 in 1955 local commercial developments began to move away from Water Street and closer to the highway Among the results was a storefront vacancy rate downtown of about 60 percent 13 Since the late 2000s there has been a renewed and ongoing focus by city officials the Augusta Downtown Alliance and private developers to revitalize the downtown area Geography EditAugusta is located at 44 18 38 N 69 46 46 W 44 31056 N 69 77944 W 44 31056 69 77944 14 making it the easternmost state capital in the United States According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 58 03 sq mi 150 30 km2 of which 55 13 sq mi 142 79 km2 is land and 2 90 sq mi 7 51 km2 is water 15 Augusta is drained by Bond s Brook Woromontogus Stream and the Kennebec River Roads Edit The city is crossed by Interstate 95 U S Route 201 State Route 11 U S Route 202 State Route 9 State Route 3 State Route 100 State Route 27 State Route 8 State Route 104 and State Route 105 Bordering Edit Augusta borders the towns of Manchester to its west Sidney and Vassalboro to its north Windsor to its east Chelsea to its south and the city of Hallowell to its southwest Climate Edit Augusta s climate is classified as a humid continental climate Koppen Dfb Summers are typically warm rainy and humid while winters are cold windy and snowy Spring and fall are usually mild but conditions are widely varied depending on wind direction and jet stream positioning The hottest month is July with an average high temperature of 80 F 26 7 C The coldest month is January with an average low of 10 F 12 2 C Most snowfall occurs from December through March There is usually little or no snow in April and November and snow is rare in May and October 16 Climate data for Augusta Maine Augusta State Airport 1991 2020 normals extremes 1948 presentMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 61 16 64 18 85 29 90 32 94 34 98 37 99 37 100 38 96 36 85 29 76 24 67 19 100 38 Mean maximum F C 49 7 9 8 48 7 9 3 59 4 15 2 74 5 23 6 85 5 29 7 89 4 31 9 90 7 32 6 89 9 32 2 86 0 30 0 74 6 23 7 63 7 17 6 53 5 11 9 93 1 33 9 Average high F C 28 8 1 8 31 9 0 1 40 6 4 8 53 5 11 9 65 8 18 8 74 4 23 6 79 9 26 6 78 9 26 1 70 9 21 6 57 9 14 4 45 7 7 6 34 7 1 5 55 2 12 9 Daily mean F C 20 4 6 4 23 2 4 9 32 0 0 0 43 8 6 6 55 3 12 9 64 2 17 9 70 1 21 2 68 9 20 5 61 0 16 1 49 2 9 6 38 0 3 3 27 2 2 7 46 1 7 8 Average low F C 12 1 11 1 14 4 9 8 23 4 4 8 34 2 1 2 44 7 7 1 54 1 12 3 60 3 15 7 58 8 14 9 51 0 10 6 40 4 4 7 30 3 0 9 19 8 6 8 37 0 2 8 Mean minimum F C 7 6 22 0 4 1 20 1 4 0 15 6 23 8 4 6 34 4 1 3 44 2 6 8 52 5 11 4 49 6 9 8 37 8 3 2 28 4 2 0 16 2 8 8 1 3 17 1 9 7 23 2 Record low F C 22 30 23 31 11 24 9 13 26 3 36 2 43 6 39 4 28 2 21 6 4 16 15 26 23 31 Average precipitation inches mm 2 62 67 2 32 59 3 21 82 3 82 97 3 27 83 4 01 102 3 20 81 3 41 87 3 90 99 4 69 119 3 95 100 3 44 87 41 84 1 063 Average snowfall inches cm 19 0 48 14 8 38 15 2 39 4 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 76 3 6 9 1 13 9 35 71 3 181 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 10 1 9 5 11 0 11 9 13 1 12 7 12 2 10 7 10 2 12 3 11 3 12 3 137 3Average snowy days 0 1 in 8 7 6 9 6 1 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 8 6 9 33 6Source NOAA snow 1981 2010 17 18 19 See or edit raw graph data Demographics EditHistorical population CensusPop Note 18001 211 18101 80549 1 18202 45736 1 18303 98062 0 18405 31433 5 18508 22554 8 18607 609 7 5 18707 8082 6 18808 66511 0 189010 52721 5 190011 68311 0 191013 21113 1 192014 1146 8 193017 19821 9 194019 36012 6 195020 9138 0 196021 6803 7 197021 9451 2 198021 819 0 6 199021 325 2 3 200018 560 13 0 201019 1363 1 202018 899 1 2 U S Decennial Census 20 2010 census Edit As of the census 21 of 2010 there were 19 136 people 8 802 households and 4 490 families residing in the city The population density was 347 1 sq mi 134 0 km2 There were 9 756 housing units at an average density of 177 0 sq mi 68 3 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 94 1 White 1 1 African American 0 7 Native American 1 5 Asian 0 1 Pacific Islander 0 4 from other races and 2 3 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 8 of the population There were 8 802 households of which 23 0 had children under the age of 18 living with them 35 2 were married couples living together 11 8 had a female householder with no husband present 4 0 had a male householder with no wife present and 49 0 were non families 39 8 of all households were made up of individuals and 13 6 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 08 and the average family size was 2 76 The median age in the city was 43 2 years 18 3 of residents were under the age of 18 8 1 were between the ages of 18 and 24 26 were from 25 to 44 29 4 were from 45 to 64 and 18 were 65 years of age or older The gender makeup of the city was 48 6 male and 51 4 female 2000 census Edit As of the census 22 of 2000 there were 18 560 people 8 565 households and 4 607 families residing in the city The population density was 335 1 inhabitants per square mile 129 4 km2 There were 9 480 housing units at an average density of 171 2 per square mile 66 1 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 96 21 White 0 50 Black or African American 0 48 Native American 1 35 Asian 0 01 Pacific Islander 0 16 from other races and 1 3 from two or more races 0 86 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race There were 8 565 households out of which 24 3 had children under the age of 18 living with them 39 1 were married couples living together 10 9 had a female householder with no husband present and 46 2 were non families 38 3 of all households were made up of individuals and 14 2 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 10 and the average family size was 2 77 In the city the population was spread out with 20 5 under the age of 18 8 7 from 18 to 24 28 3 from 25 to 44 24 8 from 45 to 64 and 17 7 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 40 years For every 100 females there were 89 9 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87 5 males The median income for a household in the city was 29 921 and the median income for a family was 42 230 Males had a median income of 31 209 versus 22 548 for females The per capita income for the city was 19 145 About 11 4 of families and 15 0 of the population were below the poverty line including 19 2 of those under age 18 and 9 8 of those age 65 or over Government EditLocal government Edit Augusta is governed by a mayor and council manager system The City Council oversees all City government activities and establishes the legislative policies of the city adopts and amends ordinances and local laws appropriates municipal resources and sets the tax rate The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer and purchasing agent of the city The mayor presides at all meetings of the council and is recognized ceremonially as the official head of the city The city maintains a police department it is remarkable for not having had an officer killed in the line of duty for over a century 23 Political makeup Edit Augusta has historically been Democratic In the 2012 presidential election Barack Obama received 5 192 of the votes to Mitt Romney s 3 339 24 In the 2020 presidential election Joe Biden won 5 248 votes to Donald Trump s 4 155 25 The city has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H W Bush in the Republican landslide of 1988 Democrats are the majority political affiliation in all four voting wards There are more voters who are not enrolled than there are registered Republicans in the City Voter registrationVoter Registration and Party Enrollment as of November 2012 26 Party Total Voters PercentageDemocratic 4 780 34 82 Unenrolled 4 778 34 80 Republican 3 656 26 63 Green Independent 512 3 70 Total 13 726 100 Education EditThere are five public schools one private school and one college the University of Maine at Augusta 27 There are two public libraries in Augusta Farrington Gilbert Hussey and Lincoln are the four public elementary schools that are located in the city 28 Cony serves students in grades 7 12 from Augusta and the surrounding towns Cony comprises Cony Middle School and Cony High School 29 St Michaels is a private Catholic school it charges tuition to its students 30 The University of Maine at Augusta is third largest university in the University of Maine System 31 The Maine State Library 32 and Lithgow Public Library 33 are both located in Augusta Media EditPrinted media Edit Kennebec Journal daily newspaper for capital area Uncle Henry s weekly classified adverts publicationRadio Edit See also Template Augusta Waterville Radio WJZN oldies WMDR religious WMME FM top 40 WTOS FM rock WVQM talk WWTP religiousTelevision Edit Augusta is part of the Portland Maine television market and receives most of that market s channels WCBB channel 10 licensed to Augusta is the local television outlet for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network 34 Transportation EditInterstate 95 runs by the western outskirts of Augusta U S 202 runs east west through the city U S 201 runs north south through the city Augusta State Airport in the western part of the city has commercial flights Sites of interest EditBlaine House Fort Western Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine 35 at the University of Maine at Augusta Lithgow Public Library Maine State House Maine State Museum 36 Viles ArboretumNotable people Edit A View of Old Fort Western Ambrose Abbott state legislator Martha Ballard midwife James G Blaine Secretary of State and presidential nominee Horatio Bridge navy officer Julia Clukey 2010 Olympic luger 37 38 Beverly Daggett President of the Maine Senate Olive E Dana short story writer essayist poet Melville Fuller Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court George Huntington Hartford owned the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company the country s largest food retailer at the time of his death 39 John F Hill former Maine governor Robert Deniston Hume Oregon politician and businessman Eastman Johnson artist Roger Katz mayor of Augusta and state legislator George W Ladd U S congressman Dorianne Laux poet Sumner Lipman state legislator and attorney Ben Lucas football player Henry A McMasters recipient of the Medal of Honor 40 Rachel Nichols actress Frederick G Payne Mayor of Augusta and 60th governor of Maine David Peoples athlete and golfer Frederick W Plaisted mayor of Augusta 48th governor of Maine John F Potter U S congressman judge Travis Roy hockey player Luther Severance publisher U S congressman and senator Olympia Snowe U S senator John L Stevens U S minister to Kingdom of Hawaii accused of attempting to overthrow Hawaiian queen 1893 Manch Wheeler quarterback with the Buffalo Bills Gil Whitney television news anchorman and meteorologist Reuel Williams U S senator Willard G Wyman generalSee also EditUSS Augusta 2 shipsReferences Edit City of Augusta Maine City of Augusta Maine Archived from the original on August 29 2012 Retrieved August 26 2012 2020 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved April 8 2022 Population and Population Centers by State Archived December 12 2001 at the Wayback Machine Census Geography Profile Augusta city Maine United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 8 2022 The Forgotten Inhabitants of Cushnoc Archived from the original on November 16 2007 Retrieved September 25 2007 The History of Augusta from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time By James W North page 4 North James W 1870 The History of Augusta from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time With Notices of the Plymouth Company and Settlements on the Kennebec Together with Biographical Sketches and Genealogical Register a b Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums 1970 Doris A Isaacson ed Maine A Guide Down East Rockland Me Courier Gazette Inc pp 148 152 Coolidge Austin J John B Mansfield 1859 A History and Description of New England Boston Massachusetts A J Coolidge pp 38 42 Retrieved November 21 2015 coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859 Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States 1790 to 1990 Archived from the original on January 2 2011 Retrieved December 7 2017 New Page 2 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved April 23 2011 Varney George J 1886 Gazetteer of the state of Maine Augusta Boston Russell retrieved March 30 2006 Influx of arts events in downtown Augusta signals new push for activity July 15 2018 Archived from the original on August 29 2018 Retrieved August 28 2018 US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2011 US Gazetteer files 2010 United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 20 2011 Retrieved November 23 2012 May in the Northeast Intellicast com 2003 Archived from the original on April 29 2007 Retrieved April 29 2007 NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 20 2021 Station Augusta State AP ME U S Climate Normals 2020 U S Monthly Climate Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 20 2021 Station Augusta State AP ME U S Monthly Climate Normals 1981 2010 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 20 2021 Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2015 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved November 23 2012 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 The Daily Caller American arms race heats up at local police level May 7 2012 Augusta Maine 2012 General Election results Bangor Daily News BDN Maine Archived from the original on September 15 2013 Retrieved November 13 2012 https cms6 revize com revize augustame Official 20State 20and 20City 20ROVC 20November 2003 202020 20Signed pdf bare URL PDF REGISTERED amp ENROLLED VOTERS STATEWIDE PDF November 6 2012 Archived from the original PDF on December 11 2012 Retrieved March 23 2013 University of Maine at Augusta Archived from the original on June 30 2006 Retrieved September 26 2007 City of Augusta Maine School Department Archived from the original on January 13 2016 Retrieved September 7 2015 Cony Archived from the original on January 12 2016 Retrieved September 7 2015 St Michael School Archived from the original on June 30 2015 Retrieved September 7 2015 UMA Quick Facts Archived from the original on September 5 2015 Retrieved September 7 2015 Maine State Library Archived from the original on August 28 2015 Retrieved September 7 2015 Lithgow Public Library Archived from the original on October 3 2015 Retrieved September 25 2007 WCBB Channel 10 Archived from the original on October 1 2015 Retrieved October 1 2015 HHRC Website Archived from the original on November 5 2019 Retrieved November 27 2019 Maine State Museum Archived December 26 2007 at the Wayback Machine Julia Clukey Archived from the original on November 7 2017 Retrieved September 16 2015 Clark Ernie December 20 2013 Augusta s Julia Clukey looks to the future after Olympic luge near miss Bangor Daily News Archived from the original on September 11 2016 Retrieved September 16 2015 Levinson Marc 2011 The Great A amp P and the struggle for small business in America Hill and Wang ISBN 978 0 8090 9543 8 Medal of Honor recipients United States Army Archived from the original on November 10 2010 Retrieved November 19 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Augusta Maine Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Augusta Maine Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article about Augusta Maine City of Augusta Maine Lithgow Public Library University of Maine at Augusta Epodunk City Profile Augusta a city of Maine The American Cyclopaedia 1879 Down East March 2020 Wright Virginia M Best Places to Live in Maine Augusta A new crop of downtown entrepreneurs has a message Don t Dis Gusta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Augusta Maine amp oldid 1148326338, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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