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Boothbay is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,003 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Back Narrows, Dover, East Boothbay, Linekin, Oak Hill, Ocean Point, Spruce Shores, and Trevett. The Boothbay region is a center of summer tourist activity, and a significant part of its population does not live there year-round.Information obtained in a February 27th, 2011 interview with a former Boothbay resident. Five shipyards are located in the town, the largest of which is
Washburn & Doughty Washburn & Doughty is a shipyard located in East Boothbay, Maine. The company was founded in 1977 by Bruce Washburn and Bruce Doughty, then employees at Bath Iron Works. For the first several years of its existence, vessels were constructed on a lo ...
.


History

The Abenaki people that lived in the region called it Winnegance. The first European presence in the region was an English fishing outpost called Cape Newagen in 1623. A Englishman by the name of Henry Curtis purchased the right to settle Winnegance from the Abenaki Sachem Mowhotiwormet in 1666. However, the English were driven from their settlements by the Abenaki in 1676 during King Philip's War in 1676. The colonists returned after the war ended. In 1689 during King William's War, they were driven out again. Winnegance was abandoned entirely, and remained a desolate waste for 40 years. Colonel David Dunbar, governor of the Territory of Sagadahock, laid out a town in 1730 known as Townsend, and convinced about 40 families of Scots-Irish
Presbyterians Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
, largely from the north of Ireland, to settle here. Some were veterans of the Revolution of 1688. Named for
Lord Charles Townshend Charles Townshend (1725–1767) was a British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Charles Townshend may also refer to: *Charles Fox Townshend (1795–1817), founder of the Eton Society *Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend (1700–1764), father of th ...
, this settlement survived and was incorporated November 3, 1764. It was renamed Boothbay in 1842 after the hamlet of Boothby, which is located about a mile east of Welton le Marsh in Lincolnshire, England. Southport was set off in 1842 and incorporated as a town, followed in 1889 by
Boothbay Harbor Boothbay Harbor is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,027 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Bayville, Sprucewold, and West Boothbay Harbor. During summer months, the entire Boothbay Harbor regio ...
.


Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and is water. Situated on the Cape Newagen
peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...
extending into the Gulf of Maine, Boothbay lies between the
Sheepscot River The Sheepscot River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 22, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Maine. Its lower portion is a complex island estuary with connections to ...
and
Damariscotta River The Damariscotta River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 22, 2011 tidal river in Lincoln County, Maine, that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. ''Damariscotta'' ...
. The town includes
Damariscove Island Damariscove is an uninhabited island that is part of Boothbay Harbor, Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about off the coast at the mouth of the Damariscotta River. The long, narrow island is approximately long and at its widest point. The ...
. Boothbay is crossed by State Routes 27 and 96. It borders the towns of
Edgecomb Edgecomb is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,188 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of East Edgecomb, North Edgecomb, and Pools Landing. The town was named for George Edgcumbe, 1st Earl of Mount Edgc ...
to the north, and
Boothbay Harbor Boothbay Harbor is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,027 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Bayville, Sprucewold, and West Boothbay Harbor. During summer months, the entire Boothbay Harbor regio ...
to the south. Separated by water, it is near the towns of Westport to the west, and South Bristol to the east.


Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Boothbay has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Boothbay, Maine
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Demographics


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,120 people, 1,386 households, and 963 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 2,474 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 1,386 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.63. The median age in the town was 51.7 years; 17.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.9% were from 25 to 44; 35.1% were from 45 to 64; and 24.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.


2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,960 people, 1,261 households, and 881 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 2,046 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 99.05% White, 0.03% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.14%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.10% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.51% of the population. There were 1,261 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77. In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $41,406, and the median income for a family was $45,761. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $28,370 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,036. About 5.5% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.


Sites of interest

*
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden in Boothbay, Maine. It was opened in 2007.
*
Bosarge Family Education Center The Bosarge Family Education Center in Boothbay, Maine, United States is an 8,200-square-foot facility at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens built in 2011. It has attained LEED Platinum certification, the highest level that USGBC offers, and has ...
* Damarsicove Island *
Damariscove Lifesaving Station The Damariscove Lifesaving Station is a historic coastal maritime rescue facility, located on Damariscove Island in Boothbay, Maine. The station was built in 1897, and is one of the more architecturally distinguished of the surviving stations. I ...
*
Knight-Corey House The Knight-Corey House is a historic house on Corey Lane in Boothbay, Maine. Built in 1787, it is a high quality local example of Federal period architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Description and ...
* Fisherman Island *
Old Gray House The Old Gray House, also known as the Hodgden-Merrow House, is a historic house at 60 Tavenner Road, on Sawyers Island in Boothbay, Maine. The house, probably built in the 1820s, but possibly older (or including older sections), is built on a s ...
*
Ram Island Light Ram Island Light is a lighthouse located just offshore of Ram Island, marking the eastern entrance to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and the west side of the mouth of the Damariscotta River. It was built in 1883 and automated in 1965. It was listed ...


Notable people

*
Brenda Bettinson Brenda Bettinson (born 1929) is a British-American artist, muralist, radio station art editor, and professor. Biography Bettinson was born in 1929 in King's Lynn, England. Her father Randall C. Bettinson served in the Royal Engineers Regiment. ...
, artist *
Mabel Conkling Mabel Harris Conkling (November 17, 1871 – October 11, 1966) was an American sculptor, and president of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors from 1926 to 1928. Early life Mabel Viola Harris was born in Boothbay, Maine, the d ...
, sculptor *
Robert H. Conn Robert Henry Conn (June 8, 1925 – August 4, 2020) was an American state official. He served as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) from 1981 to 1984 and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management ...
, American state official *
Francis C. Florini Francis Constant Florini (September 7, 1919 – October 17, 2008) was an American politician who served as the twenty-sixth Mayor of North Adams, Massachusetts. Florini died at the age of 89 on October 17, 2008. See also * List of mayors o ...
, politician * Richard Ford, author *
Matthew Forgues Matthew Forgues (born April 17, 1992) is an American racewalker. Forgues earned gold for the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Forgues was runner up in the 50 km walk at the 2020 United States Olympic ...
, racewalker *
Woodbury S. Grover Woodbury S. Grover was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Grover was born on December 3, 1830, in Townsend, Maine. On February 25, 1856, he married Angeline Potter. In 1858, Grover took his wife and their daughter, Floribella, t ...
, politician *
Dorothy M. Healy Dorothy Murphy Healy (March 21, 1914 – October 16, 1990) was an American educator, historian, and curator. She was Professor of English Literature at Westbrook College, Portland, Maine, where she also served in various administrative capacities ...
, English professor and historian *
T. J. Southard Thomas Jefferson Southard (June 18, 1808 – September 20, 1896) was an American shipbuilding, shipbuilder, ship owner, entrepreneur, politician and philanthropist, who is considered one of the founding fathers of Richmond, Maine. Southard rose fr ...
, shipbuilder, businessman, and politician *
John Welsh John Welsh may refer to: *John Welsh of Ayr (1568–1622), religious leader *John Welsh of Irongray, religious leader *John Welsh (actor) (1904–1985), Irish actor *John Welsh (Australian footballer) (born 1938), Australian rules football player f ...
, biologist


See also

*


References


Further reading


History of Boothbay, Southport and Boothbay Harbor, Maine
1623–1905, by Francis Byron Greene; published 1906


External links


Town of Boothbay, Maine

Boothbay Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control 1764 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies Populated places established in 1764 Towns in Lincoln County, Maine