Editing Bowdoin, Maine

{{Short description| Town in the state of Maine, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Bowdoin, Maine
| settlement_type    = [[New England town|Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              =

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Maine Route 125 southbound, Bowdoin ME.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = [[Maine State Route 125]] Going into Bowdoin Center from [[Bowdoinham, Maine|Bowdoinham]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         =

<!-- Maps -->
|pushpin_map              = Maine#USA
|pushpin_label            = Bowdoin
|pushpin_label_position   = top <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
| map_caption        = 
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       =

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Maine]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Maine|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Sagadahoc County, Maine|Sagadahoc]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1788

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name ="Gazetteer files"/>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 112.87
| area_land_km2      = 112.56
| area_water_km2     = 0.31
| area_total_sq_mi   = 43.58
| area_land_sq_mi    = 43.46
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.12

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 3136
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 27.9

<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 90
| elevation_ft       = 295
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|2|53|N|69|58|6|W|region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 04287
| area_code          = [[Area code 207|207]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 23-06260
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0582360
| website            = {{URL|bowdoinmaine.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Bowdoin''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Sagadahoc County, Maine]], United States. Bowdoin is included in the [[Lewiston-Auburn]], Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 3,136 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2302306260|title=Census - Geography Profile: Bowdoin town, Sagadahoc County, Maine|access-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
Bowdoin is 31 land miles north of [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], and 21 land miles south of [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]] (Maine’s state capital).

==History==

Bowdoin was part of a tract of land extending from [[Merrymeeting Bay]] to the [[Androscoggin River]] that was conveyed in 1752 by the Kennebec Company to William Bowdoin of [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], older brother of [[James Bowdoin]]. Originally called West Bowdoinham Plantation, it was settled some years before the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. In 1773, William Bowdoin died, and by 1779 James Bowdoin had legal claim to the area and was granting deeds. It contained about 121 families when the town was incorporated by the [[Massachusetts General Court]] on March 21, 1788, named after the Bowdoin family. In 1799, it ceded land to form Thompsonborough, whose name changed in 1802 to [[Lisbon, Maine|Lisbon]]. In 1834, it ceded more territory to Lisbon.<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book  | last = Coolidge  | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield  | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge  | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n91 60]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.  }}</ref>

Bowdoin developed as an [[agriculture|agricultural]] town, raising [[sheep]] and producing [[apple]]s, [[wheat]], [[hay]] and [[potato]]es. Other industries included an [[ice]] company, [[sawmill]], [[gristmill]], [[carding]] mill and [[brickmaking|brickyard]]. Since 1993, [[alpaca]]s have been raised in the town.<ref>[http://www.link75.org/bcs/grade4/BowdoinHist/bowdoinhist.html History of Bowdoin, Maine] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007064921/http://www.link75.org/bcs/grade4/BowdoinHist/bowdoinhist.html |date=October 7, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2023, four people were [[2023 Bowdoin–Yarmouth shootings|killed in a shooting]] and three more were injured. The same year, [[Lewiston shootings|18 people were shot dead]] in a shooting rampage in nearby [[Lewiston, Maine|Lewiston]]; the suspect’s house was in Bowdoin, and was the scene of a massive police search.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|43.58|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|43.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.12|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2010.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref> Bowdoin is drained by the [[Little River (Kennebec River)|Little River]], Dead River, as well as the east and west streams of the [[Cathance River]].

The town is served by [[U.S. Route 201]] and State Routes [[Maine State Route 138|138]] and [[Maine State Route 125|125]]. It borders the towns of [[Lisbon, Maine|Lisbon]] and [[Sabattus, Maine|Sabattus]] to the west, [[Litchfield, Maine|Litchfield]] to the north, [[Richmond, Maine|Richmond]] and [[Bowdoinham, Maine|Bowdoinham]] to the east, and [[Topsham, Maine|Topsham]] to the south.

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1790= 984
|1800= 1260
|1810= 1649
|1820= 1777
|1830= 2094
|1840= 2073
|1850= 1857
|1860= 1744
|1870= 1345
|1880= 1136
|1890= 940
|1900= 937
|1910= 814
|1920= 749
|1930= 568
|1940= 467
|1950= 638
|1960= 668
|1970= 858
|1980= 1629
|1990= 2207
|2000= 2727
|2010= 3061
|2020= 3136
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===

As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 16, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,061 people, 1,143 households, and 867 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|70.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of {{convert|27.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 1,143 households, of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the town was 40.4 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 33.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.

===2000 census===

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,727 people, 987 households, and 765 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|62.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.80% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.17% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 987 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,688, and the median income for a family was $46,094. Males had a median income of $32,975 versus $22,025 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,260.  About 7.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Public schools in the area are operated by [[Maine School Administrative District 75]].
Students K-5 go to Bowdoin Central School, 6-8 go to Mt. Ararat Middle School, and 9-12 go to [[Mt. Ararat High School]]

== Notable people ==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with Bowdoin, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
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*[[2023 Lewiston shootings|Robert Card]], US army soldier and mass shooter gunman. He is known for being the perpetrator of the deadliest shooting in the history of Maine and one of the worst in the history of the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 26, 2023|title=Lewiston shooting suspect's life, who a skilled marksman later struggled with mental health|url=https://www.centralmaine.com/2023/10/26/lewiston-shooting-suspect-a-skilled-marksman-who-played-cornhole-recently-struggled-with-mental-health/|access-date=October 26, 2023|work=centralmaine.com|language=en|archive-date=October 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026182334/https://www.centralmaine.com/2023/10/26/lewiston-shooting-suspect-a-skilled-marksman-who-played-cornhole-recently-struggled-with-mental-health/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=October 26, 2023|title=Lewiston shooting suspect's background|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/26/metro/robert-card-background/|access-date=October 26, 2023|work=centralmaine.com|language=en|archive-date=October 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026173604/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/26/metro/robert-card-background/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Mike McHugh]], hockey left wing whose professional career was spent chiefly in the minor leagues, though he played twenty games in the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bowdoinme.com/ Town of Bowdoin, Maine]
* [http://bowdoinmainehistory.org/ Bowdoin Historical Society]
* [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mebowdoi/mebow.html Bowdoin, Maine Genealogy Project]
* [http://bcs.link75.org/ Bowdoin Central School]

{{Sagadahoc County, Maine}}
{{Androscoggin River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Portland metropolitan area, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Sagadahoc County, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Maine]]