Editing China, Maine

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = China, Maine
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

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|image_map                = Kennebec County Maine incorporated and unincorporated areas China highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 300px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]] and the state of [[Maine]].

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|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        = [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec]]
|parts_type               = Villages
|parts                    = [[China Village, Maine|China&nbsp;Village]]<br>Dirigo&nbsp;Corner<br>Palermo&nbsp;(part)<br>[[South China, Maine|South&nbsp;China]]<br>Weeks&nbsp;Mills
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name ="Gazetteer files"/>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 147.27
|area_land_km2            = 129.19
|area_water_km2           = 18.08
|area_total_sq_mi         = 56.86
|area_land_sq_mi          = 49.88
|area_water_sq_mi         = 6.98

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 4408
|population_density_km2   = 34.1
|population_density_sq_mi =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 285
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|25|47|N|69|32|15|W|region:US-ME|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 04358 ([[South China, Maine|South China]])<br/>04926 ([[China Village, Maine|China Village]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 207|207]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 23-12735
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0582410 <ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|582410}}</ref>
|website                  =  {{URL|www.china.govoffice.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''China''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]], [[Maine]], United States. The population was 4,408 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2301112735|title=Census - Geography Profile: China town, Kennebec County, Maine|access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> China is included in the [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]], Maine micropolitan [[New England city and town area|NECTA]].

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|56.86|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|49.88|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|6.98|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> Bodies of water in the town include [[China Lake (Maine)|China Lake]] (3939 acres), Three Mile Pond (1174 acres), and Branch Pond (310 acres).

China is bordered on the northwest by [[Winslow, Maine|Winslow]], the northeast by [[Albion, Maine|Albion]], on the east by [[Palermo, Maine|Palermo]], on the south by [[Windsor, Maine|Windsor]], and on the west by [[Vassalboro, Maine|Vassalboro]]. It is served by [[U.S. Route 202 in Maine|U.S. Route 202]], State Routes [[Maine State Route 32|32]], [[Maine State Route 9|9]] and [[Maine State Route 3|3]].

===China Lake===

{{main|China Lake (Maine)}}
'''China Lake''' is a lake in the town. China Lake has two large basins connected by a narrow neck. The elongated eastern basin with an average depth of less than 30 feet (9.1 m) is entirely within the town of China, and has an irregular shoreline developed with residences and seasonal cottages.

===Climate===

This [[climate|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, China has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=593602&cityname=China%2C+Maine%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for China, Maine]</ref>

== History ==

In 1774, a family named Clark settled in the area and established Jones' Plantation. In 1796, Jones' Plantation was incorporated as Harlem. The area's name was provided by Massachusetts legislative member [[Japheth Wasburn]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chinatwp.net/Community/TownshipHistory.aspx|title = China Township > Community > Township History}}</ref> On June 25, 1818, the Town of China was incorporated by combining Harlem, Fairfax (Albion), and Winslow.<ref>
{{cite web
|title = Illustrated History of Kennebec County, Maine
|year = 1892
|publisher = New York, Blake
|url = https://archive.org/stream/illustratedhisto00king#page/1142/mode/2up/search/harlem
|quote = "...in June, 1818, the town of Harlem was divided, the north portion being joined with parts of Lygonia (now Albion) and Winslow, to form the new town of China. Four years later the remainder of Harlem was annexed to China."
}}
</ref>

The name of the town was chosen by Japheth Washburn.  He wanted to call the town Bloomville, but people from the town of Bloomfield objected, saying that the similarity of names could cause confusion.  Mr. Washburn settled on the name China, because it was the name of one of his favorite hymns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Information from the Town Clerk: How China Got Its Name |url=https://china.govoffice.com/index.asp?SEC=614623C3-07DD-46C9-96D2-FD4F13C6C591&Type=B_BASIC |website=Official Website of the Town of China, Maine |access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>  This widely sung hymn was written by [[Timothy Swan]] of Northfield, Massachusetts in 1790 and was published in Swan's "New England Harmony" in 1801.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TIMOTHY SWAN (1758-1843) |url=https://suffield-library.org/localhistory/swan.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116235558/https://suffield-library.org/localhistory/swan.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |publisher=Kent Memorial Library}}</ref>
 
China had a fourth district located at the height of land between Palermo and Albion, part of which is located today in what is known as Thurston Park. It was in this area that numerous families of African-American descent settled. Their history, spanning roughly 1790 to 1860, can be itemized in the Maine state archives. Some cemetery plots can still be located with a guide, including a large obelisk stone in memory of "Tolbot" on a high wooded ridge which was also the location of an early shingle mill. Other burial and foundation sites are also present and can best be located by using early census maps and their indicators.

It is theorized that these families migrated here because it represented a safe area which [[slave catchers]] would not approach as China and several other towns were "Quaker" towns which would not tolerate slave catchers, no matter what either federal Fugitive Slave Act demanded.

== Localities ==

The town of China contains five villages: [[China Village, Maine|China Village]], [[South China, Maine|South China]], China, Weeks Mills, and Branch Mills.

== Government ==

At a yearly [[town meeting]] citizens elect five Town Selectmen, one of whom is chosen as chairman.  The citizens also outline the budget for the coming year.  The Selectmen appoint a Town Manager who oversees the daily operation of the town.

== Education ==

China is part of [[Regional school unit (Maine)|Regional School Unit]] 18 (China, Rome, Belgrade, Sidney and Oakland). China students are given the choice of attending any public high school including nearby schools in Winslow, Waterville, Augusta and Oakland. There is also a private high school, Erskine Academy, in South China.

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1800= 587
|1810= 939
|1820= 894
|1830= 2233
|1840= 2675
|1850= 2769
|1860= 2719
|1870= 2118
|1880= 1769
|1890= 1423
|1900= 1380
|1910= 1297
|1920= 1257
|1930= 1163
|1940= 1252
|1950= 1375
|1960= 1561
|1970= 1850
|1980= 2918
|1990= 3713
|2000= 4106
|2010= 4328
|2020= 4408
|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 4,328 people, 1,718 households, and 1,234 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|86.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,316 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 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 0.9% of the population.

There were 1,718 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the town was 42.1 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 33.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.8% male and 50.2% 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 4,106 people, 1,549 households, and 1,175 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|82.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,029 housing units at an average density of {{convert|40.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.98% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.15% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.39% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.05% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 1,549 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $42,768. Males had a median income of $31,802 versus $23,371 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,262.  About 2.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
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· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with China, 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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* [[Gerry Boyle]], mystery author
* [[Rufus Jones (writer)|Rufus Jones]], Quaker theologian
* [[Brendan Kehoe]], author
* [[Mary Mayhew]], lobbyist and politician
* [[Laroy S. Starrett]], inventor

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://china.govoffice.com}}
*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mecchina/china.htm China, Maine: History & Genealogy]

{{Kennebec County, Maine}}
{{Kennebec River}}

{{coord|44|28|43|N|69|31|02|W|type:city_region:US-ME|display=title}}

[[Category:China, Maine| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Kennebec County, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Maine]]