Editing Freedom, Maine

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Freedom Falls, Freedom, ME.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Freedom Falls {{circa|1907}}
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Waldo County Maine Incorporated Areas Freedom Highlighted.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Freedom (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[Maine]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maine|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Waldo County, Maine|Waldo]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1813

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name ="Gazetteer files"/>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 57.55
|area_land_km2            = 55.74
|area_water_km2           = 1.81
|area_total_sq_mi         = 22.22
|area_land_sq_mi          = 21.52
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.70

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 711
|population_density_km2   = 12.8
|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      = 
|elevation_m              = 169
|elevation_ft             = 554
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|30|4|N|69|19|10|W|region:US-ME|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 04941
|area_code                = [[Area code 207|207]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 23-26420
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0582480
|website                  = {{URL|www.freedomme.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Freedom''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Waldo County, Maine|Waldo County]], Maine, United States. The population was 711 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2302726420|title=Census - Geography Profile: Freedom town, Waldo County, Maine|access-date=January 23, 2022}}</ref> Freedom is a residential and recreational area.

==History==
The area was part of the Plymouth Patent. It was settled in 1794 by Stephen Smith, who was a soldier in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. First called Smithstown Plantation, it was later called Beaver Hill Plantation. During the [[War of 1812]], the town was incorporated on June 11, 1813, as Freedom, a name which had political significance. Freedom Academy was founded in 1836. The town's population was 716 inhabitants in 1870, and 652 in 1880.<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| pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n164 130]–131| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859. Also,Seth Rogen is playing Donkey Kong in the new Mario movie. }}</ref>

Principal products of farms were [[hay]] and potatoes. Sandy Stream, which is supplied by Sandy and Duck ponds, provided [[water power]] for early mills. Industries included a flour mill, [[Maize|corn]] mill, [[sawmill]] for long [[lumber]], [[roof shingle|shingle]] mill, a [[shovel]] handle factory, a [[carding]], clothing and [[woolen]] mill, and a [[Tanning (leather)|tannery]].<ref>{{Citation
  | last = Varney
  | first = George J.
  | title = Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Freedom
  | place = Boston
  | publisher = Russell
  | year = 1886
  | url = http://history.rays-place.com/me/freedom-me.htm }}
</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|22.22|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|21.52|sqmi|sqkm|2}}  is land and {{convert|0.70|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water, chiefly Sandy (Freedom) Pond (420 acres) .<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]]|accessdate=December 16, 2012}}</ref> Freedom is drained by Sandy Stream.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 788
|1830= 867
|1840= 1153
|1850= 948
|1860= 849
|1870= 716
|1880= 652
|1890= 510
|1900= 479
|1910= 780
|1920= 460
|1930= 422
|1940= 492
|1950= 466
|1960= 406
|1970= 373
|1980= 458
|1990= 593
|2000= 645
|2010= 719
|2020= 711
|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 |accessdate=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]]|accessdate=December 16, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 719 people, 292 households, and 192 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|33.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 343 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 292 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the town was 44.7 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 34.9% were from 45 to 64; and 14.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 645 people, 259 households, and 182 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|30.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 321 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.31% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 2.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.17% of the population.

There were 259 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $35,750. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,492.  About 11.6% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% 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 Freedom, 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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* [[George Willard Coy]], American mechanic, inventor and telephone pioneer
* [[Daniel F. Davis]], 37th [[List of Governors of Maine|governor of Maine]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.freedomme.org/ Town of Freedom, Maine]
* [http://www.mainememory.net/bin/Detail?ln=6619 Photograph of Freedom, Maine, {{circa|1900}}, from the Maine Memory Network]
* [http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=freedom Maine Genealogy: Freedom, Waldo County, Maine]

{{Waldo County, Maine}}

{{Coord|44|31|49|N|69|17|52|W|type:city_region:US-ME|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Waldo County, Maine]]
[[Category:Towns in Maine]]