Editing Manchester, Maine

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Manchester, Maine
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "The way life is!"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.manchester.govoffice2.com/|title= Town of Manchester, Maine
|publisher= Town of Manchester, Maine|access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Manchester, Maine.jpg

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Kennebec County Maine incorporated and unincorporated areas Manchester highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 300px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]] and the state of [[Maine]].

<!-- 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        = [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1775
|established_title1       = Incorporated (town)
|established_date1        = August 12, 1850

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name ="Gazetteer files"/>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 58.59
|area_land_km2            = 55.40
|area_water_km2           = 3.19
|area_total_sq_mi         = 22.62
|area_land_sq_mi          = 21.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.23

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_total         = 2456
|population_density_km2   = 44.3
|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              = 67
|elevation_ft             = 220
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|18|50|N|69|52|34|W|region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 04351
|area_code                = [[Area code 207|207]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 23-43080
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0582578
|website                  = [http://www.manchester.govoffice2.com Town of Manchester, Maine]
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Manchester''' is a town in [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]], [[Maine]], United States, located at {{coord|44.33|N|69.87|W|}}.  The population was 2,456 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2301143080|title=Census - Geography Profile: Manchester town, Kennebec County, Maine|access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> The southern part of the town bordering [[Cobbosseecontee Lake]] is a popular recreation spot in central Maine, and part of the [[Winthrop, Maine#Winthrop Lakes Region|Winthrop Lakes Region]]. Manchester is included in the [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]], Maine micropolitan and included in the [[Lewiston-Auburn]], Maine metropolitan [[New England City and Town Area]].

==History==
In the early 19th century, the town was known as "The Forks".<ref | name="MAGDE">{{cite book |last= Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums |editor=Doris A. Isaacson |title=Maine: A Guide 'Down East' |year=1970 |publisher=Courier-Gazette, Inc. |location=Rockland, Me | pages = 161 }}</ref> The town was named Manchester after [[Manchester, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2218|title= Profile for Manchester Maine, ME|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= August 26, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080046/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2218|archive-date= October 23, 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|22.62|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|21.39|sqmi|sqkm|2}}  is land and {{convert|1.23|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=2012-12-16}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 813
|1870= 732
|1880= 623
|1890= 612
|1900= 518
|1910= 601
|1920= 485
|1930= 492
|1940= 626
|1950= 664
|1960= 1068
|1970= 1331
|1980= 1949
|1990= 2099
|2000= 2465
|2010= 2580
|2020= 2456
|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=2012-12-16}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,580 people, 1,044 households, and 761 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|120.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,255 housing units at an average density of {{convert|58.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.2% 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 1,044 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.1% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the town was 46.2 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 35.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,465 people, 977 households, and 733 families living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|116.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,181 housing units at an average density of {{convert|55.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.81% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.04% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.37% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 977 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% 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 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $59,048. Males had a median income of $43,269 versus $27,450 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $28,043.  About 1.8% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==

* [[Shenna Bellows]], executive director of the Maine ACLU and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014
* [[Laurie G. Lachance]], President, [[Thomas College]]
* [[Samantha Smith]], schoolgirl, peace activist and child actress
* [[Walter Wheeler (politician)|Walter Wheeler]], member of the [[Maine House of Representatives]] (2002–2010)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.manchester.govoffice2.com/ Manchester official site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070221111220/http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Manchester-Maine.cfm Manchester Community Profile]

{{Kennebec County, Maine}}
{{Kennebec River}}
{{Authority control}}

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