Editing Sagadahoc County, Maine

{{short description|County in Maine, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Sagadahoc County
 | state                = Maine
 | ex image             = Doubling Point Light with Bath Iron Works.JPG
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = [[Doubling Point Light]] and [[Bath Iron Works]]
 | seal                 = Seal of Sagadahoc County, Maine.jpg
 | founded date         = February 14
 | founded year         = 1854
 | seat wl              = Bath
 | largest city wl      = Topsham
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 370
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 254
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 116
 | area percentage      = 31%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 36699
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | named for            = [[Abenaki language|Abenaki]] word meaning "mouth of the big river;"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sagcounty.com|title=Sagadahoc County}}</ref> a former name for the [[Kennebec River]]
 | web                  = sagadahoccountyme.gov
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Eastern
}}

'''Sagadahoc County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|ɡ|ə|d|ə|h|ɒ|k}} {{Respell|SAG|ə|də|hok}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maine]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 36,699.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Sagadahoc County, Maine|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US23023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 21, 2021}}</ref>  Its [[county seat]] is [[Bath, Maine|Bath]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> In geographic area, it is the smallest county in Maine.

Sagadahoc County is part of the [[Portland, Maine|Portland]]–[[South Portland, Maine|South Portland]], ME [[Portland metropolitan area, Maine|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==

===Exploration and settlement===
Sagadahoc County was initially part of [[York County, Maine|York]] and, later, [[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln County]] before being set off and incorporated in 1854. The name comes from the "Sagadahoc River", an early name for the [[Kennebec River]].{{cn|date=April 2025}} [[Samuel de Champlain]] led the first known visit of Europeans to the region. In 1607, the English [[Popham Colony]] was established in what is now [[Phippsburg, Maine|Phippsburg]]; it was abandoned a year later, but English fishermen and [[animal trapping|trappers]] continued to visit the area. [[John Smith (explorer)|John Smith]] explored the region in 1614 and reported back to [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]], who named the Sagadahoc area "Leethe."{{cn|date=April 2025}}

When the [[Plymouth Council for New England]] was dissolved in 1635, {{convert|10000|acre|km2}} on the east side of the [[Kennebec River]] were divided up and granted to private owners. Over the years, these proprietors extended their claims through additional [[List of Maine land patents|land grants]], purchases from [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], and exploitation of the often poorly defined boundaries of their lands. By 1660, Englishmen held the titles to the whole of what is now Sagadahoc County.

When [[King Philip’s War]] broke out in 1675, the plundering of one house was the only hostile act in Sagadahoc County until August 1676, at which point three settlements were attacked and 53 people taken captive by Native Americans. The region was almost totally abandoned by settlers, and no permanent settlement was established until 1715, when [[Arrowsic, Maine|Arrowsic]] and [[Brunswick, Maine|Brunswick]] were founded. [[Ulster Scots people|Scotch-Irish]] [[Presbyterians]] began immigrating to the region in increasingly large numbers, though occasional violence persisted until 1759, when the [[French and Indian Wars]] ended in Maine.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

===Later conflicts===
There were no significant conflicts in Sagadahoc during the [[American Revolutionary War]], despite fear of attack from British [[cruiser]]s. Two British armed vessels sailed up the Kennebec River toward [[Bath, Maine|Bath]], but turned back after being attacked. In the [[War of 1812]], the [[Capture of HMS Boxer|capture of HMS ''Boxer'']] occurred nearby. During the Civil War the county furnished to the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces 2,488 men.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

===Nineteenth century===
[[Steam power]] was first used on the Kennebec as early as 1818 for propelling [[steamboat|boats]]. What became the Bath branch of the [[Maine Central Railroad]] was completed in 1849; and the [[Knox and Lincoln Railroad]] was opened in 1871. The first newspaper was published in the county in 1820.

Sagadahoc County was set off from Lincoln and incorporated in 1854, with Bath as the [[county seat]]. Its valuation in 1870 was $11,041,340. In 1880 it was $10,297,215. The polls in 1870 numbered 4,669, and in 1880, 5,182. The population in 1870 was 18,803. In 1880 it was 19,276.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

From 1880 to 2000, the county's population nearly doubled to 35,214.<ref name="CensusBureau">{{cite web | url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23023.html | title=U.S. Census Bureau – State & County QuickFacts – Sagadahoc County | access-date=August 10, 2007}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|370|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|254|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|116|sqmi}} (31%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_23.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909034104/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_23.txt|archive-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> It is the smallest county in Maine by area.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]] – north
*[[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln County]] – east
*[[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland County]] – west
*[[Androscoggin County, Maine|Androscoggin County]] – northwest

===National protected area===
* [[Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 21790
|1870= 18803
|1880= 19272
|1890= 19452
|1900= 20330
|1910= 18574
|1920= 23021
|1930= 16927
|1940= 19123
|1950= 20911
|1960= 22793
|1970= 23452
|1980= 28795
|1990= 33535
|2000= 35214
|2010= 35293
|2020= 36699
|estyear=2023
|estimate=37513
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/me190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref> 2010-2016<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23023.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 19, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===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,<ref name="U.S. Census data">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23023lk.html|title=State & County "QuickFacts": Sagadahoc County|access-date=May 13, 2007|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210213623/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23/23023lk.html|archive-date=February 10, 2007}}</ref> there were 35,214 people, 14,117 households, and 9,641 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|139|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 16,489 housing units at an average density of {{convert|65|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.49% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.92% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.63% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.21% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 14,117 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% 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 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,908, and the median income for a family was $49,714. Males had a median income of $34,039 versus $24,689 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,378. About 6.90% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

22.0% were of [[English people|English]], 11.6% [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.1% [[French people|French]], 10.6% [[United States]] or American, 8.0% [[French Canadian]] and 7.3% [[German people|German]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 96.1% spoke [[English language|English]] and 2.2% [[French language|French]] as their first language.

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Sagadahoc County has the lowest rate of immunization of two-year-olds in the state, at 26%, only a third of the statewide average of 75% and more than 30% lower than the next lowest county in the state.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 35,293&nbsp;people, 15,088&nbsp;households, and 9,869&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23023
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012820/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US23023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|139.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 18,288 housing units at an average density of {{convert|72.1|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23023
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162549/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US23023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 26.9% were [[English people|English]], 16.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.8% were [[Germans|German]], 8.1% were [[French Canadian]], 6.6% were [[Italians|Italian]], 6.5% were [[Scottish people|Scottish]], and 6.4% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23023
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031351/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US23023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 15,088&nbsp;households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.6% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 44.1 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $55,486 and the median income for a family was $66,650. Males had a median income of $46,068 versus $35,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,983. About 5.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23023
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 21, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024400/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US23023
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Politics==

===State senators representing Sagadahoc County===
*'''Senator [[Pamela Cahill]], R-Woolwich, 1986–1994'''
*'''Senator [[Mary Small (politician)|Mary Small]], R-Bath, 1994–2002'''
*'''Senator [[Arthur Mayo (politician)|Arthur Mayo III]], R/D-Bath, 2002–2006'''
*'''Senator Paula Benoit, R-Phippsburg, 2006–2008'''
*'''Senator [[Seth Goodall]], D-Richmond, 2008–2013'''
** Eloise Vitelli was elected to the Maine Senate in the special election to replace Senator Goodall.
*'''Senator [[Linda Baker]], R-Topsham, 2014–2017'''
*'''Senator [[Eloise Vitelli]], D-Arrowsic, 2017–Present'''

===Voter Registration===
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="Maine SOS">{{cite web |author1=Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions |title=Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide |url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/data/data-pdf/r-e-active.pdf |website=Maine SOS |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 10336}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |10336 |27577 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unenrolled
| align = center | {{formatnum: 8177}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |8177 |27577 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 7501}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |7501 |27577 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Green Party (United States)}}
| [[Maine Green Independent Party|Green Independent]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 1105}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |1105 |27577 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|No Labels}}
| [[No Labels]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 370}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |370 |27577 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 88}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |88 |27577 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 27577}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}
{{clear}}

===Presidential election results===
Sagadahoc County is a reliable state bellwether, having voted for Maine's statewide winner in every presidential election since 1948.
{{PresHead|place=Sagadahoc County, Maine|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=August 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|9,917|13,982|557|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|9,755|13,528|755|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|9,304|10,664|1,648|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|8,429|11,821|544|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|8,721|12,152|428|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|9,497|11,107|475|Maine}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|8,052|8,844|1,510|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,346|8,417|3,161|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,917|6,828|5,768|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|8,825|6,212|121|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,222|5,208|90|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,946|5,663|1,536|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,988|5,529|359|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,463|3,414|13|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|4,126|5,553|209|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,733|7,006|1|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,386|3,965|0|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,201|2,301|0|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,799|2,850|19|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,745|2,556|71|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,883|4,003|3|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,504|4,575|13|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|3,707|3,273|150|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|4,220|2,763|54|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,605|1,583|20|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,518|1,084|200|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,857|1,709|76|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,828|1,791|111|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|885|1,331|1,281|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,776|838|161|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,948|754|216|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,245|1,025|211|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,725|957|124|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,265|1,278|154|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,536|1,246|228|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,730|1,278|257|Maine}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|2,932|1,761|48|Maine}}
|}

==Communities==
===City===
*[[Bath, Maine|Bath]] (county seat)

===Towns===
*[[Arrowsic, Maine|Arrowsic]]
*[[Bowdoin, Maine|Bowdoin]]
*[[Bowdoinham, Maine|Bowdoinham]]
*[[Georgetown, Maine|Georgetown]]
*[[Phippsburg, Maine|Phippsburg]]
*[[Richmond, Maine|Richmond]]
*[[Topsham, Maine|Topsham]]
*[[West Bath, Maine|West Bath]]
*[[Woolwich, Maine|Woolwich]]

===Unorganized territory===
*[[Perkins Township, Maine|Perkins Township]] (Swan Island)

===Census-designated places===
*[[Bowdoinham (CDP), Maine|Bowdoinham]]
*[[Richmond (CDP), Maine|Richmond]]
*[[Topsham (CDP), Maine|Topsham]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sagadahoc County, Maine]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sagcounty.com Sagadahoc County government]
*[http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=sagadahoc_county Maine Genealogy: Sagadahoc County, Maine]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Sagadahoc County, Maine
|North     = [[Kennebec County, Maine|Kennebec County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Lincoln County, Maine|Lincoln County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland County]]
|Northwest = [[Androscoggin County, Maine|Androscoggin County]]
}}
{{Sagadahoc County, Maine}}
{{Maine}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|43.91|-69.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ME_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Sagadahoc County, Maine| ]]
[[Category:Maine counties]]
[[Category:Maine placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Maine]]
[[Category:Portland metropolitan area, Maine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]