Liberty, Maine

Liberty, Maine
Town
Masonic Building on Main Street, c. 1904
Location of Liberty (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine Location of Liberty (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Waldo
Area
• Total	28.40 sq mi (73.56 km2)
• Land	26.00 sq mi (67.34 km2)
• Water	2.40 sq mi (6.22 km2)
Elevation	650 ft (198 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	913
• Estimate (2012)	915
• Density	35.1/sq mi (13.6/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	04949
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-39055
GNIS feature ID	0582555

Liberty is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 913 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.40 square miles (73.56 km²), of which, 26.00 square miles (67.34 km²) of it is land and 2.40 square miles (6.22 km²) is water. The largest water body in the town is St. George Lake.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	676		—
1840	895		32.4%
1850	1,116		24.7%
1860	1,095		−1.9%
1870	907		−17.2%
1880	970		6.9%
1890	835		−13.9%
1900	737		−11.7%
1910	650		−11.8%
1920	571		−12.2%
1930	516		−9.6%
1940	499		−3.3%
1950	497		−0.4%
1960	458		−7.8%
1970	515		12.4%
1980	694		34.8%
1990	790		13.8%
2000	927		17.3%
2010	913		−1.5%
Est. 2014	925		1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 913 people, 395 households, and 259 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.1 inhabitants per square mile (13.6/km²). There were 718 housing units at an average density of 27.6 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 395 households of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 47.2 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.1% were from 25 to 44; 38.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 927 people, 362 households, and 258 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.8 people per square mile (13.8/km²). There were 674 housing units at an average density of 26.0 per square mile (10.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.81% White, 0.11% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 362 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% are married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $37,969. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $24,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,201. 17.1% of the population and 15.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.8% of those under the age of 18 and 13.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

The midcoast area of Maine was inhabited by coastal and woodland Native Americans such as the Abenaki(or Wabanaki) until they were mostly dislocated by Europeans beginning in the 17th century.

The first European (English) people moved into the area in and around Liberty in the late 18th century. The first settlement was then known as Davistown Plantation, which is incorporated into neighboring Montville in the early 19th century. Mills in Liberty produced materials that were used in the shipbuilding industry that thrived in nearby coastal towns, such as Waldoboro, during the early 19th century.

In 1827 Liberty separated from Montville and was incorporated as a town.

The middle to late 19th century saw a decline in population and goods produced. This correlates with the decline of the shipbuilding industry.

Notable people

• Susan Longley, state legislator

Further reading

• Hurwitz, Alfred. History of Liberty, Maine, 1827-1975. Liberty, Maine,
• Liberty Historical Soc., Thorndike, Maine, Hutchins Brothers, c1975.
• Liberty Maine Historical Committee. The town of Liberty: bits history and geography.
• N. White. Thorndike, Maine, c1927.

External links

• The Davistown Museum Davistown History Project
• The Ivan O. Davis ~ Liberty Library
• Lake St. George State Park
• Walker School
• Maine Genealogy: Liberty, Waldo County, Maine
• Liberty Village Facebook Page
• Liberty Lakes Association (C.A.L.L.)