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Long Island, Maine

Coordinates: 43°41′03″N 70°10′16″W / 43.68417°N 70.17111°W / 43.68417; -70.17111
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Long Island, Maine
Town
Official seal of Long Island, Maine
Seal
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Coordinates: 43°41′34″N 70°9′17″W / 43.69278°N 70.15472°W / 43.69278; -70.15472
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyCumberland
IncorporationJuly 1, 1993
VillagesLong Island
Mariner
Area
[1]
 • Total
33.52 sq mi (86.82 km2)
 • Land1.42 sq mi (3.68 km2)
 • Water32.10 sq mi (83.14 km2)
Elevation
14 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
234
 • Density165/sq mi (63.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
04050
Area code207
FIPS code23-41067
GNIS feature ID1729676
Websitewww.townoflongisland.us

Long Island is an island town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, which seceded from the city of Portland in 1993. The population was 234 at the 2020 census.[2] It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.52 square miles (86.82 km2), of which 1.42 square miles (3.68 km2) is land and 32.10 square miles (83.14 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2000202—
201023013.9%
20202341.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

The total population of 202 only includes year-round residents. A significant number of seasonal residents causes the population to swell to over 700 during the summer.[citation needed] There are 175 registered voters on Long Island.

Long Island maintains its own elementary school from grades K–5, but sends students to Portland for schooling from grades 6 through 12.

2010 census

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As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 230 people, 99 households, and 70 families living in the town. The population density was 162.0 inhabitants per square mile (62.5/km2). There were 381 housing units at an average density of 268.3 per square mile (103.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.5% White, 2.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 99 households, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the town was 52 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 28.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

2000 census

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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 202 people, 93 households, and 61 families living in the town. The population density was 141.2 inhabitants per square mile (54.5/km2). There were 353 housing units at an average density of 246.8 per square mile (95.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.03% White, 0.99% Asian, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 93 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $43,214. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,278. About 10.0% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.1% of those 65 or over.

History

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Long Island, like other Casco Bay islands, was originally inhabited in the warm months by Native Americans until European settlers first arrived in the 17th century. Col. Ezekiel Cushing purchased the island in 1732 and is credited with being the first European to settle and build a house on the island.[citation needed] He died in 1765, and willed the island to his nine surviving children. Soon after, other settlers arrived to make a livelihood out of farming, fishing, and catching lobsters.[citation needed]

During World War II, Casco Bay became United States Navy base Sail for destroyers escorting HX, SC, and ON convoys of the Battle of the Atlantic.[6] Facilities constructed on the island included the Torpedo Control Officers School of the Portland Naval Training Center, a navy supply pier with a naval fuel annex[7] often cited as a source of contamination for both the island's marsh and Casco Bay, and the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Casco Bay seaplane base operated as part of Naval Air Station Brunswick from 14 May 1943 to 15 December 1946.[8][9] The United States Army Coast Artillery Corps built two batteries of 90 mm dual-purpose guns on the island as the Long Island Military Reservation, part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland.[10]

After the war, tourism became the most popular industry, and several small stores, a fire station, and a K–5 school (1953) were built. In the summer, several hundred or even thousands of tourists travel from places such as Massachusetts and New York to vacation in their summer cottages.[citation needed]

The island was originally part of the city of Portland, which re-evaluated property taxes in 1990. Due in part to high real estate prices paid by out-of-state residents and property aesthetic values, property taxes increased substantially. Many residents felt this move created an unfair discrepancy between the money paid to the City of Portland and the services they received in return. The island voted to secede from Portland, and on July 1, 1993, the island was declared the Town of Long Island. The Long Island Historical Society[11] now houses every news article that was printed about the secession movement as well as video and film footage of the secession ceremonies. These archives also include copies of the local and national news coverage given to the community during its "rebellion".

References

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  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Long Island town, Cumberland County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ Morison, Samuel Eliot (1975). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume I: The Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1943. Little, Brown and Company. p. 68.
  7. ^ "U.S.Navy Activities World War II by State". U.S. Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  8. ^ "Patrol Squadron Shore Establishments" (PDF). United States Navy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-04-27. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  9. ^ "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Southern Maine". Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  10. ^ Berhow, Mark A., ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide (Third ed.). McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. pp. 204–205. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.
  11. ^ Long Island Historical Society
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Long Island, Maine.

43°41′03″N 70°10′16″W / 43.68417°N 70.17111°W / 43.68417; -70.17111

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