Atkinson is an unincorporated township and former

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in Piscataquis County,

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

, United States, and part of the unorganized territory of Southeast Piscataquis, Maine. Its population was 326 at the 2010 census.

History

The township was named after Judge Atkinson, a landholder. It was settled in 1804 and incorporated as a town on February 12, 1819. Following three votes by the town to deorganize, the state legislature approved the town's efforts with a law taking effect on April 12, 2018. The town's residents confirmed their desire to deorganize by a vote of 187 of 19 on November 6, 2018. The town officially deorganized on July 1, 2019.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the township has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 326 people, 135 households, and 91 families residing in the township. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 198 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.9%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, and 1.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population. There were 135 households, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the township was 47.8 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 35% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the township was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 323 people, 132 households, and 97 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 198 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 99.69%

, and 0.31% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population. There were 132 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were

living together, 0.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.81. In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.6 males. The median income for a household in the township was $29,821, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $30,469 versus $25,313 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the township was $14,755. About 8.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

* Edward Bunker, Mormon pioneer, founded Bunkerville, Nevada * The infamous Israel Dammon trial occurred here.

References

External links

Three Rivers Community of Maine

Photograph of Atkinson, Maine, ca. 1900, from the Maine Memory Network
{{Piscataquis County, Maine Populated places disestablished in 2019 Populated places in Piscataquis County, Maine Former towns in Maine