Litchfield, Maine

Litchfield is a rural town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States known for its farms, lakes, and natural scenery. The population was 3,586 at the 2020 census. Litchfield is included in the Augusta, Maine micropolitan and included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area.
Litchfield is included Wales, Maine micropolitan

History

Before white settlers arrived, Abenaki families returned each spring to fishing stations on Cobboseecontee Stream, which was part of an Abenaki trail running on the Kennebec River to Moosehead Lake.

Early settlement of Litchfield occurred around the town's many ponds, lakes, and streams. The first survey of the town occurred in 1770. In 1773, the territory of Litchfield was included in the Kennebec Purchase. William Potter settled near Potter's Mill Stream and built the town's first sawmill there in 1789. A few years later he built a grist milll. The mills were operated by his sons Amos Potter and Jeremiah Potters until about 1870.

Litchfield is found in the 1790 census as Smithtown Plantation, Lincoln County, Maine. Litchfield was first organized in 1793 as Smithfield Plantation. Litchfield was incorporated in 1795.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Litchfield has many ponds, lakes, and streams. The town has Cobbosseecontee Stream, a portion of Lake Cobbosseecontee, Pleasant Pond, and the Tacoma Lakes (Bunker Pond, Jimmy Pond, Sand Pond, Woodbury Pond), and several other ponds and streams.

Litchfield has multiple villages. Litchfield villages are Litchfield Corner, Bachelder's Corner, Plains Village, Purgatory Village.

The rare blue mineral sodalite occurs in Litchfield. The town is one of the very few locations where the rare mineral Litchfieldite is found. Litchfieldite was first named by W. S. Bayley, in 1892. Litchfieldite is named for the town of Litchfield, Maine. The first known mention of both sodalite and the mineral that is now called Litchfieldite in Litchfield was in 1845 at the sixth annual meeting of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. In 1886, Frank Wigglesworth Clarke documented sodalite, cancrinite, zircon and many other minerals located in the ledges of Litchfield.

The rocky, sandy soil of Litchfield once had a commercial mineral spring called the Forest Springs Water Company. In the 1770s early settlers from Litchfield and surrounding towns had sought the spring water during a typhoid epidemic. The Forest Springs Water Company bottled spring water at the Litchfield spring near Pleasant Pond until 1915 when the city of Gardiner installed a water filter plant.

Demographics

Adult residents of Litchfield are business owners, farmers, commuters, and retirees. There are many vacation properties in the town of Litchfield.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,624 people, 1,441 households, and 1,036 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 1,861 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 97.0% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 1,441 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.1% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the town was 43 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 34.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,110 people, 1,190 households, and 897 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 1,595 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.06% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of tradition the population.

There were 1,190 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,096, and the median income for a family was $42,220. Males had a median income of $33,000 versus $25,225 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,835. About 5.7% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Litchfield has consolidated its school system and along with Sabbatus and Wales is part of Regional School Unit (RSU) #4. Libby Tozier and Sabattus Primary schools serve Grades Pre-K–2. Carrie Ricker School serves Grades 3–5. Oak Hill Middle School serves Grades 6–8. Oak Hill High School serves Grades 9–12 and is located in Wales.

Public safety

Litchfield runs a volunteer Fire Dept. Litchfield Fire Dept. runs 2 stations, and 7 fire apparatus. They also have first responders for Medical emergencies which run 1 non-transporting ambulance. All medical emergency transports are done through Gardiner Fire Dept. Police protection is provided by Kennebec County Sheriff's Office and Maine state Police.

Litchfield Fair

The Litchfield Agricultural Society, now the Litchfield Farmer's Club, formed in 1857 and held the first Litchfield Fair in 1858. The annual fair is held at the fairgrounds on Plains Road. The fair is always held the weekend after Labor Day. Its motto is "What a Fair Should Be." The fair features agricultural demonstrations, an exhibition hall, a museum, an antique car parade, a demolition derby, carnival rides, games, food and vendors.

Recreation

Litchfield has a long history of recreation related to its many ponds, lakes, and streams. Early dance halls were Union Hall at Purgatory, Stewart's Hall at the Corner, the Tacoma Dance Hall, and the Whippoorwill Dance Hall. Camps and cottages in Litchfield host many vacationers. Many farms used to host summer boarders.

Recreational facilities in Litchfield

* Litchfield Community Park, a wooded park with a playground, walking trails, ponds, picnic tables, and a walkable Storybook Trail
* Public boat launches, located on Thorofare Road and Whippoorwill Road
* Senior Center, the Senior Center is located in the Litchfield Academy building and offers regular programs and events
* Smithfield Plantation, a 103-acre woodland with walking trails and an outdoor amphitheater
* Veteran's Memorial Park, an athletic complex with baseball field, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and a winter skating pond
* Woodbury Pond Park, a public beach with playground, picnic tables, and grills

Notable people

* Eber Baker, politician and co-founder of Marion, Ohio
* Wilmot Brookings frontier judge and South Dakotan politician
* David C. Burr, state legislator (1820–1827)
* Henry I. Emerson, U.S. Representative from Ohio
* Avery Yale Kamila, journalist and community organizer
* William H. McLellan, American lawyer, politician and 24th Attorney General of Maine
* Ormandel Smith, state legislator, Maine State Treasurer and Secretary of State of Maine
* John Day Smith, Minnesota state legislator and judge
* Andrew Tozier, Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient (born in Monmouth)
* James Franklin Ware, Wisconsin state legislator
* Jennifer Wilcox, chemical engineer

References

External links

Official website

Historical Society of Litchfield, Maine

Litchfield Fair

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Towns in Kennebec County, Maine
Towns in Maine