Fryeburg (town), Maine

Fryeburg is a town located in Oxford County, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,083.

History

Fryeburg, originally a small frontier settlement, has matured from being a strategic British outpost in the first half of the eighteenth century, and an erected "Tract of Land" suitable for residential development in the second, to an incorporated town from the close of the 1700s to the present¹. Its founder, British General Joseph Frye is widely regarded as the leader responsible for securing the lands upon which it sits from local Algonquians and their French trading partners, both (at the time) enemies of the crown. On the eve of American independence, the royal colony of Maine granted township priviledges to Fryeburg. These were recognized and validated by the Continental American government on January 11, 1777.

Fryeburg stakes claims to many historical events known to have occurred on its soil. Among them were several skirmishes between the Pequawkets, regional native villagers considered Abenaki by tribe, and British expeditionary forces. Other noteworthy contributions the town has made to posterity include Daniel Webster's teaching stint at its preparatory secondary school, Fryeburg Academy, and the residency of writer Clarence E. Mulford.

¹Colony of Maine. Act of Incorporation – Organization of Town. 1776.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 170.6 km² (65.9 mi²). 151.1 km² (58.3 mi²) of it is land and 19.5 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 11.42% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 3,083 people, 1,245 households, and 841 families residing in the town. The population density is 20.4/km² (52.8/mi²). There are 1,648 housing units at an average density of 10.9/km² (28.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.15% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,245 households out of which 30.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% are married couples living together, 9.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 27.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the town the population is spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $34,333, and the median income for a family is $40,128. Males have a median income of $26,469 versus $20,486 for females. The per capita income for the town is $18,658. 11.6% of the population and 9.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

See also: Fryeburg (CDP), Maine