Fayette, Maine

Fayette, Maine
Town
Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°25′47″N 70°3′52″W / 44.42972°N 70.06444°W / 44.42972; -70.06444
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Kennebec
Incorporated	February 28, 1795
Villages	Fayette North Fayette
Government
• Town Manager	Mark Robinson
Area [1]
• Total	31.51 sq mi (81.61 km2)
• Land	29.17 sq mi (75.55 km2)
• Water	2.34 sq mi (6.06 km2)
Elevation	456 ft (139 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	1,140
• Estimate  (2012[3])	1,138
• Density	39.1/sq mi (15.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-24950
GNIS feature ID	0582475
Website	fayettemaine.org

Fayette is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,140 at the 2010 census. A popular recreation spot in central Maine, Fayette is part of the Winthrop Lakes Region.

History[]

Fayette was first settled as Sterling (or Starling) Plantation in 1781, and became incorporated as the town of Fayette on February 28, 1795. Other sources state that Starling Plantation was first settled in 1779 on 7,000 acres granted by the State of Massachusetts to "Robert Paige and associates." Further publishings indicate that one Asa Wiggin laid claim to clearing the first land in Starling Plantation in the year 1779. Fayette was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French nobleman who offered his services to the Americans during the Revolution.^[4] Kent Burying Ground, which was built in 1880, is located in Fayette.

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.51 square miles (81.61 km²), of which, 29.17 square miles (75.55 km²) of it is land and 2.34 square miles (6.06 km²) is water.^[1] Fayette is home to nine lakes and ponds, which are all popular sites for recreation.^[5]

Demographics[]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 1,140 people, 491 households, and 330 families living in the town. The population density was 39.1 inhabitants per square mile (15.1/km²). There were 813 housing units at an average density of 27.9 per square mile (10.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 491 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% 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 2.75.

The median age in the town was 48 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 40.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 1,040 people, 417 households, and 296 families living in the town. The population density was 35.6 people per square mile (13.8/km²). There were 690 housing units at an average density of 23.6 per square mile (9.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.46% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.

There were 417 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $46,500. Males had a median income of $37,321 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,903. About 5.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

Fayette Central School is located in Fayette. Michael Cormier is the Superintendent of Schools.^[9] Fayette Central School received an A in Governor Lepage's Maine DOE Report Cards in 2014. Children who live in Fayette attend Fayette Central School through grade 5 and are sent to either Spruce Mountain, Winthrop, or Maranacook school districts on tuition for secondary education.

Notable people[]

• Emeline Bachelder Gurney (1816-1897); Maine folk figure. Sent as a young teen to work in the mills in Lowell, MA, she had a child out of wedlock that she gave up for adoption. At some point after her return home, her secret was discovered and she was ostracized by the Fayette community. She starved to death in her home over the winter of 1897. Emeline was profiled in an episode of the PBS series The American Experience entitled "Sins of our Mothers". She is buried at Moose Hill Cemetery in Livermore Falls, Maine; allegedly, her resting place is under the road outside the wall of the cemetery.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Fayette at Maine.Gov
• Epodunk Town Profile
• History of Fayette

Coordinates: 44°24′32″N 70°02′01″W / 44.40889°N 70.03361°W / 44.40889; -70.03361