Buckfield, Maine

Buckfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. Buckfield is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area. It is a member of Regional School Unit 10 along with nearby Hartford and Sumner. The town had a population of 1,983 as of the 2020 census.[3]

Buckfield, Maine
Town
The Zadoc Long Free Library
The Zadoc Long Free Library
Motto: 
"Where good people live"[1]
Buckfield, Maine is located in Maine
Buckfield, Maine
Buckfield, Maine
Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 44°17′43″N 70°22′2″W
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyOxford
Incorporated1793
Area
[2]
 • Total37.77 sq mi (97.82 km2)
 • Land37.53 sq mi (97.20 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2)
Elevation
374 ft (114 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,983
 • Density53/sq mi (20.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04220
Area code207
FIPS code23-08710
GNIS feature ID0582376
WebsiteTown of Buckfield, Maine

History

It was first settled in 1776 by Benjamin Spaulding from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, a fur trapper. Abijah Buck and Thomas Allen settled in the area in spring of 1777 with their families. In 1785, the inhabitants procured a survey of the town and purchased it from Massachusetts for 2 shillings per acre. Originally called Bucktown Plantation (or Plantation No. 5), in 1793 the Massachusetts General Court incorporated it as Buckfield, named for Abijah Buck.[4]

The surface of the town is uneven, but has deep, dark soil that yielded good crops of grain, corn and apples. The east and west branches of the Nezinscot River join at Buckfield Village, supplying water power for mills. Products included lumber, roof shingles, barrel staves, box boards, shovel handles, snow-shovels, handsleds, drag-rakes, brushes, brush blocks, powder-kegs, leather harness, cutting-blocks and men's boots.[5] In 1870, the population of the town was 1,494. The Rumford Falls and Buckfield Railroad passed through the town. Its depot was at Buckfield Village, the business center for the area.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.77 square miles (97.82 km2), of which 37.53 square miles (97.20 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.[2] Buckfield is drained by the Nezinscot River, a tributary of the Androscoggin River.

The town is served by state routes 117 and 140. It borders the towns of Sumner and Hartford to the north, Turner to the east, Hebron to the south, and Paris to the west and West Paris to the northwest.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18001,002—
18101,25124.9%
18201,50120.0%
18301,5140.9%
18401,6297.6%
18501,6571.7%
18601,7052.9%
18701,494−12.4%
18801,379−7.7%
18901,200−13.0%
19001,139−5.1%
19101,087−4.6%
1920957−12.0%
19309721.6%
1940903−7.1%
1950899−0.4%
19609829.2%
1970929−5.4%
19801,33343.5%
19901,56617.5%
20001,72310.0%
20102,00916.6%
20201,983−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

2010 census

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 2,009 people, 821 households, and 547 families living in the town. The population density was 53.5 inhabitants per square mile (20.7/km2). There were 890 housing units at an average density of 23.7 per square mile (9.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 821 households, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% 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 2.88.

The median age in the town was 41.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,723 people, 668 households, and 476 families living in the town. The population density was 45.7 inhabitants per square mile (17.6/km2). There were 715 housing units at an average density of 19.0 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100% [98.49% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 668 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,821, and the median income for a family was $40,078. Males had a median income of $28,472 versus $22,262 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,503. About 5.6% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Voter registration

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 2014[10]
Party Total Voters Percentage
Unenrolled 749 54.4%
Republican 348 25.3%
Democratic 266 19.3%
Green Independent 15 1.1%
Total 1,378 100%

Landmarks

Schools
  • Buckfield Junior-Senior High School

Notable people
  • Buckfield municipal building
    Buckfield municipal building
  • Buckfield Community Baptist Church
    Buckfield Community Baptist Church
  • Postcard of the Old Church on the Hill, High Street Buckfield
    Postcard of the Old Church on the Hill, High Street Buckfield
  • The Old Church on the Hill, also called the Union Church, Buckfield
    The Old Church on the Hill, also called the Union Church, Buckfield
  • The Record Homestead on Bean Road in Buckfield
    The Record Homestead on Bean Road in Buckfield
  • The Enoch Hall House on Bean Road in Buckfield
    The Enoch Hall House on Bean Road in Buckfield
  • The Churchill Bridge on Mountain Road in Buckfield
    The Churchill Bridge on Mountain Road in Buckfield

References
  1. "Town of Buckfield, Maine". Town of Buckfield, Maine. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  3. "Census - Geography Profile: Buckfield town, Oxford County, Maine". Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  4. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. p. 78.
  5. "History of Buckfield, Maine". history.rays-place.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  6. "Historical Sketch of BUCKFIELD Maine". history.rays-place.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. "Maine voters by town and party registration". pressherald.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
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