Charleston, Maine

Charleston, Maine
FIPS code		23-12105
GNIS feature ID	0582404

Charleston is a

Charleston includes the village of West Charleston and is home to the Higgins Classical Institute, a Christian school.

History

Charleston was first settled as early as 1795 by Charles Vaughan. The land was granted on July 14, 1802, by the

Charlestown, Massachusetts

, when that state included the province of Maine. But in 1820, Maine achieved statehood, so any confusion between the two ceased. Consequently, in 1827 the name was shortened to Charleston.

electric railway

between Bangor and Charleston.

In late 1950, construction began on the Charleston Air Force Station, part of the Aerospace Defense Command. Known as Bull Hill for its location in the town, the station was completed in early 1951, and fully staffed and operational in 1952. After the base closed, it was transformed into the Charleston Correctional Facility, which opened in 1980.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.56 square miles (105.05 km²), of which 40.55 square miles (105.02 km²) is land and 10.01 square miles (25.93 km²) is the Weymouths land.^[1] Charleston is drained by Rollins Brook and South Gate Brook.

The town is located near the intersection of Charleston Road and South Stagecoach Road-Atkinson Road, between Route 15 (Bangor Road) and Route 221, and halfway between Schoodic Lake and Sebasticook Lake.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	859		—
1840	1,269		47.7%
1850	1,283		1.1%
1860	1,430		11.5%
1870	1,191		−16.7%
1880	1,110		−6.8%
1890	971		−12.5%
1900	842		−13.3%
1910	864		2.6%
1920	720		−16.7%
1930	716		−0.6%
1940	768		7.3%
1950	771		0.4%
1960	750		−2.7%
1970	909		21.2%
1980	1,037		14.1%
1990	1,187		14.5%
2000	1,397		17.7%
2010	1,409		0.9%
2020	1,558		10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

As of the

of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 481 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the town was 38.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 56.2% male and 43.8% female.

As of the

of any race were 0.21% of the population.

There were 431 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,053, and the median income for a family was $39,625. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,735 for females. The

, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

• History of Charleston, Maine
• Higgins Classical Institute