Blue Hill, Maine

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Blue Hill, Maine
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = Blue Hill from Parker Point


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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Maine
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map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maine
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hancock
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1789

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 224.5
area_land_km2 = 162.0
area_water_km2 = 62.5
area_total_sq_mi = 86.7
area_land_sq_mi = 62.5
area_water_sq_mi = 24.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2390
population_density_km2 = 14.8
population_density_sq_mi = 38.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 14
elevation_ft = 46
latd = 44 |latm = 24 |lats = 44 |latNS = N
longd = 68 |longm = 34 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 04614
area_code = 207
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 23-05700
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0582357
website =
footnotes =

Blue Hill is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,390 at the 2000 census. It is home to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, George Stevens Academy, the now-closed Liberty School, New Surry Theatre, Kneisel Hall, Bagaduce Music Lending Library, the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club and the Blue Hill Country Club. A community on Blue Hill Bay, the town is the site of the annual Blue Hill Fair.

History

It was one of 6 townships granted by the Massachusetts General Court to David Marsh and 351 others for their service in the French and Indian War. Called Plantation Number 5, it was first settled in 1762 by Captain Joseph Wood and John Roundy from Andover, Massachusetts, who built homes on Mill Island at the tidal falls. It would then be called Newport Plantation. On January 30, 1789, the town was incorporated as Blue Hill, named after its commanding summit overlooking the region.

The outlets of various ponds provided water power for several sawmills and gristmills. By 1859, 5,000 cords of firewood were sent from the port annually. Other products included lumber, masts and roof shingles. But the predominant industry was shipbuilding. Beginning in 1792, 133 vessels were constructed at Blue Hill, some of them brigs and ships, but most schooners. The town was also noted for the quality of its granite, some of which was used to build the Brooklyn Bridge and New York Stock Exchange building. In 1876, local quarries employed 300 workers. Today, Blue Hill is a small, tight-knit community with much antique architecture.

Notable residents

* Mary Ellen Chase, author
* A. J. Cronin, author
* Jonathan Fisher, minister
* Seymour Papert, mathematician, computer scientist & educator
* Horatio Parker, composer
* Noel Paul Stookey, musician

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 86.7 square miles (224.5 km²), of which, 62.5 square miles (162.0 km²) of it is land and 24.1 square miles (62.5 km²) of it (27.84%) is water. Located on Blue Hill Bay, the town is drained by Mill Brook. Blue Hill, elevation 940 feet (287 meters), is the town's highest point. Long Island, situated in Blue Hill Bay, is part of the town.

Blue Hill is crossed by state routes 15, 172, 176 and 177. It borders the towns of Surry to the northeast, Brooklin to the southeast, Sedgwick to the southwest, and Penobscot to the northwest. The town is the site of Blue Hill Airport.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,390 people, 1,074 households, and 681 families residing in the town. The population density was 38.2 people per square mile (14.8/km²). There were 1,486 housing units at an average density of 23.8/sq mi (9.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.87% White, 0.38% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.

There were 1,074 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,484, and the median income for a family was $41,688. Males had a median income of $28,200 versus $23,616 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,189. About 9.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

ites of interest

* [http://www.bluehillhistory.org/ Blue Hill Historical Society & Museum]
* [http://www.jonathanfisherhouse.org/ Jonathan Fisher House & Memorial]
* [http://www.kneisel.org/ Kneisel Hall]
* [http://www.newsurrytheatre.org/ New Surry Theatre]

References

Further reading

* [http://history.rays-place.com/me/blue-hill-me.htm History of Blue Hill, Maine (1886)]
* A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, "A History and Description of New England", 1856; H. O. Houghton & Company, printers; Cambridge, Massachusetts
* [http://www.bluehillme.com/pgs/history.html A Brief History of Blue Hill, Maine]
* [http://members.tripod.com/Blue_Hill/ Blue Hill, Maine Genealogy Project]

External links

* [http://www.bluehillme.govoffice2.com/ Town of Blue Hill, Maine]
* [http://www.bluehill.lib.me.us/ Blue Hill Public Library]
* [http://www.georgestevensacademy.org/ George Stevens Academy]
* [http://www.bluehillpeninsula.org/ Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://maine.gov/local/hancock/blue_hill/ Maine.gov -- Blue Hill, Maine]
* [http://www.weeklypacket.com The Weekly Packet] a local newspaper
* [http://www.bhmh.org/ Blue Hill Memorial Hospital]
* [http://www.bhcs.org/ Blue Hill Consolidated School]