Official Name: | Town of Winthrop |
Settlement Type: | Town |
Motto: | "We Play Outside"[1] |
Mapsize: | 300px |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Maine |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Kennebec |
Parts Type: | Villages |
Parts: | Winthrop East Winthrop Sturtevant Hill Winthrop Center |
Government Type: | Council-Manager |
Leader Title: | Town Manager |
Leader Name: | Jeffrey Kobrock |
Leader Title1: | Governing body |
Leader Name1: | Winthrop Town Council |
Established Title: | Settled |
Established Date: | 1765 |
Established Title1: | Incorporated |
Established Date1: | 1771 |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Area Total Km2: | 98.16 |
Area Land Km2: | 80.86 |
Area Water Km2: | 17.30 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 37.90 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 31.22 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 6.68 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 6121 |
Population Density Km2: | 75.7 |
Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Elevation Ft: | 305 |
Coordinates: | 44.3117°N -69.9733°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
Postal Code: | 04364 |
Area Code: | 207 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 582824 |
Winthrop is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. Winthrop is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 6,121 at the 2020 census.[2] Winthrop's population, however, approximately doubles during the summer months as part-year residents return to seasonal camps located on the shores of Winthrop's Lakes and Ponds. A recreational area located among lakes, the town includes the villages of Winthrop and East Winthrop, and is the center of the Winthrop Lakes Region. Winthrop is included in the Augusta, Maine Micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
Winthrop was part of the Kennebec Purchase awarded by the Plymouth Council for New England. First called Pondtown for its lakes and ponds, it was settled by Timothy Foster in 1765. On April 26, 1771, Pondtown Plantation was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court as Winthrop,[3] named for the first colonial governor of Massachusetts, John Winthrop.[4] Readfield was set off and incorporated in 1791. The surface of the town is uneven, but with good land that yielded hay, grain and apples. Winthrop became noted for its orchards and cattle.[5]
At the outlet of Maranacook Lake into Annabessacook Lake, John Chandler built a sawmill in 1768, and then added a gristmill. Other industries followed, including a fulling mill, tannery and blacksmith shop. The Winthrop Woolen & Cotton Manufactory was incorporated in 1809, and in 1814 went into operation. By 1886, the town had a sawmill which manufactured about 200,000 feet of lumber every year, two oil cloth factories, a sash and blind factory, and a foundry and machine shop. The Maine Central Railroad opened to the village, carrying freight and tourists. Winthrop and its lakes developed into a summer resort, which it remains today.[6]
Winthrop has historically referred to its regions by directional names. Other than Winthrop Village and East Winthrop, their boundaries are not firmly established and tend to vary from person to person. Winthrop has several villages and areas that can be classified as neighborhoods. Some of them are:
Winthrop is an industrial and suburban center, located approximately 10 miles west of Maine's capital city, Augusta. Nearly 10% of Winthrop's housing is seasonal. The commercial downtown is situated between Maranacook and Annabessacook Lake.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.9sqmi, of which 31.22sqmi is land and 6.68sqmi is water.[13] Winthrop is drained by Hoyt Brook.
The town is crossed by U. S. Route 202 and state routes 11, 41, 100, 133 and 135. It is bordered by the towns of Manchester to the east, West Gardiner to the southeast, Monmouth to the south, Leeds and Wayne to the west, and Readfield to the north.
Winthrop is also home to Mt. Pisgah (pronounced piss-gah, from the Hebrew word for summit or lookout), which is 807 ft above sea level and home to the Maine Fire Services watch tower that was in service from 1949 to 1992, when air patrols rendered it obsolete. The tower still stands to this day and is accessible by a hiking trail.
See also: Winthrop (CDP), Maine.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the town was $58,066, and the median income for a family was $64,637. Males had a median income of $35,262 versus $27,130 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,755. 9.2% of the population and 5.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 17.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Winthrop has historically been known as a fast-growing suburban town, and saw its population triple during the 20th century. Its growth rate has slowed in recent years, and saw a decline in the 2010 census for the first time in almost a century. Winthrop has always been the largest in population municipality in Kennebec County that was classified as a town and not a city.[14] Oakland surpassed Winthrop's population in the 2010 census.[15]
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,092 people, 2,598 households, and 1,740 families residing in the town.[16] The population density was 195.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,295 housing units at an average density of 105.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,598 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 20, 9% from 20 to 29, 17.1% from 30 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. The female population was 51.6% and male population 48.4%.
Winthrop Public Schools is an independent school district serving approximately 840 students in grades Pre-K–12. Winthrop's schools are governed by the Winthrop School Committee. The five-member group consists of elected representatives from Winthrop. The members serve two-year terms and conduct monthly meetings that are open to the public.Winthrop operates three schools:
Winthrop is also home to the Monmouth/Winthrop Adult Education.
Winthrop uses the Council-Manager form of government, in which the Town Council is the primary governing authority. The Winthrop Town Council consists of seven elected members. The Town Council appoints and confirms both the Town Manager, and the Town Attorney. The Town Manager, in turn, appoints the Finance Director, and Clerk. In addition to these positions, Winthrop has several departments used to provide the services necessary to the town.
The framework for the town government is defined in the Municipal charter.
Winthrop is known as being politically moderate, and consistently votes for both liberals and conservatives for local, state, and national offices. In the 2008 Presidential election, Barack Obama received 2,006 of the town's votes to John McCain's 1,569,[17] and in the 2004 Presidential election, John Kerry received 50% of the town's votes to George W. Bush's 47.4%, compared to 53% for Kerry and 45% for Bush statewide. In 2009 the town voted in favor of a statewide referendum to overturn a state law allowing same-sex marriage in Maine by a vote of 2,349 to 1,277,[18] but voted in 2012 on a referendum to allow same-sex marriage 53% to 47%.[19] The town has more Independent voters than it does Democrats or Republicans:
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 2014[20] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Total Voters | Percentage | ||||
Democratic | align = center | 1445 | align = center | 30.1% | ||
Independent | align = center | 1695 | align = center | 35.3% | ||
Republican | align = center | 1464 | align = center | 30.5% | ||
Green Independent | align = center | 197 | align = center | 4.1% | ||
Total | align = center | 4,801 | align = center | 100% |
Winthrop is at the center of the Winthrop Lakes Region, which is situated between Lewiston and Augusta, Maine, and centered around six major bodies of water: Androscoggin Lake, Annabessacook Lake, Cobbosseecontee Lake, Echo Lake, Maranacook Lake and Parker Pond, in addition to numerous smaller bodies of water. Besides Winthrop, the region includes the towns of Fayette, Readfield, and Mount Vernon to the north, Manchester to the east, Monmouth to the south, and Wayne to the west.[22] The northern part of Mount Vernon is considered to be part of the Belgrade Lakes Region.[23] The region is a popular recreation area in central Maine, with over three dozen Lakes and ponds offering a variety of boating, hiking, cycling, camping and fishing opportunities. The area is also home to numerous shoreline events, concerts and festivals.[24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
The Winthrop Lakes Region includes the following bodies of water:
Name | Area (acres) | Volume (acre-feet) | Adjoining towns | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cobbosseecontee Lake | 5,543 | 127,371 | Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, West Gardiner, Winthrop | |
4,020 | 56,736 | Leeds, Wayne | ||
1,844 | 48,020 | Readfield, Winthrop | ||
1,524 | 41,636 | Fayette, Vienna | ||
1,415 | 23,892 | Monmouth, Winthrop | ||
1,109 | 23,134 | Fayette, Mount Vernon, Readfield | ||
Torsey (Greeley) Lake | 679 | 7,078 | Mount Vernon, Readfield | |
Pocasset Lake | 605 | 7,225 | Wayne | |
Wilson Pond | 588 | 9,510 | Monmouth, Wayne, Winthrop | |
Woodbury (Purgatory) Pond (Tacoma Lakes) | 513 | 7,296 | Litchfield, Monmouth | |
Cochnewagon Pond | 394 | 7,208 | Monmouth | |
Lovejoy Pond | 379 | 4,365 | Fayette, Readfield, Wayne | |
David Pond | 302 | 2,852 | Chesterville, Fayette | |
Sand Pond (Tacoma Lakes) | 279 | 6,798 | Litchfield, Monmouth | |
239 | 4,951 | Winthrop | ||
223 | 5,842 | Winthrop | ||
Carlton Pond | 223 | 5,270 | Readfield, Winthrop | |
Berry Pond | 175 | 1,493 | Wayne, Winthrop | |
Pickerel Pond | 128 | 1,459 | Wayne | |
Tilton Pond | 116 | 1,586 | Fayette | |
Dexter Pond | 113 | 995 | Wayne, Winthrop | |
Apple Valley Lake | 101 | 238 | Winthrop | |
Little Cobbosseecontee | 91 | 894 | Winthrop | |
Hales Pond | 76 | 929 | Fayette | |
Taylor (Mill) Pond | 75 | Mount Vernon | ||
Mosher (Lane's) Pond | 70 | 945 | Fayette | |
Shed Pond | 51 | 219 | Manchester, Readfield | |
Echo Lake Outlet Pond | 51 | Fayette | ||
Silver Lake (Figure Eight Pond) | 34 | 495 | Manchester, Sidney | |
Basin Pond | 33 | 1,355 | Fayette | |
Bog Pond | 26 | 246 | Readfield | |
Tyler Pond | 25 | 451 | Manchester | |
Burgess Pond | 24 | 226 | Fayette | |
Desert Pond | 22 | 363 | Mount Vernon | |
Kezar Pond | 20 | 250 | Winthrop | |
Mud Pond | 18 | 170 | Monmouth | |
Mill Pond | 18 | Readfield | ||
Cranberry Pond | 17 | 170 | Fayette | |
Fairbanks Pond | 16 | 122 | Manchester | |
Brainard Pond | 15 | Readfield | ||
Muddy Pond | 11 | Wayne |