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Unity, Maine
Unity, Maine is located in Maine
Unity, Maine
Unity, Maine
Location in Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Waldo
Area
 • Total 41.36 sq mi (107.12 km2)
 • Land 39.40 sq mi (102.05 km2)
 • Water 1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2)
Elevation
220 ft (70 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,292
 • Density 58/sq mi (22.5/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04988
Area code(s) 207 Exchange: 948
GNIS feature ID 577560

Unity is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,292 at the 2020 census. The town is the service center for the northern portion of Waldo County. Outside of Waldo county, it is best known as the home of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, its Common Ground Country Fair and Unity College. Unity College was founded in 1965 to offset the economic effects of the declining chicken farming industry. As of 2007, the college is the town's largest employer.

History

When originally settled by Quakers, the town was known as Twenty-Five Mile Pond Plantation. The name came from its being located on a pond twenty-five miles from Fort Halifax in Winslow. The name was changed to Unity upon incorporation as a town in 1804. In 1898, the Village School was opened. It remained in operation until 1953 when it closed and a new elementary school was built.

In 1996, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) purchased 200 acres of land in Unity, where it is now based. The MOFGA-run Common Ground Country Fair moved with the organization and annually brings more than 50,000 visitors to the town.

During 2008–2009, eight Amish families moved into the community. They belong to the "Michigan Churches", an Amish affiliation, that is more open to outsiders, than most other Amish affiliation.

Geography

Waldo County Maine Incorporated Areas Unity Town Highlighted
Location of the town of Unity (in yellow) in Waldo County and the state of Maine

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.36 square miles (107.12 km2), of which, 39.40 square miles (102.05 km2) of it is land and 1.96 square miles (5.08 km2) is water, chiefly Unity Pond. Priciple rivers are Twnetyfive Mile Stream (Unity Pond's sole outflow), Sandy Stream and Halfmoon Stream.

The town is crossed by state routes 9, 220, 139 and US route 202. Unity is bordered by Burnham to the north, Troy and Thorndike to the east, Knox to the southeast, Freedom to the south, Albion to the southwest and Unity Township to the west.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 793
1820 978 23.3%
1830 1,299 32.8%
1840 1,457 12.2%
1850 1,557 6.9%
1860 1,320 −15.2%
1870 1,201 −9.0%
1880 1,095 −8.8%
1890 922 −15.8%
1900 877 −4.9%
1910 899 2.5%
1920 916 1.9%
1930 892 −2.6%
1940 935 4.8%
1950 1,014 8.4%
1960 983 −3.1%
1970 1,280 30.2%
1980 1,431 11.8%
1990 1,817 27.0%
2000 1,889 4.0%
2010 2,099 11.1%
2020 2,292 9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,099 people, 750 households, and 429 families living in the town. The population density was 53.3 inhabitants per square mile (20.6/km2). There were 939 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 750 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.8% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 31.2 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 26.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

Notable people

  • Samuel Stillman Berry, marine zoologist, born in Unity (1887)
  • Walter M. Brackett, painter, born in Unity
  • George Colby Chase, English scholar; second president of Bates College

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Unity (Maine) para niños

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