Vassalboro, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vassalboro, Maine
Town
East Vassalboro falls in 1910
Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine.
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Kennebec
Incorporated	1771
Villages	Vassalboro Center Vassalboro East Vassalboro North Vassalboro Riverside South Vassalboro
Area
• Total	47.81 sq mi (123.83 km2)
• Land	44.27 sq mi (114.66 km2)
• Water	3.54 sq mi (9.17 km2)
Elevation	131 ft (40 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,520
• Density	102/sq mi (39.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	04989
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-78745
GNIS feature ID	0582778
Website	www.vassalboro.net

Vassalboro (originally Vassalborough) is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,520 at the 2020 census. Vassalboro includes the villages of Riverside, Getchell's Corner, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro, home to the town library and sports field. Vassalboro is included in the Augusta, Maine, micropolitan New England City and Town Area.

History

The town of Vassalboro was named for one of the proprietors of the Maine settlement, William Vassal (or Vassall), a descendant of one of the original patentees (and later deputy) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and a wealthy merchant who eventually became a controversial Loyalist. Other historians believe the town derives its name from the original Massachusetts proprietor William Vassal himself, who clashed with John Winthrop so frequently that he removed himself to the town of Scituate, where he soon found himself embroiled in ecclesiastical controversy once again, prompting his move after a decade to Barbados, where he died.

On March 2, 1770, William Vassall, one of Vassalboro's early proprietors, conveyed to his niece Mary Prescott of Nova Scotia Lot Number 5 in Vassalboro, one of the so-called "Proprietor's Lots" reserved for the town's founders. Niece Prescott sold the lot nine months later to a citizen of Hallowell.

The William Vassal who conveyed the Proprietor's Lot was likely the same merchant who graduated from Harvard College, served as sheriff of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, but was forced to flee to England at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. From the safety of his adopted home in Battersea, Surrey, England, following the conclusion of hostilities, Loyalist Vassall sold off the rest of his considerable American holdings.

The Revere House in East Vassalboro was once the home of Alexander Graham Bell. The Vassalboro Historical Society resides in the old school- house near the East Vassalboro China Lake landing. The East Vassalboro Grange hosts the annual library book sale in the fall.

The Vassalboro rec fields on Bog Road hosts sports events and teams and has a newly opened walking trail which includes portions of the old Wiscassett Trolley line.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.81 square miles (123.83 km²), of which, 44.27 square miles (114.66 km²) of it is land and 3.54 square miles (9.17 km²) is water. Drained by Seven Mile Brook, Vassalboro is bounded on the west by the Kennebec River. China Lake is also partially located in the town.

The town is served by U.S. Route 201 and U.S. Route 202, in addition to state routes 3, 9, 32 and 100. It borders the towns of China to the east, Augusta to the south, Winslow to the north, and across the Kennebec River, Sidney to the west.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,340 people, 1,788 households, and 1,206 families living in the town. The population density was 98.0 inhabitants per square mile (37.8/km²). There were 2,065 housing units at an average density of 46.6 per square mile (18.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 1,788 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. Of all households 23.8% were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the town was 44 years. Of residents 21.6% were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 33.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Sites of interest

Education

• The town is home to Vassalboro Community School, which is attended by approximately 420 students. There is no public high school. Students have the choice of Winslow High School in Winslow, Waterville High School in Waterville, Cony High School in Augusta, and Erskine Academy in South China, where most students choose to attend. Erskine has a lowered rate for Vassalboro students.

It was a part of Kennebec Valley Consolidated Schools (AOS92) until July 1, 2018.

Notable people

• Edward Augustus Brackett, sculptor
• Holman Day, author, editor
• Henry H. Goddard, psychologist, eugenicist
• Amy Morris Homans, physical educator
• Alfred Atmore Pope, industrialist, art collector

See also

In Spanish: Vassalboro para niños