West Paris, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Paris, Maine
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Snow Falls on the Little Androscoggin River
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 West Paris, Maine
Location in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Incorporated | 1957 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.40 sq mi (63.20 km2) |
| • Land | 24.24 sq mi (62.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) |
| Elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,766 |
| • Density | 73/sq mi (28.1/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | West Parisian |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04289
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-83890 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582809 |
| Website | https://www.westparisme.com/ |
West Paris is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,766 at the 2020 census.
History
It began as part of Paris, granted by the Massachusetts General Court in 1771 to Captain Joshua Fuller and his company of 64 soldiers as payment for their service to the colony. First settled in 1779, the land was considered superior for pasturage and hay crops, and orchards were large and productive. Mills were built along the Little Androscoggin River. The Paris Manufacturing Company, which was started modestly by Henry Franklin Morton in 1861 at West Sumner, grew into an important manufacturer. Near the Grand Trunk Railway depot in West Paris, it built a factory to make products including sleds, skis, wagons, step ladders, wheelbarrows, ironing boards, children's rolltop desks and other furniture.
In September 1957, West Paris was set off and incorporated as a town.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.40 square miles (63.20 km2), of which, 24.24 square miles (62.78 km2) of it is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water. West Paris is drained by the Little Androscoggin River.
The town is crossed by state routes 26 and 219.
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, West Paris has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,050 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,171 | 11.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,390 | 18.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,514 | 8.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,722 | 13.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,812 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,766 | −2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,812 people, 700 households, and 478 families living in the town. The population density was 74.8 inhabitants per square mile (28.9/km2). There were 812 housing units at an average density of 33.5 per square mile (12.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 700 households, of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the town was 41.6 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
Notable people
- Joe Perham, Humorist
- DeForest H. Perkins, educator and political activist. Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Maine
- Francis Slattery, United States Navy commander
See also
In Spanish: West Paris (Maine) para niños
