Androscoggin County, Maine

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Androscoggin County, Maine
Holy Cross Church, Lewiston
Location in the state of Maine
Maine's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 18, 1854
Named for	the Androscoggin tribe
Seat	Auburn
Largest city	Lewiston
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	497 sq mi (1,287 km²) 468 sq mi (1,212 km²) 29 sq mi (75 km²), 5.9%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	111,139
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.androscoggincountymaine.gov

Androscoggin County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 111,139. Its county seat is Auburn.

Androscoggin County comprises the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and is partially included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Metropolitan New England City and Town Area. It is also a part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, Maine Combined Statistical Area.

Bates College is in the Androscoggin County city of Lewiston.

History

Demand for a new county emerged when the residents of the rapidly growing town of Lewiston complained of the long distance they had to travel to reach Wiscasset, the county seat of Lincoln County, in which Lewiston was originally located. It was also an impractical circumstance as Lewiston's neighbor, Auburn, was part of Cumberland County. As the growing partnership of the two towns emerged, the case for the towns to be in the same county grew. Different plans were discussed, including Lewiston joining Cumberland County. Eventually, the idea of a new county came to the table. The debate then became over which town would be the center of the new county. Bath, Brunswick, and Lewiston each desired the distinction. Lewiston eventually won the debate. Androscoggin County was created in 1854 from towns originally in Cumberland County, Lincoln County, Kennebec County, and Oxford County.

The next issue centered on where to put the county seat, as both Lewiston and Auburn desired to be named the county seat. It would eventually be put to a vote, with both towns putting different offers on the table, including ideas to cut the costs of the new county buildings for surrounding towns. Auburn would eventually win a convincing victory, with the towns on each side of the river voting for the town on their side. As more people then lived to the west of the Androscoggin River, Auburn won the vote.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 497 square miles (1,290 km²), of which 468 square miles (1,210 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (5.9%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Maine by total area.

Adjacent counties

• Franklin County – north
• Kennebec County – northeast
• Sagadahoc County – southeast
• Cumberland County – south
• Oxford County – west

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	29,726		—
1870	35,866		20.7%
1880	45,042		25.6%
1890	48,968		8.7%
1900	54,242		10.8%
1910	59,822		10.3%
1920	65,796		10.0%
1930	71,214		8.2%
1940	76,679		7.7%
1950	83,594		9.0%
1960	86,312		3.3%
1970	91,279		5.8%
1980	99,657		9.2%
1990	105,259		5.6%
2000	103,793		−1.4%
2010	107,702		3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 103,793 people, 42,028 households, and 27,192 families living in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile (85/km²). There were 45,960 housing units at an average density of 98 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.98% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.5% were of French Canadian, 19.4% French, 14.3% English, 9.7% United States or American and 8.4% Irish ancestry. 9.6% of the population speak French and 1.5% of the population speak Spanish at home.

Of the 42,028 households 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.60% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 28.30% of households were one person and 11.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median household income was $35,793 and the median family income was $44,082. Males had a median income of $31,622 versus $22,366 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,734. About 7.50% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 107,702 people, 44,315 households, and 28,045 families living in the county. The population density was 230.2 inhabitants per square mile (88.9 /km²). There were 49,090 housing units at an average density of 104.9 per square mile (40.5 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 3.6% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.2% were English, 20.5% were French Canadian, 20.1% were French, 15.5% were Irish, 8.1% were German, and 5.0% were American.

Of the 44,315 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 28.3% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 39.8 years.

The median household income was $44,470 and the median family income was $55,045. Males had a median income of $41,554 versus $31,852 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,752. About 9.7% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Newspapers

• The Sun Journal prints a daily newspaper in four different editions statewide. The Sun Journal was the recipient of the 2008 New England Daily Newspaper of the Year and the 2009 Maine Press Association Newspaper of the Year.

Politics

Presidential elections

In Presidential elections, Androscoggin County is considered a "swing area" by most political standards, with a fairly even split between Democratic and Republican voters. It was the only county in Maine to be won by Democrats Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and George McGovern in 1972. Jimmy Carter also carried the county twice. In 1984 and 1988, it went for Republican candidates Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, who also won the state of Maine. However, the county narrowly swayed in favor of Republican Donald Trump for both the 2016 and 2020 elections; even as the state as a whole was won by Democrats Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively.

United States presidential election results for Androscoggin County, Maine

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	29,268	49.85%	27,617	47.04%	1,822	3.10%
2016	28,227	50.77%	23,009	41.38%	4,365	7.85%
2012	22,232	42.06%	28,989	54.84%	1,641	3.10%
2008	22,671	41.33%	31,017	56.55%	1,162	2.12%
2004	24,519	43.73%	30,503	54.40%	1,045	1.86%
2000	19,948	40.51%	26,251	53.31%	3,046	6.19%
1996	12,053	25.79%	26,428	56.55%	8,250	17.65%
1992	14,174	25.70%	22,247	40.34%	18,723	33.95%
1988	23,061	51.72%	21,165	47.47%	359	0.81%
1984	26,904	57.24%	19,885	42.31%	211	0.45%
1980	18,399	39.93%	22,715	49.29%	4,966	10.78%
1976	16,330	37.40%	26,484	60.65%	851	1.95%
1972	19,406	49.86%	19,509	50.12%	9	0.02%
1968	10,390	27.52%	26,820	71.04%	542	1.44%
1964	7,441	19.82%	30,080	80.14%	14	0.04%
1960	14,654	35.96%	26,097	64.04%	0	0.00%
1956	20,385	56.27%	15,842	43.73%	0	0.00%
1952	18,049	50.59%	17,560	49.22%	67	0.19%
1948	11,443	39.24%	17,405	59.68%	317	1.09%
1944	10,927	36.38%	19,078	63.51%	34	0.11%
1940	10,394	34.99%	19,273	64.88%	40	0.13%
1936	10,480	38.14%	16,657	60.62%	340	1.24%
1932	9,838	40.05%	14,441	58.79%	283	1.15%
1928	11,790	51.59%	10,940	47.87%	124	0.54%
1924	9,680	59.80%	4,733	29.24%	1,774	10.96%
1920	9,565	60.83%	5,757	36.61%	402	2.56%
1916	4,496	43.71%	5,464	53.12%	326	3.17%
1912	859	8.44%	4,516	44.38%	4,801	47.18%
1908	4,381	56.06%	3,095	39.60%	339	4.34%
1904	4,393	62.31%	2,206	31.29%	451	6.40%
1900	4,648	57.44%	3,182	39.32%	262	3.24%
1896	5,548	66.61%	2,513	30.17%	268	3.22%
1892	4,326	52.47%	3,452	41.87%	466	5.65%
1888	4,893	54.99%	3,585	40.29%	420	4.72%
1884	4,745	52.13%	3,469	38.11%	889	9.77%
1880	4,974	52.76%	4,215	44.71%	239	2.54%

State politics

In 2012, the county voted 54% against Maine Question 1, 2012 – a measure to legalize same-sex marriage, but the referendum passed in the state by 53%.

County government

Androscoggin County is governed by an elected county commission consisting of seven members representing single-member districts. Currently, the county commissioners are:

• District 1 Noel Madore (D)
• District 2 Roland Poirier (D)
• District 3 Brian Ames (R)
• District 4 Isaiah Lary (R)
• District 5 John Michael (I)
• District 6 Terri Kelly (R)
• District 7 Sally A. Christner (R)

Voter registration

Active voter registration and party enrollment as of July 2020
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px |	Unenrolled	27,354	34.23%
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px |	Democratic	27,515	34.43%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px |	Republican	21,149	26.47%
style="background-color:#0BDA51;" width=10px |	Green Independent	3,893	4.87%
Total		79,911	100%

Incorporated towns and cities

• Auburn
• Durham
• Greene
• Leeds
• Lewiston
• Lisbon
• Livermore
• Livermore Falls
• Mechanic Falls
• Minot
• Poland
• Sabattus
• Turner
• Wales

Census-designated places

• Greene
• Lisbon
• Lisbon Falls
• Livermore Falls
• Mechanic Falls
• Sabattus
• Turner

See also

• Androscoggin Creature
• Lisbon School Department
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Androscoggin County, Maine

External links

• Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce
• Maine Local Government – County of Androscoggin page