:Rockport, Maine

Rockport, or "the River", was settled in 1769 by Robert Thorndike. Goose River Village (as it was known until 1852) was originally part of the Megunticook Plantation, incorporated in 1791 as Camden. Shipbuilding, ice harvesting and the manufacture of lime were important early industries.{{cite book |last= Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums |editor=Doris A. Isaacson |title=Maine: A Guide 'Down East' |year=1970 |publisher=Courier-Gazette, Inc. |location=Rockland, Me | pages = 264–265 }} In 1817, three hundred casks of lime were sent to Washington, DC for use in the rebuilding of the United States Capitol, which had been damaged by the British during the War of 1812. In 1852, the citizens of Goose River voted to change their village's name to Rockport for its rocky terrain.{{Citation

| last = Varney

| first = George J.

| title = Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Camden (and Rockport)

| place = Boston

| publisher = Russell

| year = 1886

| url = http://history.rays-place.com/me/camden-me.htm }}

On February 25, 1891, Rockport officially split from Camden because of a dispute over the cost of constructing a bridge. The town of Rockport was born and from Camden it took half the population, three quarters of the land, and most importantly the profitable lime and ice industries.

Rockport has a longstanding reputation as an artists' community, with notable artists and art institutions playing a significant role in the town's economic and social life. Bay Chamber Concerts was established in 1961 as a continuation of the summer music instruction of the Curtis Institute. Mary Louise Curtis Bok, central to founding both Bay Chamber Concerts and the Curtis Institute, was one of the largest landowners in Rockport, and has been credited with playing a vital role in significantly improving the landscaping of the village's inner harbor.Hebert, Richard A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1g8hAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mary+Louise+Zim&pg=PA396 Modern Maine: Its Historic Background People and Resources], Vol. II, p. 396. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1951. At one time she owned most of the eastern shore of the harbor. Mary Lea Park, adjacent to the Rockport Opera House, is named in honor of both her and Rockport resident and violinist Lea Luboshutz.[http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/history.php A History of Bay Chamber Concerts]

Rockport was the home of Andre the Seal, a seal adopted by the Goodridge family in 1961, and who was a significant tourist attraction in Rockport Harbor until his death in 1986. The seal's "owner" Harry Goodridge co-wrote a book about Andre, titled A Seal Called Andre. The 1994 film Andre was adapted from the book, although in the movie Andre is actually played by a sea lion, not a seal. A statue of Andre sits beside the harbor in his honor.[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/24/202421/400/904/688632 Marine Life Series: Andre the Harbor Seal] Rockport is also known for its Belted Galloway cattle. The cattle are raised at the 136-acre Aldermere Farm, which is owned and operated by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land conservation organization. The Belted Galloways remain one of the area's most popular attractions, and are often referred to as the "Oreo cookie" cows.[http://www.aldermere.org/about/history.html Aldermere Farm History]

The 1993 Warner Bros. film The Man Without a Face, starring Mel Gibson, Universal's 1995 film Casper, and Miramax's 2001 film In the Bedroom were filmed in Rockport.

In 2008, Forbes magazine placed Rockport at the top of its list of the prettiest towns in America.{{Cite web |url=http://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/americas-prettiest-towns-slide-1.html?thisSpeed=25000 |title=Forbes: "America's Prettiest Towns" |access-date=2009-08-02 |archive-date=2009-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705125334/http://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/americas-prettiest-towns-slide-1.html?thisSpeed=25000 |url-status=dead }}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|33.34|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|21.64|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|11.70|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2010.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-16}} Drained by Varnah Brook and Goose River, Rockport is located beside Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine, part of the Atlantic Ocean.

The town is crossed by U. S. Route 1 and state routes 17 and 90. It borders the towns of Rockland to the south, Warren to the southwest, Union to the west, Hope to the northwest, and Camden to the north.

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, Rockport has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=395971&cityname=Rockport%2C+Maine%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Rockport, Maine]

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{{Weather box

|location = West Rockport, Maine, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 59

|Feb record high F = 65

|Mar record high F = 84

|Apr record high F = 85

|May record high F = 95

|Jun record high F = 98

|Jul record high F = 96

|Aug record high F = 99

|Sep record high F = 95

|Oct record high F = 88

|Nov record high F = 75

|Dec record high F = 63

|Jan avg record high F = 49.5

|Feb avg record high F = 49.1

|Mar avg record high F = 57.2

|Apr avg record high F = 70.4

|May avg record high F = 81.7

|Jun avg record high F = 86.3

|Jul avg record high F = 87.9

|Aug avg record high F = 87.2

|Sep avg record high F = 83.7

|Oct avg record high F = 72.4

|Nov avg record high F = 63.2

|Dec avg record high F = 54.5

|year avg record high F = 90.4

|Jan high F = 30.3

|Feb high F = 32.5

|Mar high F = 39.6

|Apr high F = 51.4

|May high F = 62.4

|Jun high F = 70.8

|Jul high F = 76.7

|Aug high F = 76.3

|Sep high F = 69.0

|Oct high F = 57.2

|Nov high F = 46.7

|Dec high F = 36.4

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 21.2

|Feb mean F = 23.1

|Mar mean F = 30.9

|Apr mean F = 42.5

|May mean F = 53.3

|Jun mean F = 62.1

|Jul mean F = 68.2

|Aug mean F = 67.7

|Sep mean F = 60.5

|Oct mean F = 49.0

|Nov mean F = 38.9

|Dec mean F = 28.3

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 12.0

|Feb low F = 13.6

|Mar low F = 22.2

|Apr low F = 33.6

|May low F = 44.1

|Jun low F = 53.5

|Jul low F = 59.6

|Aug low F = 59.2

|Sep low F = 51.9

|Oct low F = 40.9

|Nov low F = 31.1

|Dec low F = 20.2

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -7.3

|Feb avg record low F = -4.6

|Mar avg record low F = 1.8

|Apr avg record low F = 23.3

|May avg record low F = 33.3

|Jun avg record low F = 43.3

|Jul avg record low F = 51.6

|Aug avg record low F = 49.6

|Sep avg record low F = 40.5

|Oct avg record low F = 28.0

|Nov avg record low F = 16.1

|Dec avg record low F = 1.9

|year avg record low F = -10.6

|Jan record low F = -22

|Feb record low F = -30

|Mar record low F = -12

|Apr record low F = 10

|May record low F = 21

|Jun record low F = 28

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 37

|Sep record low F = 24

|Oct record low F = 14

|Nov record low F = 2

|Dec record low F = -25

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.75

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.20

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.01

|Apr precipitation inch = 5.21

|May precipitation inch = 4.22

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.49

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.20

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.37

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.49

|Oct precipitation inch = 6.07

|Nov precipitation inch = 5.27

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.92

|year precipitation inch = 56.20

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9.8

|Feb precipitation days = 8.8

|Mar precipitation days = 9.8

|Apr precipitation days = 10.8

|May precipitation days = 11.8

|Jun precipitation days = 11.7

|Jul precipitation days = 10.5

|Aug precipitation days = 9.3

|Sep precipitation days = 8.9

|Oct precipitation days = 11.0

|Nov precipitation days = 9.7

|Dec precipitation days = 11.9

|year precipitation days = 124.0

|Jan snow inch = 17.2

|Feb snow inch = 19.2

|Mar snow inch = 11.3

|Apr snow inch = 3.5

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.2

|Nov snow inch = 2.3

|Dec snow inch = 15.0

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 5.5

|Feb snow days = 5.7

|Mar snow days = 3.5

|Apr snow days = 1.1

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.7

|Dec snow days = 4.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 11

|Feb snow depth inch = 14

|Mar snow depth inch = 12

|Apr snow depth inch = 2

|May snow depth inch = 0

|Jun snow depth inch = 0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0

|Oct snow depth inch = 0

|Nov snow depth inch = 2

|Dec snow depth inch = 8

|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00179593&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: W Rockport 1 NNW, ME

|access-date = November 10, 2024

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=gyx

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Gray/Portland

|access-date = November 10, 2024

}}

}}

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{{US Census population

|1900= 2314

|1910= 2022

|1920= 1774

|1930= 1651

|1940= 1526

|1950= 1656

|1960= 1893

|1970= 2067

|1980= 2749

|1990= 2854

|2000= 3209

|2010= 3330

|2020= 3644

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-16}} of 2010, there were 3,330 people, 1,422 households, and 967 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|153.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,956 housing units at an average density of {{convert|90.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 1,422 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 25.6% were made up of individuals, and 10.5% 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 2.80.

The median age in the town was 48.8 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 35.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

In the 2000 census, there were 3,209 people, 1,373 households and 918 families in the town. The population density was {{convert|147.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,677 housing units at an average density of {{convert|77.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 98.69% White, 0.16% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 1,373 households, of which 29.6% had children under 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. Of all households, 27.7% were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,155, and the median for a family $56,068. Males had a median of $35,865 versus $25,542 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,498. About 5.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under 18 and 7.3% of those 65 or over.

Image:Tidal Island in Rockport Harbor, Rockport Maine.JPG

Image:Rockport Maine.jpg

Image:McCobb Spite House July 1960.JPG]]

• Aldermere Farm—Maine Coast Heritage Trust[http://www.aldermere.org/ Aldermere Farm -- Maine Coast Heritage Trust]
• Bay Chamber Concerts
• Camden Area History Center[http://www.camdenhistorycenter.org/ Camden Area History Center]
• Camden-Rockport Historical Society[http://www.crmuseum.org/buildings.cfm Camden-Rockport Historical Society]
• Center for Maine Contemporary Art[http://www.cmcanow.org/ Center for Maine Contemporary Art]
• Indian Island Light{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20011218003903/http://lighthouse.cc/indianisland/ Indian Island Light]}}
• Maine Media Workshops
• Rockport Opera House[http://town.rockport.me.us/operahouse/ Rockport Opera House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070617185757/http://town.rockport.me.us/operahouse/ |date=2007-06-17 }}

• Maine School Administrative District 28 operates K–8 schools
• Camden Hills Regional High School[http://www.fivetowns.net/chrhs/ Camden Hills Regional High School]

• Stephen Bowen, state legislator and Commissioner of Education under Paul LePage
• Gabriel Byrne, Irish actor, lives here
• Lew Dietz, writer
• Andre the Seal
• Harry Goodridge, author
• T. Allen Lawson, artist
• Thomas Tertius Noble, English organist and composer, died here
• Bidu Sayão, Brazilian soprano singer, lived and died here
• Ada Bampton Tremaine, philanthropist
• Molly White, software engineer, Wikipedia editor, and crypto skeptic

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://rockportmaine.gov/}}
• [http://www.rockport.lib.me.us/ Rockport Public Library]
• [http://www.visitcamden.com/ Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.samoset.com/ Samoset Resort]
• [http://baharris.org/historicpolandspring/Samoset/Samoset.htm History of The Samoset Hotel]
• [http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=rockport Maine Genealogy: Rockport, Knox County, Maine]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSGt6iRMG-g&t=342s Rockport How Things Used To Be – Life In Maine.]

{{Knox County, Maine}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Rockport, Maine

Category:Populated coastal places in Maine

Category:Towns in Knox County, Maine