Limestone, Maine

Limestone is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,314 at the 2010 census. The town is best known for being the home of the Loring Commerce Center (formerly Loring Air Force Base; also lying on its former territory is the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge). Tens of thousand of fans of Vermont-based jam-band Phish poured into the site to temporarily make Limestone the most populous town in Maine during individual weekends of the summers of 1997 (The Great Went), 1998 (Lemonwheel) and 2003 (It)^{[citation needed]}.

The town is also home to The Maine School of Science and Mathematics, a residential charter high school specializing in math and science education. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked it the 12th best high school in the nation. Limestone is also home to the Loring Job Corps Center, located on part of the old Loring Air Force Base.

The population center of the town is in Limestone (CDP), located in the east-central part of the town.

History

General Mark Trafton, was born July 4, 1785, in York County, Maine. He was educated in public schools and became a leading citizen in Bangor, prominent in civil and military affairs. When a young man, he was commissioned captain of calvary and served in the War of 1812. He was afterward brigadier-general of the state militia. He was a land agent for the eastern and northern sections of Maine before the office was opened in Bangor. He is known as one of the founders of the town of Limestone. Limestone was incorporated as a Town on March 17, 1869.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.7 square miles (105.4 km²), of which 40.4 square miles (104.7 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) (0.74%) is water.

Demographics

See also: Limestone (CDP), Maine

At the 2000 census, there were 2,361 people, 801 households and 527 families residing in the town. The population density was 58.4 per square mile (22.6/km²). There were 1,169 housing units at an average density of 28.9 per square mile (11.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.05% White, 5.08% Black or African American, 0.72% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.24% of the population.

There were 801 households of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.

Age distribution was 25.7% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median household income was $35,313, and the median family income was $39,135. Males had a median income of $30,579 versus $18,400 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,502. About 7.7% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Military

Limestone was home to the former Loring Air Force Base. The base closed in 1994, after which it became known as the site of three large festivals by the rock band Phish.

It is now the Loring Commerce Center, one of Maine's largest industrial parks. Loring is also now home to the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge.

Notable people

• Conrad Keefe Cyr, federal appellate judge.
• canine artist Tillamook Cheddar.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Town of Limestone official website
• The Maine School of Science and Mathematics
• Varney, George J. (1886). Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Limestone. Boston: Russell. http://history.rays-place.com/me/limestone-me.htm