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Polished Draft Town Description for Hampden, Maine

Overview of Hampden, Maine:
Hampden Town is in Penobscot County and is one of the best places to live in Maine. It is
situated on the estuary of the Penobscot River, which forms its east border for just over six miles.
The 2020 census indicated that its total population was 7,709. The Bangor Metropolitan
Statistical Area also includes the town as one of its sub-areas. Several major highways cross the
town, including Interstate 95, United States Routes 1A and 202, as well as Maine State Routes 9
and 69. It is divided from Brewer and Orrington to the northeast by the Penobscot River, and
bordered by the towns of Winterport to the south, Newburgh to the west, Hermon to the north,
and Bangor to the northeast.
Typical Climate in Hampden, Maine:
Hampden Town experiences mild summers, cold winters, and cloudy weather throughout the
year. The temperatures in this area seldom fall below -7°F or rise above 88°F year-round. In fact,
from June 1 to September 17, the average daily maximum temperatures exceed 69°F. On the
other hand, July has an average high of 79°F and a low of 60°F which makes it the warmest
month in town. In contrast, the coldest month on average is January, with lows of 11°F and highs
of 28°F. Additionally, between December 3 to March 13, the average daily highs are below
38°F.
Geographic Profile of Hampden, Maine:
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hampden Town covers a total area of 39
square miles where 38 square miles, of which are land and the remaining one square meter is
composed of water.
Demographic Profile of Hampden, Maine:
In 2020, the median age of residents in Hampden, Maine, was reported as 44 and the average
family income was $91,000. Hampden's population grew by 7% between 2019 and 2020, from
4,373 to 7,709, while its median household income rose from $87,629 to $90,509. The town is
primarily comprised of distinct racial groups which includes 98% White (Non-Hispanic), 0.9%
Two+ (Hispanic), 0.6% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), 0.6% Two+ (Non-
Hispanic), and none of the White (Hispanic). Statistics show that 50% of the population was
male and 50% female. No households reported speaking a language other than English at home
as their main shared language. This does not reflect the possibility of households being
multilingual, but merely the primary self-reported language spoken by all household members.
Majority of the town's residents are American citizens.
History of Hampden, Maine:
Wheelersborough was the original name of the town as a tribute to its first inhabitant, Benjamin
Wheeler. The town was eventually given the name John Hampden in honor of the English patriot
who opposed Charles I's illegal Ship Money tax in the 17th century, which was founded on his
birthday, February 24, 1794. Moreover, on September 3, 1814, during the War of 1812,
approximately 400 local militiamen under the command of Brigadier General John Blake of
nearby Brewer attempted to defeat a greater force of British regulars at Hampden. However, the
American line immediately disintegrated under a charge and was quickly driven back. The
United States suffered one death and 11 injuries, while the United Kingdom lost two where one
is an officer. Additionally, a bystander was also shot and died. After capturing Castine, the
British fleet led by Sir John Coape Sherbrooke (then lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia) raided
Hampden and neighbor Bangor. The United States Ships Adams, a frigate carrying 750 sailors,
had escaped up the Penobscot River and was now anchored at Hampden. To avoid being
captured, Captain Charles Morris and the crew of the Adams set fire to the vessel. The Treaty of
Ghent, which put an end to the War of 1812, was signed by British and American officials on
December 24, 1814, in Ghent, Belgium. Later, in February of that same year, news of the treaty
reached Hampden.
Hampden Maine’s Top 10 Safest Cities for 2022:
1. Kennebunk
2. Cumberland
3. Cape Elizabeth
4. Hampden
5. Eliot
6. Gorham
7. Falmouth
8. Belfast
9. Oakland
10. Gardiner
Notable People in Hampden, Maine:
1. Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802-87)
Dorothea Dix was born in Hampden, Maine in 1802. She was an author, teacher and reformer.
At the age of 14, Dorothea Dix opened her own kindergarten in Maine in 1802, and continued
to teach into her twenties. Furthermore, she is most known for being a social and political
activist whose advocacy on behalf of people with mental illnesses led to significant jail reform
that started in the 1840s.
2. Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891)
Hannibal Hamlin was an American attorney and politician who held the position of 15th vice
president of the United States from 1861 to 1865, during President Abraham Lincoln's first
term. He was also the first Republican vice president.
He was admitted to the bar in 1833, at which point he began practicing law in Hampden. He
represented Maine in the United State Senate and House of Representatives as a Jacksonian
Democrat. In 1857, he was also chosen to serve as Maine's first Republican governor.