Long Island, Maine
Long Island is a town located in Cumberland County, Maine that seceded from the City of Portland in 1993. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 202.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 23.2 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 86.24% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 202 people, 93 households, and 61 families residing in the town. The population density was 54.5/km² (141.2/mi²). There were 353 housing units at an average density of 95.3/km² (246.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.03% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 93 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $43,214. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,278. 10.0% of the population and 10.0% of families were below the poverty line. 8.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The total population of 202 only includes year-round residents. A significant number of seasonal residents causes the population to swell to over 700 during the summer. There are 175 registered voters on Long Island.
Long Island maintains its own elementary school from grades K-5, but sends students to the City of Portland for schooling from grades 6 through 12.
History
Long Island, like other Casco Bay islands, was originally inhabited by Native Americans until settlers first arrived in the 1600’s. Ignatius Cushing became the first permanent resident to live on the island in 1730, and soon after, other settlers arrived to make a livelihood out of farming, fishing, and catching lobsters.
During WWII, supply stations and army buildings were constructed on the island to add to Casco Bay’s defenses in the event of an Axis powers attack. This included a fuel annex, which is often cited as a source of contamination for both the island's marsh and Casco Bay.
After the war, tourism became the most popular industry, and several small stores, a fire station, and a K-5 school (1953) were built. In the summer, several hundreds or even thousands of tourists traveled from places such as Massachusetts and New York to vacation in their summer cottages.
The island was originally part of the City of Portland, which re-evaluated property taxes in 1990. Due in part to high real estate prices paid by out-of-state residents, property taxes increased substantially. Many residents, although dependent upon Portland for jobs, medical care, transportation and education, felt this move created an unfair discrepancy between the money paid to the City of Portland and the services they received in return. The island voted to secede from Portland, and on July 1, 1993, the island was declared the Town of Long Island. The Long Island Historical Society now houses every news article that was printed about the secession movement as well as video and film footage of the secession ceremonies. These archives also include copies of the local and national news coverage given to the community during its "rebellion."
Long Island is still a popular destination in the summer, and is an approximately 35-minute ferry ride from Portland. Popular attractions include Sandy Beach (also known as South Beach) and its "singing sands." Another beach which is off-limits to tourists is Fowler's Beach, located on the western end of Long Island. The Town of Long Island Conservation Area, and the "backshore" rocks on the east end of the island are also well known attractions. The town has two general stores; the primary source for groceries is the Long Island General Store. The town also has one restaurant, The Spar, which is only open in the summer.
Summer Tourism
One of the primary attractions that the southern Maine communities has to offer tourists is the scenic ferry rides through Casco Bay. Over the years the employees of the Casco Bay Lines ferry service have written detailed narrations to deliver to the tourists over the ferry's Public Announcement System. The Narration for Long Island was written by Captain Richard H. Norcross (retired.) The narration is as follows:
"This is Long Island off to our right, Long Island is about 960 acres in size, and roughly 3 miles long and a mile and a half at its widest point.
"Long Island's claim to fame is that it served as the fueling depot for the north Atlantic fleet during World War 2. At one time there were 3 large wooden piers that extended from the shoreline reaching out more then 1,500 feet into the bay. There are 9 large tanks buried on the island with a capacity of over 500,000 barrels of fuel oil used to fuel the ships of the fleet. The large bay off to our left served as an anchorage for the fleet. During the war it wasn't uncommon to see lage battleships, carriers, and cruisers waiting to refuel and fill there stores of supplies.
"The property remained active until the early 1960's, when it was purchased by King Resources & Development of Denver, Colorado.
"King Resources had alot of big plans for the old fuel depot. Some of you might remember when the super tanker "MANHATTAN" was fitted with an ice breaker bow and sent thru the north west passage above Canada, to Point Barrell, Alaska, where they had just discovered the Alaskan oil deposits. King wanted to transport the newly discovered oil to the east coast where it would be refined and sold on the east coast. But as we all know, King's plans fizzled when they built the Alaskan pipe line. So in resent years the property was used to store home heating oil until the pipes began leaking and things were shut down. The property has changed hands quite a few times and is now being sold off into house lots and preserved as conservation land by the Town of Long Island.
"Coming up to our right, we have Johnson's Boatyard. This area was used as a naval seaplane base during World War 2. Next we have "Mariners Cove" of Long island. This is the main anchorage for the fishing fleet of Long Island. During the winter months they use a small cove on the south side of the island, which is much better protected from the harsh winter winds.
"That lone piling sticking out of the water along the island shore, is all that is left of Cleaves landing. Back in the steamboat days, all the islands had more then one dock on the island. With the advent of automobiles, the multiple docks were not needed.
"Those old wrecks off to our right in the channel between Long Island and Crow Island, are old sailing schooners. They were put here during World War 2 to help protect the fleet from enemy submarines by blocking of this portion of the channel. The rest of the channel was blocked by a submarine net. The ships were burned at the end of WW2 in celebration. One on V.E.day, and one on V.J.day. The ships were the "Zebedee E.Cliff", and the "Maude Maury".
"Both ships were Stone Scnooners, used to transport Granite stone from Quarrys along the coast of maine to the large cities of the east coast. Many of the large landmark buildings in Manhattan come from these quarrys."
Folklore
- It is believed that Long Island, Maine was one of the many places that Pocahontas lived. It is rumored that Pocahontus' true love was left stranded on Long Island after she was taken back to Europe--and that his spirit still roams the wooded island, calling her name.
- The Box Cottage, located just past Harbour De Grace, and at the foot of Leavitt Street, is believed to be haunted. If any person stands at the foot of Leavitt, and stares directly at the front of the cottage, the cottage looks as if it is smirking at you.
- The graveyard on Winterview Lane, just beyond the Town Garage is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old man. Note: This location is near The Box Cottage, as Winterview Lane is attached to the foot of Leavitt Street.
- The maroon house at the northern end of Cushing Street is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman who died in the house. Her ashes are still in the house, on a shelf in the kitchen. Residents who used to live in the house have said that if they try to move the ashes from the kitchen, strange things begin to happen. Items will fall to the floor, glasses will end up broken, even strange sounds are made.
- There is a house on Leavitt Street, just a short walk north from the Town Garage. This is is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman who once lived there. Like the house on Cushing Street, strange things would happen. Objects would move "themselves."
- In the primary graveyard on the west end there are two headstones which read "Lost At Sea." This is for a couple who were partying on Chebeague Island, sometime in the 1800's. On their way back to Long Island, they disappeared. No one knows for sure what happened to them. However, back in those days it wasn't uncommone to see an islander rowing from one island to another.
External links
- Town of Long Island (although it claims to be the official website for the Town of Long Island, Maine--a new development has proven that this is a private website and the town has not established its own site as of yet. Please use caution when using any information taken from [1]].)