Orono, Maine

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The town is divided by the Stillwater River, a branch of the Penobscot River. It occupies the southern part of Marsh Island, surrounded by the Penobscot and the Stillwater rivers, where the University of Maine campus is located. Orono also occupies Ayers Island, the site of a demolished paper mill, Browns Island, a small protected natural area upstream of the Orono Dam, and part of Moose Island on Pushaw Lake. The remainder of the town is on the mainland. The Orono Dam impounds the Stillwater River at its confluence with the Penobscot River near downtown Orono. The seasonal Johnny Mack Brook flows through the town into the Penobscot River. Orono is located along U.S. Route 2 (Route 15 in the now-obsolete New England road marking system). Orono marks the eastern terminus of Maine State Route 16, which intersects with U.S. Route 2 in Monument Square in downtown. Orono is located at milepost 145 of the Maine Central Railroad, the railroad bridge in town was built in 1885. and WRCC (average extremes) }} ==Conservation==

The Orono Land Trust operates a number of protected areas in Orono. Piney Knoll Conservation Area, situated alongside the Penobscot River, is known for its walking trails and bird-watching. The University of Maine also owns a considerable amount of protected land in the town. Prominent parcels include Dwight B. Demeritt Forest. == Demographics ==

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 10,363 people, 2,831 households, and 1,229 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 3,089 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 93.7% White, 1.2% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population. There were 2,831 households, of which 17.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.6% were non-families. 30.6% 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 2.29 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age in the town was 21.8 years. 8.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 55.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 12.2% were from 25 to 44; 13.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.8% male and 48.2% female. == Notable people ==

• Charles J. Dunn, Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court • Wallace Rider Farrington, territorial governor of Hawaii • Merritt Lyndon Fernald (1873–1950), botanist • Constance Hunting, poet, publisher • Frances Laughton Mace, poet • Jonathan Norcross, inventor, 4th mayor of Atlanta • Ralph Perkins, state legislator • Elizabeth Schneider, state senator • Joseph B. Treat, Wisconsin politician • Nathaniel Treat, Maine politician • Nathaniel B. Treat, Wisconsin politician • Eva Valesh (1866–1956), labor journalist • Israel Washburn Jr., US congressman and 29th Governor of Maine • George Henry Weeks, Quartermaster General of the United States Army • Dorothy Clarke Wilson, novelist, playwright ==Points of interest==

• University of Maine • Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation • Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden • Old Fire Engine House • Orono Main Street Historic District ==Education==

It is in Regional School Unit 26. The district operates Orono High School, Orono Middle School, and Asa C. Adams Elementary School. The University of Maine is in Orono. ==Notes==