Sanford, Maine

Sanford is in the western portion of a tract of land purchased in 1661 from Abenaki Chief Fluellin by Major William Phillips, an owner of mills in Saco. First called Phillipstown, it was willed in 1696 by Mrs. Phillips to her former husband's son, Peleg Sanford. Settlement was delayed, however, by hostilities during the French and Indian Wars. In 1724, Norridgewock, an Abenaki stronghold on the Kennebec River, was destroyed by a Massachusetts militia. Subsequently, the region became less dangerous for white settlers, and Sanford was first settled in 1739. Incorporated a town in 1768, it was named after Peleg Sanford. Until 1794, Alfred was the town's North Parish. The Mousam River provided water power for industry. In 1745, Capt. Market Morrison built a sawmill above Springvale. Following the Civil War, Sanford developed into a textile manufacturing center, connected to markets by the Portland and Rochester Railroad. Factories were built at both Springvale and Sanford villages. Products included cotton and woolen goods, carpets, shoes and lumber. In 1867, British-born Thomas Goodall established the Goodall Mills at Sanford, after selling another mill in 1865 at Troy, New Hampshire which made woolen blankets contoured to fit horses. His factory beside the Mousam River first manufactured carriage robes and blankets. It would expand to make mohair plush for upholstering railroad seats, carpets, draperies, auto fabrics, military uniform fabric and Palm Beach fabric for summer suits. The company's textiles were known for brilliant and fast colors and found buyers worldwide. From 1880 to 1910, the mill town's population swelled from 2,700 to over 9,000, some living in houses built by the company and sold to workers at cost. In 1914, the Goodall family built Goodall Park, a 784-seat roofed stadium, now a treasured historic site. They also helped build the library, town hall, hospital, airport, and golf club. A bronze statue was erected by the citizens of Sanford in 1917 to the memory of Thomas Goodall. His effigy has a place of honor in Central Park. starring Darren McGavin and Jason Robards. The story was later featured in LIFE magazine's feature on "Community Boosters" on August 5, 1957. It now has diversified industries, including manufacturing and biotech. When the federal government offered money in the 1960s for urban renewal to rehabilitate aging or blighted districts, more than thirty Sanford structures were razed. In Springvale, three of four corners were leveled. Nevertheless, much fine architecture from the town's prosperous mill era survived. Leavitt operated in partnership with attorney Fred J. Allen, her brother-in-law (Allen was married to Belle's sister Ida Leavitt), and member of the Maine Legislature. The town gained national notoriety in 1984, when Scott Waterhouse, then age 18, strangled 12-year-old Gycelle Cote. Rumors of Satanism surrounded the case, and some of Waterhouse's personal belongings were deemed to be occult in nature. These included a copy of The Satanic Bible and a notebook carrying Satanic drawings and poetry. The furor culminated in several tabloid stories, national television coverage, and at least one headline referring to the town as "Terrortown!". The town again gained national notoriety on November 9, 2009, when the Amber Alert system was first used in the state for 2-year-old Hailey Traynham, abducted by her father. In 2003, Maine voters rejected a proposal to build a $650 million casino in South Sanford. The development, ostensibly owned by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy nations, would have included 4,000 slot machines, 180 gaming tables, a hotel, a convention center and an 18-hole golf course. Proponents argued it would add 4,700 permanent jobs and direct 25% of its revenue to the state. Detractors predicted higher crime, traffic and an erosion of Maine's quality of life. On June 23, 2017, the largest mill fire Sanford firefighters have ever battled erupted. The flaming five-story back building of the former Stenton Trust Mill complex at 13 River Street brought more than 100 firefighters from 20 communities to battle the blaze. The complex, which was built in 1922 as a textile mill, includes two five-story brick and concrete buildings and a one-story connecting structure. Two days later, three boys from Sanford, two 13-year-olds and a 12-year-old, were charged with felony arson in connection with the fire. They pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and were placed on probation for a year. ==Geography==

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Located near foothills, Sanford is drained by the Mousam River. Sanford borders the towns of Shapleigh, Acton, Alfred, Kennebunk, Wells, North Berwick, and Lebanon. Climate The climate is humid continental, similar to that of nearby towns such as Concord, New Hampshire. The Köppen classification is Dfb. ==Demographics==

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Sanford had a population of 21,982. The median age was 41.3 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over. There were 9,146 households in Sanford, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.5% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, 20,798 people, 8,500 households, and 5,417 families resided in the city. The population density was . There were 9,452 housing units at an average density of . The city's racial makeup was 94.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 1.6% of the population. There were 8,500 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.3% were non-families. Of all households, 28.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 40.5 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64, and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 20,806 people, 8,270 households, and 5,449 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 8,807 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.68% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population. There were 8,270 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. Of all households, 27.6% were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01. In the CDP the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,668, and the median income for a family was $43,021. Males had a median income of $33,115 versus $24,264 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,951. About 11.1% of families and 12.8% of the overall population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those aged 65 or over. ==Arts and culture==

Sites of interest • Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library • Goodall Park - baseball stadium home to the Sanford Mainers • Mousam River Events • Sanford International Film Festival, an annual event that specializes in independent film ==Government==

In 2018, a career-focused high school on a 127-acre campus was erected. Schools include the Sanford High School. ==Infrastructure==

Fire department Sanford citizens are protected by Firefighter/EMT's working out of three fire stations located in Springvale, South Sanford, and Downtown Sanford. There are 45 full-time fire personnel. In 2007, the Sanford Fire Department responded to 1,150 fire runs and 2,515 medical runs. ==Notable people==

• Frank Augustus Allen, mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts (1877) • Randy Brooks, musician • Michael Richard Cote, Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut • Nick Curran, musician • Vic Firth, musician, businessman • Ann Fredericks, state legislator • Louis B. Goodall, businessman, U.S. congressman • Rachel Griffin-Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, YouTuber, songwriter, and educator • Jane Lord Hersom (1840–1928), physician, suffragist • Sumner Increase Kimball, organizer of the United States Life-Saving Service, founder of Coast Guard Academy • Peter Kostis, golf instructor, sportscaster • Raymond Luc Levasseur, member of the United Freedom Front • Franz Lidz, journalist and author of the memoir Unstrung Heroes • Mike McGinnis, composer, musician • Patrick James McGinnis, investor, author • Freddy Parent, Major League Baseball shortstop (1899–1911) • Lawrence Lee Pelletier, 16th president of Allegheny College • Amédée Wilfrid Proulx, Catholic bishop • Joe Riggs, mixed martial arts fighter, UFC veteran • Rachel Schneider Olympic Runner • Charles A. Shaw, 19th-century politician, inventor • John Storer, the namesake of Storer College • C. Donald Stritch, politician • John Tuttle, Maine state legislator ==References==