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41-635: The Kennebec County Courthouse is located at 95 State Street in Augusta, Maine , the state capital and county seat of Kennebec County . Built in 1829 and twice enlarged, it is one of the oldest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the state, and its earliest known example of a Greek temple front. The building, which is now mostly taken up by county offices, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Kennebec County Courthouse stands just west of Augusta's commercial downtown, on

82-399: A central gabled section flanked by hip-roofed wings. The gable front is fully pedimented, supported by six granite Doric columns and topped by a wood-frame open belfry, its corners supported by groups of Doric columns. The building corners are quoined with lighter granite blocks, and iron railings run between the columns of the portico on the second level. The courthouse was built in 1829 to

123-404: A design by James Cochran, who also oversaw its construction. It was enlarged to the rear in 1851, and again in 1907; both additions are of granite in sympathetic styling. The building is one of the state's best examples of early Greek Revival architecture, and is the first documented appearance of a temple front. Augusta, Maine Augusta ( / ə ˈ ɡ ʌ s t ə / ə- GUSS -tə )

164-536: A film production studio. For much of Augusta's history, the central business district was on and near Water Street on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The street, laid out in the late 1700s, was the location of the area's commercial and industrial life. Many fires damaged this concentrated area, including one in 1865 that destroyed nearly 100 buildings. In 1890, the first trolley line began operation down Water Street, connecting Augusta with Gardiner and Hallowell to

205-486: A household in the city was $ 29,921, and the median income for a family was $ 42,230. Males had a median income of $ 31,209 versus $ 22,548 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,145. About 11.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over. Augusta is governed by a mayor and council-manager system. The City Council oversees all City government activities and establishes

246-506: A male householder with no wife present, and 49.0% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

287-535: A publishing and shipping center. Today, government and post-secondary education are important businesses. Since the mid-eighteenth century, there has been a military presence in Augusta. Fort Western has not had troops garrisoned there since the 1790s, but in 1828, the U.S. Government built an arsenal to protect their interests from Britain. During the Civil War , Augusta was a rendezvous point for Union soldiers traveling to

328-602: Is categorized as a non-primary commercial service facility. Augusta State Airport covers an area of 406 acres (164 ha ) at an elevation of 352 feet (107 m) above mean sea level . It has two asphalt -paved runways : 17/35 is 5,001 by 150 feet (1,524 x 46 m) and 8/26 is 2,703 by 75 feet (824 x 23 m). For the 12-month period ending August 11, 2016, the airport had 24,500 aircraft operations, an average of 67 per day: 69% general aviation , 22% air taxi , and 6% military . In April 2018, 37 aircraft were based at this airport: 31 single- engine and 6 multi-engine. The airport

369-619: Is January, with an average low of 10 °F (−12.2 °C). Most snowfall occurs from December through March. There is usually little or no snow in April and November, and snow is rare in May and October. See or edit raw graph data . As of the census of 2010, there were 19,136 people, 8,802 households, and 4,490 families residing in the city. The population density was 347.1/sq mi (134.0/km ). There were 9,756 housing units at an average density of 177.0/sq mi (68.3/km ). The racial makeup of

410-524: Is part of the Portland, Maine television market , and receives most of that market's channels. WCBB channel 10, licensed to Augusta, is the local television outlet for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network . Interstate 95 passes by the western outskirts of Augusta. U.S. 202 runs east–west through the city. U.S. 201 runs north–south through the city. Augusta State Airport (AUG), in

451-635: Is the capital of the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat of and most populous city in Kennebec County . The city's population was 18,899 at the 2020 census , making it the 12th most populous city in Maine , and 3rd least populous state capital in the United States after Montpelier, Vermont , and Pierre, South Dakota . The area was explored in 1607 by English settlers from the Popham Colony at

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492-522: Is water. Augusta is drained by Bond's Brook, Woromontogus Stream and the Kennebec River . The city is crossed by Interstate 95 , U.S. Route 201 , State Route 11 , U.S. Route 202 , State Route 9 , State Route 3 , State Route 100 , State Route 27 , State Route 8 , State Route 104 , and State Route 105 . Augusta borders the towns of Manchester to its west, Sidney and Vassalboro to its north, Windsor to its east, Chelsea to its south, and

533-502: The University of Maine at Augusta . Because of the city's position on the Kennebec, downtown Augusta is vulnerable to floods in spring. The Maine flood of 1987 , known as the "Great Flood", affected the city. Bond Brook runs from northwest to southeast through the city center, and has been called the "Home of wild Atlantic Salmon". The city has five different residential areas, including

574-464: The "west side", a historic neighborhood north of the state capitol complex, and the "east side", which is situated on the opposite side of the Kennebec. The city's northwest quadrant includes both a retail center and neighborhoods. Augusta State Airport serves the city, offering both commercial service and general aviation. Although the airport is owned by the State of Maine, it is managed and operated by

615-532: The Midwest. Excellent soil provided for agriculture, and water power from streams provided for the industry. In 1837, a dam was built across the Kennebec where the falls drop 15  feet at the head of a tide. By 1838, 10 sawmills were contracted. With the arrival of the Kennebec & Portland Railroad in 1851, Augusta became an even more productive mill town . In 1883, the property of A. & W. Sprague Company

656-500: The camp. As the airport grew, the use of the camp as a training facility was no longer possible. Today, it is still used for administrative and logistical purposes by the National Guard. In the 19th century, Augusta got a regular steamboat service and the railroad. The city installed gas lights in 1859. A telephone service was available in 1880 and a local hospital in 1898. In the early 20th century, Augusta built two movie houses and

697-449: The city of Hallowell to its southwest. Augusta's climate is classified as a humid continental climate ( Köppen : Dfb ). Summers are typically warm, rainy, and humid, while winters are cold, windy, and snowy. Spring and fall are usually mild, but conditions are widely varied, depending on wind direction and jet stream positioning. The hottest month is July, with an average high temperature of 80 °F (26.7 °C). The coldest month

738-540: The city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 18,560 people, 8,565 households, and 4,607 families residing in the city. The population density was 335.1 inhabitants per square mile (129.4/km ). There were 9,480 housing units at an average density of 171.2 per square mile (66.1/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 96.21% White , 0.50% Black or African American , 0.48% Native American , 1.35% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.16% from other races , and 1.3% from two or more races. 0.86% of

779-445: The city was 94.1% White , 1.1% African American , 0.7% Native American , 1.5% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.4% from other races , and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 8,802 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had

820-643: The city. Interstate 95 passes by the western outskirts of Augusta, and both U.S. 202 and U.S. 201 run through the city. The area was first explored by the English of the short-lived Popham Colony in September 1607. Twenty-one years later, English settlers from the Plymouth Colony settled in the area in 1628 as part of a trading post on the Kennebec River . The settlement was known by its Native American name Cushnoc (or Coussinoc or Koussinoc), meaning "head of

861-469: The completion of the Maine State House in 1832, designed by Charles Bulfinch . Augusta was incorporated as a city in 1849. After being named the state capital and the introduction of new industry, the city flourished. In 1840 and 1850, the city ranked among the 100 largest urban populations in the country. During the next decade, however, the city was quickly bypassed by rapidly growing metropolises in

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902-561: The downtown area. Augusta is located at 44°18′38″N 69°46′46″W  /  44.31056°N 69.77944°W  / 44.31056; -69.77944 , making it the easternmost state capital in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 58.03 sq mi (150.30 km ), of which 55.13 sq mi (142.79 km ) is land and 2.90 sq mi (7.51 km )

943-475: The east side of State Street between Winthrop and Court Streets. A modern courthouse, which houses most of the county's judicial functions today, stands just to the east across Perham Street, and the Kennebec County Jail is just to the south. It is a two-story masonry structure, built mainly out of roughly finished cut granite, with finely finished granite trim. The main block is roughly rectangular, with

984-603: The eastern bank of the Kennebec River. It was intended as a supply depot for Fort Halifax upriver, as well as a regional defense from French attack. Later, during the American Revolutionary War , Benedict Arnold and his 1,100 troops would use Fort Western as a staging area before continuing their journey up the Kennebec to the Battle of Quebec . Cushnoc was incorporated as part of Hallowell in 1771. Known as "the Fort", it

1025-399: The four public elementary schools that are located in the city. Cony serves students in grades 7–12 from Augusta and the surrounding towns; Cony comprises Cony Middle School and Cony High School . St. Michaels is a private Catholic school ; it charges tuition to its students. The University of Maine at Augusta is third-largest university in the University of Maine System . Augusta

1066-553: The front. Many of the soldiers camped on the green in front of the capitol building. In 1862, Camp E.D. Keyes was established in the northwestern portion of the city. During World War I , Camp Keyes was used as a mobilization and training camp for soldiers. The camp eventually became a headquarters for the Maine National Guard . In 1929, the state legislature approved the placement of the Augusta State Airport next to

1107-449: The legislative policies of the city, adopts and amends ordinances and local laws, appropriates municipal resources, and sets the tax rate. The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer and purchasing agent of the city. The mayor presides at all meetings of the council, and is recognized ceremonially as the official head of the city. The city maintains a police department ; it is remarkable for not having had an officer killed in

1148-483: The line of duty for over a century. Augusta has historically been Democratic . In the 2012 presidential election , Barack Obama received 5,192 of the votes to Mitt Romney 's 3,339. In the 2020 presidential election , Joe Biden won 5,248 votes to Donald Trump 's 4,155. The city has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H. W. Bush in the Republican landslide of 1988 . Democrats are

1189-489: The majority political affiliation in all four voting wards. There are more voters who are not enrolled than there are registered Republicans in the city. There are five public schools, one private school, and one college (the University of Maine at Augusta ). There are two public libraries in Augusta, the city-operated Lithgow Public Library and the Maine State Library . Farrington, Gilbert, Hussey, and Lincoln are

1230-524: The mouth of the Kennebec River . Before European settlement, Algonquian-speaking Indians lived in the area. In 1625, representatives of Plymouth Colony chose the east shore of the Kennebec for a trading post, which was likely built in 1628 and became known as " Cushnoc ". The Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the Plymouth Company , built Fort Western near the site of the abandoned trading post in 1754 and began settlement efforts. The new village

1271-439: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 8,565 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

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1312-578: The south. In 1932, buses replaced the trolley line. With the completion of the Maine Turnpike and Interstate 95 in 1955, local commercial developments began to move away from Water Street and closer to the highway. Among the results was a storefront vacancy rate downtown of about 60 percent. Since the late 2000s, there has been a renewed and ongoing focus by city officials, the Augusta Downtown Alliance, and private developers to revitalize

1353-528: The tide". Fur trading was at first profitable, but because of Native uprisings and declining revenues, Plymouth Colony sold the Kennebec Patent in 1661. Cushnoc would remain unoccupied for the next 75 years. The area around Cushnoc was inhabited by the Kennebec , a band of the larger Abenaki nation. During the 17th century, they were on friendly terms with the English settlers in the region. A hotbed of Abenaki hostility toward British settlements

1394-500: The western part of the city, has commercial flights. Nation: States: Territories: Augusta State Airport As per the Federal Aviation Administration , this airport had 3,554 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 3,663 in 2009, and 4,300 in 2010. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it

1435-402: Was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males. The median income for

1476-506: Was incorporated as Hallowell in 1771, and the upriver part of town separated in 1797 to form the town of Harrington. On June 9, 1797, Harrington changed its name to Augusta and, in 1827, it was designated capital of Maine. Augusta is the easternmost state capital in the United States. Located on the Kennebec River at the head of tide , it is the principal city in the Augusta-Waterville micropolitan statistical area and home to

1517-480: Was located further up the Kennebec at Norridgewock . In 1722, the tribe and its allies attacked Fort Richmond (now Richmond ) and destroyed Brunswick . In response, English forces sacked Norridgewock in 1724 during Dummer's War , when the English gained tentative control of the Kennebec. During the height of the French and Indian War , in 1754, the English colonists built a blockhouse named Fort Western at Cushnoc on

1558-624: Was originally developed under a New Deal project by the Maine Emergency Relief Administration, the state division of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration in a statewide survey of airports by Capt. Harry M. Jones in January 1934. The airport was built with one north-south 2,000x80’ gravel runway, one east-west 1,600x80’ gravel runway, and one northeast-southwest 2,500x80’ gravel runway. Runway 17/35

1599-550: Was purchased by the Edwards Manufacturing Company, which erected extensive brick mills for manufacturing cotton textiles. They imported cotton from the South for processing and export to Europe. In the late 19th century, a paper and pulp plant was constructed. Other Augusta firms produced lumber, sash , doors, window shutters, broom handles, stone cutters' tools, shoes, headstones, ice and furniture. The city developed as

1640-446: Was reconstructed in the summer of 2012. The original surface was ground up and reclaimed, and runway lights and other navigational aids were upgraded. The project cost $ 7.5 million and was funded by the federal government . The project required closing the runway for two months, and it was reopened at 3:41 pm on June 29. The airport received a federal grant of $ 1 million to purchase new snow removal equipment. The equipment should enable

1681-739: Was set off and incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court in February 1797 as Harrington. In August, however, the name was changed to Augusta after Pamela Augusta Dearborn, daughter of Henry Dearborn . In 1799, it was designated as the county seat for the newly created Kennebec County. Maine became a state in 1820 as a result of the Missouri Compromise . Augusta was designated as its capital in 1827, over Portland , and rival communities Brunswick and Hallowell. The Maine State Legislature continued meeting in Portland , however, until

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