Caribou, Maine
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Caribou is a city located in Aroostook County, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,312.
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Geography
Caribou is located at 46°51'49" North, 67°59'53" West (46.863559, -67.997992)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 207.7 km² (80.2 mi²). 205.4 km² (79.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.11% water.
Caribou is located in the geographical center of Aroostook County. Northern Maine is readily accessible by two major highways; U.S. Interstate 95 from the South and the Trans Canada from the North. (Regular air service to the Northern Maine Regional Airport, and rail.) Seaports are also close by in coastal Maine and New Brunswick.(Presque Isle now offers an intermodal rail facility) .
With economic and cultural ties with the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, cross border partnerships and relationships are often a common facet in many businesses.
History
In 1807, Charles Turner surveyed ten thousand acres (40 km²) of land in Northern Maine, then part of the state of Massachusetts. In 1808 Captain William Eaton was deeded these same 10,000 acres (40 km²) as a reward for his heroic victory over the Barbary Pirates, this estate became known as the Eaton Grant and is now the southeast section of Caribou. Around 1824 settlers began arriving from New Brunswick, and settled land on the north side of the Aroostook River. The City of Caribou originally known as the town of Lyndon was established in 1843 and incorporated in 1859. The first school was built in 1852, and the town of Lyndon was renamed Caribou by the state legislature in 1877.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 8,312 people, 3,517 households, and 2,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.5/km² (104.8/mi²). There were 3,858 housing units at an average density of 18.8/km² (48.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.22% White, 0.29% African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,517 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,485, and the median income for a family was $38,378. Males had a median income of $29,202 versus $20,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,061. 12.4% of the population and 8.4% of families were below the poverty line. 13.7% of those under the age of 18 and 11.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Arts and Culture
Caribou and Aroostook County have a rich cultural base, with strong arts programming. The Caribou Performing Arts Center draws acts and shows from all over the U.S. and Canada. Caribou also has a thriving music program centered around the Caribou Music Department. Music education has been a vital part of the education system in Caribou for years. The Caribou High School Music Building Fund, a student-initiated non-profit organization, is currently raising $2.7 million for a new music facility to be located at the high school. The new facility will allow Caribou High School students to utilize increased practice space and music technology to significantly further music education. Additionally, the facility will be open to community groups and musicians from all over Caribou and Aroostook County to use as the only center for music in Northern Maine.
Industry
In Caribou and throughout Aroostook County, the two major agricultural crops are the potato and broccoli. Area farmers annually plant approximately 80,000 acres (320 km²) of potatoes. The chief varieties are Russett Burbank, Superior, Shepody and Atlantic. Aroostook County is renowned for its Round White potatoes. The potato crop is used for seed, table stock, and processed potato products. Aroostook is the largest grower of broccoli on the East Coast.
Other important agricultural crops grown in the area include peas, hay, oats, and alternative crops on a smaller scale. The high volume of activity results in the growth of related agri-business. Farm implement sales and services and the development of several area processing plants are examples of the influence agriculture has on the local economy.
Caribou's rich soil makes for bountiful home vegetable gardens and in the summer u-pick strawberry and raspberry farms offer the freshest, most delicious berries you’ll ever eat.
Recreation
Aroostook County is widely known by sports enthusiasts for its well-groomed extensive snowmobile trail system; Caribou maintain 170 miles of Aroostook County’s 1600-mile snowmobile trail system. Snowmobilers can venture out every day, choose a variety of routes and with the number of loop trails never cross the same trail twice. Many county communities are located on the Canadian border, making international travel by snowmobile convenient. Running through the heart of Aroostook County is the Northeast Snowmobile Trail (NEST), and International Snowmobile Trail System linking Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the Province of Quebec.
External links
| Image:Flag of Maine.svg | The State of Maine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | Augusta | ||||
| Regions |
Down East | Maine Atlantic Coast | Maine Highlands | North Woods | Western Maine Mountains | ||||
| Counties |
Androscoggin | Aroostook | Cumberland | Franklin | Hancock | Kennebec | Knox | Lincoln | Oxford | Penobscot | Piscataquis | Sagadahoc | Somerset | Waldo | Washington | York | ||||
| Largest cities |
Auburn | Augusta | Bangor | Bath | Belfast | Biddeford | Brewer | Caribou | Ellsworth | Houlton | Kittery | Lewiston | Millinocket | Old Orchard Beach | Old Town | Orono | Portland | Presque Isle | Rockland | Rumford | Saco | Sanford | South Portland | Topsham | Waterville | Westbrook | ||||
| Image:Maine state seal.png | Culture | Geography | Government | History | Images |
