Orono, Maine

Town in Maine, United States

Orono, Maine

Town

Mill Street business in downtown Orono

Seal

Orono

Show map of Maine

Orono

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Coordinates: 44°53′00″N 68°40′20″W﻿ / ﻿44.88333°N 68.67222°W﻿ / 44.88333; -68.67222
Country| United States
State| Maine
County| Penobscot
Settled| 1774
Incorporated| March 12, 1806
Chartered| 1969
Government

• Type| Council/Manager
• Town Manager| Sophia L. Wilson
Area

[1]

• Total

| 19.60 sq mi (50.76 km2)
• Land| 18.19 sq mi (47.11 km2)
• Water| 1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2)  7.19%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 11,183
• Density| 615/sq mi (237.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes|

04473-Town, 04469-UMaine

Area code| 207
Website| www.orono.org
Orono in 1936

Orono (/ˈɒrənoʊ/ ORR-ə-noh) is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. Located on the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, it was first settled by American colonists in 1774. They named it in honor of Chief Joseph Orono, a sachem of the indigenous Penobscot nation who long occupied this territory.

In the 19th century, the town became a center of the lumber industry. Sawmills on the rivers were powered by the water, and logs were floated downriver on the Penobscot for shipping and export from coastal ports.

Since 1865, it has been the location of the University of Maine, established as a land-grant institution and the state's flagship educational institution. In the fall of 2018, the university enrolled 11,404 students at Orono. Not including university residents, the town's population was 11,183 at the 2020 census.[2]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.60 square miles (50.76 km2), of which 18.19 square miles (47.11 km2) is land and 1.41 square miles (3.65 km2) is water.[1] The town is divided by the Stillwater River, a branch of the Penobscot River. It occupies part of Marsh Island, as well as some smaller islands such as Ayers Island, which is surrounded by the Penobscot and the Stillwater rivers, and 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.[3]

### Climate

[edit]

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Orono has a warm-summer humid continental climate, according to the Köppen Climate Classification system is "Dfb", thus abbreviated ed in on climate maps.[4]

Climate data for Orono (University of Maine), elevation: 47 m or 154 ft, 1981–2010 normals, extremes and average extremes 1893–2005[a]

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 65
(18)  | 63
(17)  | 83
(28)  | 89
(32)  | 99
(37)  | 100
(38)  | 102
(39)  | 104
(40)  | 97
(36)  | 90
(32)  | 78
(26)  | 64
(18)  | 104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 46.2
(7.9)  | 46.7
(8.2)  | 58.2
(14.6)  | 72.2
(22.3)  | 83.8
(28.8)  | 89.5
(31.9)  | 92.0
(33.3)  | 90.1
(32.3)  | 84.3
(29.1)  | 73.7
(23.2)  | 60.8
(16.0)  | 49.5
(9.7)  | 92.0
(33.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 28.7
(−1.8)  | 33.6
(0.9)  | 41.5
(5.3)  | 54.5
(12.5)  | 67.3
(19.6)  | 76.0
(24.4)  | 81.0
(27.2)  | 79.6
(26.4)  | 70.3
(21.3)  | 56.9
(13.8)  | 44.8
(7.1)  | 33.5
(0.8)  | 55.6
(13.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 19.9
(−6.7)  | 24.2
(−4.3)  | 32.4
(0.2)  | 44.5
(6.9)  | 55.9
(13.3)  | 64.5
(18.1)  | 70.0
(21.1)  | 68.8
(20.4)  | 59.8
(15.4)  | 48.0
(8.9)  | 38.1
(3.4)  | 26.4
(−3.1)  | 46.0
(7.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 11.1
(−11.6)  | 14.8
(−9.6)  | 23.3
(−4.8)  | 34.5
(1.4)  | 44.4
(6.9)  | 53.0
(11.7)  | 59.0
(15.0)  | 57.9
(14.4)  | 49.3
(9.6)  | 39.2
(4.0)  | 31.4
(−0.3)  | 19.4
(−7.0)  | 36.4
(2.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | −14.8
(−26.0)  | −12.9
(−24.9)  | −1.18
(−18.43)  | 19.1
(−7.2)  | 29.1
(−1.6)  | 37.7
(3.2)  | 45.4
(7.4)  | 41.3
(5.2)  | 31.0
(−0.6)  | 23.0
(−5.0)  | 10.9
(−11.7)  | −8
(−22)  | −14.8
(−26.0)
Record low °F (°C)  | −40
(−40)  | −32
(−36)  | −25
(−32)  | 3
(−16)  | 19
(−7)  | 29
(−2)  | 34
(1)  | 30
(−1)  | 22
(−6)  | 13
(−11)  | −8
(−22)  | −31
(−35)  | −40
(−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 2.98
(76)  | 2.48
(63)  | 3.15
(80)  | 3.13
(80)  | 3.41
(87)  | 3.52
(89)  | 3.01
(76)  | 3.27
(83)  | 3.56
(90)  | 3.64
(92)  | 4.03
(102)  | 4.21
(107)  | 40.39
(1,025)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 18.7
(47.5)  | 17.8
(45.2)  | 11.3
(28.7)  | 3.9
(9.9)  | 0.2
(0.5)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | trace  | 0.4
(1)  | 4.6
(11.7)  | 56.9
(144.5)
Average precipitation days  | 10  | 8  | 9  | 9  | 10  | 10  | 9  | 9  | 9  | 9  | 10  | 9  | 111
Average snowy days  | 6.3  | 4.5  | 4.3  | 1.2  | trace  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.1  | 1.4  | 4.6  | 22.4
Average relative humidity (%)  | 70  | 68  | 65  | 61  | 65  | 70  | 71  | 71  | 74  | 72  | 72  | 75  | 70
Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.2  | 4.1  | 5.5  | 5.4  | 6.5  | 5.9  | 7.5  | 9.4  | 9.8  | 9.0  | 6.5  | 6.9  | 6.9
Source: WRCC,[5] Weatherbase (snowfall, precipitation and snow days),[6] Meteoblue (sun days)[7] and timeanddate.com (humidity)[8]

Climate data for Orono (University of Maine), elevation: 47 m or 154 ft, 1961–1990 normals and average extremes

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 34.8
(1.6)  | 42.2
(5.7)  | 47.2
(8.4)  | 56.4
(13.6)  | 72.3
(22.4)  | 79.3
(26.3)  | 85.7
(29.8)  | 81.2
(27.3)  | 75.1
(23.9)  | 61.8
(16.6)  | 48.5
(9.2)  | 40.3
(4.6)  | 85.7
(29.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 27.0
(−2.8)  | 29.1
(−1.6)  | 38.8
(3.8)  | 50.7
(10.4)  | 64.2
(17.9)  | 73.6
(23.1)  | 79.2
(26.2)  | 76.3
(24.6)  | 66.4
(19.1)  | 54.9
(12.7)  | 41.9
(5.5)  | 30.4
(−0.9)  | 52.7
(11.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 17.2
(−8.2)  | 19.2
(−7.1)  | 29.8
(−1.2)  | 40.8
(4.9)  | 52.3
(11.3)  | 61.7
(16.5)  | 67.5
(19.7)  | 64.9
(18.3)  | 55.8
(13.2)  | 45.3
(7.4)  | 34.7
(1.5)  | 21.9
(−5.6)  | 42.6
(5.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 7.5
(−13.6)  | 9.3
(−12.6)  | 20.8
(−6.2)  | 30.9
(−0.6)  | 40.6
(4.8)  | 49.6
(9.8)  | 55.6
(13.1)  | 53.8
(12.1)  | 45.0
(7.2)  | 36.0
(2.2)  | 27.5
(−2.5)  | 13.6
(−10.2)  | 32.5
(0.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | −1.5
(−18.6)  | −0.4
(−18.0)  | 12.9
(−10.6)  | 27.2
(−2.7)  | 34.6
(1.4)  | 46.6
(8.1)  | 49.2
(9.6)  | 46.3
(7.9)  | 37.9
(3.3)  | 32.3
(0.2)  | 21.9
(−5.6)  | −2.1
(−18.9)  | −2.1
(−18.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 2.87
(72.9)  | 2.63
(66.8)  | 2.74
(69.6)  | 3.00
(76.2)  | 3.43
(87.1)  | 3.41
(86.6)  | 3.52
(89.4)  | 3.48
(88.4)  | 3.56
(90.4)  | 3.28
(83.3)  | 4.05
(102.9)  | 3.82
(97.0)  | 39.79
(1,010.6)
Source: NOAA[9] and WRCC (average extremes)[10]

## Conservation

[edit]

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

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1810| 351| | —
1820| 415| | 18.2%
1830| 1,472| | 254.7%
1840| 1,521| | 3.3%
1850| 2,785| | 83.1%
1860| 2,533| | −9.0%
1870| 2,888| | 14.0%
1880| 2,245| | −22.3%
1890| 2,790| | 24.3%
1900| 3,257| | 16.7%
1910| 3,555| | 9.1%
1920| 3,133| | −11.9%
1930| 3,338| | 6.5%
1940| 3,702| | 10.9%
1950| 7,504| | 102.7%
1960| 8,341| | 11.2%
1970| 9,989| | 19.8%
1980| 10,578| | 5.9%
1990| 10,573| | 0.0%
2000| 9,112| | −13.8%
2010| 10,362| | 13.7%
2020| 11,183| | 7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Orono town offices

See also: Orono (CDP), Maine

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 10,363 people, 2,831 households, and 1,229 families living in the town. The population density was 569.7 inhabitants per square mile (220.0/km2). There were 3,089 housing units at an average density of 169.8 units per square mile (65.6 units/km2). 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

[edit]

Location of town of Orono in state of Maine

* 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, a founder of the Republican Party, 29th Governor of Maine
* Dorothy Clarke Wilson, novelist, playwright[citation needed]

## Points of interest

[edit]

* University of Maine
* Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation
* Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden
* Old Fire Engine House
* Pat's Pizza
* Jeremiah Colburn House

## Notes

[edit]

* Maine portal

1. ^ The 30-year period (normal) is for WRCC data only.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Orono town, Penobscot County, Maine". Retrieved January 11, 2022.
3. ^ "Orono Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
4. ^ Climate Summary for Orono, Maine
5. ^ "ORONO, MAINE - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
6. ^ "Orono, Maine Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
7. ^ "meteoblue - weather close to you". www.meteoblue.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
8. ^ "Climate & Weather Averages in University of Maine at Orono Historic District, Maine, USA". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
9. ^ "Orono (00176430) - NOAA Weather Station". NOAA. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
10. ^ "ORONO, MAINE - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orono, Maine.

* Town of Orono Official Website
* University of Maine
* Orono High School
* Asa Adams Elementary School

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Penobscot County, Maine, United States

County seat: Bangor

Cities|

* Bangor
* Brewer
* Old Town

Penobscot County map

Towns|

* Alton
* Bradford
* Bradley
* Burlington
* Carmel
* Charleston
* Chester
* Clifton
* Corinna
* Corinth
* Dexter
* Dixmont
* East Millinocket
* Eddington
* Edinburg
* Enfield
* Etna
* Exeter
* Garland
* Glenburn
* Greenbush
* Hampden
* Hermon
* Holden
* Howland
* Hudson
* Kenduskeag
* Lagrange
* Lakeville
* Lee
* Levant
* Lincoln
* Lowell
* Mattawamkeag
* Maxfield
* Medway
* Milford
* Millinocket
* Mount Chase
* Newburgh
* Newport
* Orono
* Orrington
* Passadumkeag
* Patten
* Plymouth
* Springfield
* Stacyville
* Stetson
* Veazie
* Winn
* Woodville

Plantations|

* Carroll
* Seboeis
* Webster

Unorganized
territories|

* Argyle
* Drew
* East Central Penobscot
* Kingman
* North Penobscot
* Prentiss
* Twombly Ridge
* Whitney

CDPs|

* Bradley
* Corinna
* Dexter
* East Millinocket
* Hampden
* Howland
* Lincoln
* Mattawamkeag
* Milford
* Millinocket
* Newport
* Orono
* Patten

Other
villages|

* East Newport
* Olamon

Indian
reservation|

* Penobscot Indian Island Reservation

* Maine portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

University of Maine

UMaine|

* Notable people
* Orono
* Collins Center for the Arts
* Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation
* Fogler Library
* Hudson Museum
* Maynard F. Jordan Observatory
* Page Farm & Home Museum
* Museum of Art
* University of Maine system

Athletics|

| Teams|

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Men's ice hockey
* Women's ice hockey

|

Arenas and stadiums|

* Alfond Sports Arena
* Alfond Sports Stadium
* Mahaney Diamond
* Memorial Gymnasium

Organizations and Greek|

* Francis Crowe Society
* The Senior Skull Honor Society
* Phi Eta Kappa

Media|

* Black Bear Sports Network
* The Maine Campus
* "The Maine Stein Song"
* Ubris
* WMEB-FM

Affiliates|

* Jackson Laboratory
* Maine Public Broadcasting Network

* v
* t
* e

Penobscot River Watershed

Tributaries|

* Dead River
* East Branch Mattawamkeag River
* East Branch Penobscot River
* East Branch Piscataquis River
* East Branch Pleasant River
* Kenduskeag Stream
* Little Seboeis River
* Mattawamkeag River
* Middle Branch Pleasant River
* Molunkus Stream
* Narramissic River
* North Branch Marsh River
* North Branch Penobscot River
* Orland River
* Passadumkeag River
* Piscataquis River
* Pleasant River
* Sebec River
* Seboeis River
* South Branch Marsh River
* South Branch Penobscot River
* Stillwater River
* West Branch Mattawamkeag River
* West Branch Penobscot River
* West Branch Piscataquis River
* West Branch Pleasant River

Lakes|

* Allagash Lake
* Canada Falls Lake
* Caucomgomoc Lake
* Chamberlain Lake
* Chesuncook Lake
* Cold Stream Pond
* Debsconeag Lakes
* Grand Lake Seboeis
* Jo-Mary Lakes
* Lobster Lake
* Lower Wilson Pond
* Matagamon Lake
* Mattawamkeag Lake
* Millinocket Lake
* Nahmakanta Lake
* Nicatous Lake
* Lake Onawa
* Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes
* Pleasant Lake
* Pushaw Lake
* Ragged Lake
* Rainbow Lake
* Schoodic Lake
* Sebec Lake
* Seboeis Lake
* Seboomook Lake
* South Twin Lake
* Telos Lake
* Toddy Pond
* Upper Wilson Pond

Towns|

* Abbot
* Bangor
* Bradley
* Brewer
* Brooks
* Brownville
* Bucksport
* Burlington
* Carmel
* Charleston
* Danforth
* Dover-Foxcroft
* East Millinocket
* Eddington
* Enfield
* Frankfort
* Guilford
* Hampden
* Haynesville
* Hermon
* Howland
* Hudson
* Island Falls
* Kenduskeag
* Kingman
* Lee
* Levant
* Lincoln
* Macwahoc
* Mattawamkeag
* Medway
* Milford
* Millinocket
* Milo
* Monson
* Oakfield
* Old Town
* Orland
* Orono
* Orrington
* Passadumkeag
* Patten
* Prospect
* Sangerville
* Sherman
* Smyrna
* Springfield
* Veazie
* Verona
* Winn
* Winterport
* Wytopitlock

Landmarks|

* Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
* Baxter State Park
* Fort Knox
* Gero Island
* Great Northern Paper Company
* Great Works Dam
* Hundred-Mile Wilderness
* Katahdin Iron Works
* Maine Central Railroad
* Monson Railroad
* Mount Katahdin
* North Maine Woods
* Orono Dam
* Peaks-Kenny State Park
* Penobscot Indian Island Reservation
* Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
* Ripogenus Gorge
* Stillwater Dam
* University of Maine
* Veazie Dam
* Waldo–Hancock Bridge

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA

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