Sweden, Maine

Town in Oxford county, state of Maine, United States

Town in Maine, United States

Sweden, Maine

Town

Sweden, Maine

Location within the state of Maine

Coordinates: 44°7′54″N 70°48′34″W﻿ / ﻿44.13167°N 70.80944°W﻿ / 44.13167; -70.80944
Country| United States
State| Maine
County| Oxford
Incorporated| 1813
Area

[1]

• Total| 29.74 sq mi (77.03 km2)
• Land| 28.82 sq mi (74.64 km2)
• Water| 0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2)
Elevation

| 663 ft (202 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total| 406
• Density| 14/sq mi (5.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code| 207
FIPS code| 23-75595
GNIS feature ID| 0582759

Sweden is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 406 at the 2020 census.[2] Set among hills, forests and ponds, Sweden includes the village of East Sweden.

## History

[edit]

This was once territory of the Abenaki tribe, whose main village was at Pequawket (now Fryeburg). Pequawket was attacked during Dummer's War on May 8, 1725, by Captain John Lovewell and his company of soldiers. Lovewell was killed in the battle, after which the tribe fled to Canada for safety. Called New Suncook Plantation, it was granted by the Massachusetts General Court in 1774 to the officers and soldiers (or heirs) for their services to the state. In 1800, the town was incorporated as Lovell after Captain Lovewell.[3]

The southeast portion of Lovell (which would become Sweden) was first settled in 1794 by Colonel Samuel Nevers from Burlington, Massachusetts. He was followed in 1795–1796 by Benjamin Webber from Bedford, Jacob Stevens from Rowley, Andrew Woodbury and Micah Trull from Tewksbury, and Peter Holden from Malden. On the plan which accompanied the petition for incorporation of the southeast portion, it was labeled Southland. It was set off as "Sweden" on February 26, 1813. The surface of the town is somewhat broken, but had good soil for farming, particularly the cultivation of grains. Other industries included a sawmill that produced short and long lumber, in addition to shooks. The town also had a carriage factory.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.74 square miles (77.03 km2), of which 28.82 square miles (74.64 km2) is land and 0.92 square miles (2.38 km2) is water.[1] It is drained by Plummer Brook and the Kezar River.

The town is crossed by state route 93. It borders the towns of Waterford to the northeast, Lovell to the northwest, Fryeburg to the southwest, and Bridgton to the southeast.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1820| 249| | —
1830| 487| | 95.6%
1840| 670| | 37.6%
1850| 696| | 3.9%
1860| 728| | 4.6%
1870| 549| | −24.6%
1880| 474| | −13.7%
1890| 338| | −28.7%
1900| 282| | −16.6%
1910| 266| | −5.7%
1920| 225| | −15.4%
1930| 189| | −16.0%
1940| 225| | 19.0%
1950| 212| | −5.8%
1960| 119| | −43.9%
1970| 110| | −7.6%
1980| 163| | 48.2%
1990| 222| | 36.2%
2000| 324| | 45.9%
2010| 391| | 20.7%
2020| 406| | 3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 391 people, 178 households, and 122 families living in the town. The population density was 13.6 inhabitants per square mile (5.3/km2). There were 331 housing units at an average density of 11.5 per square mile (4.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 178 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.61.

The median age in the town was 50.9 years. 17.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.4% were from 25 to 44; 38.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 324 people, 132 households, and 97 families living in the town. The population density was 11.3 people per square mile (4.4/km2). There were 266 housing units at an average density of 9.3 per square mile (3.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.77% White, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.

There were 132 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,781, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,991. About 12.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 35.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Site of interest

[edit]

* Sweden Historical Society

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Sweden town, Oxford County, Maine". Retrieved February 27, 2022.
3. ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. p. 322. "coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859."
4. ^ George J. Varney, "History of Sweden, Maine" (1886)
5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

## External links

[edit]

* Town of Sweden, Maine
* Maine.gov – Sweden, Maine
* Maine Genealogy: Sweden, Oxford County, Maine

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Oxford County, Maine, United States

County seat: Paris

Towns|

* Andover
* Bethel
* Brownfield
* Buckfield
* Byron
* Canton
* Denmark
* Dixfield
* Fryeburg
* Gilead
* Greenwood
* Hanover
* Hartford
* Hebron
* Hiram
* Lovell
* Mexico
* Newry
* Norway
* Otisfield
* Oxford
* Paris
* Peru
* Porter
* Roxbury
* Rumford
* Stoneham
* Stow
* Sumner
* Sweden
* Upton
* Waterford
* West Paris
* Woodstock

Oxford County map

Plantations|

* Lincoln

Unorganized
territories|

* Milton
* North Oxford
* South Oxford

CDPs|

* Bethel
* Dixfield
* Fryeburg
* Kezar Falls‡
* Mexico
* Norway
* Oxford
* Rumford
* South Paris

Other
villages|

* Center Lovell
* Dickvale
* East Andover
* East Dixfield‡
* Magalloway
* North Waterford
* Rumford Center
* Waterford Flat
* West Bethel

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county

* Maine portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Saco River watershed

Tributaries|

| Maine|

* Charles River
* Cold River
* Hancock Brook
* Kezar River
* Little Cold River
* Little Ossipee River
* Little River
* Little Saco River
* Mad River
* Middle Branch Mad River
* Old Course Saco River
* Ossipee River
* Saco River
* Shepards River
* South Branch Mad River
* South River
* Tenmile River
* West Branch Tenmile River

|

New Hampshire|

* Bearcamp River
* Beech River
* Chocorua River
* Cold River (Bearcamp River)
* Cold River
* Cutler River
* Dan Hole River
* Deer River
* Dry River
* East Branch Saco River
* East Branch Whiteface River
* East Fork East Branch Saco River
* Ellis River
* Little Cold River
* Lovell River
* Mad River
* Middle Branch Mad River
* Mill Brook
* New River
* Ossipee River
* Pequawket Brook
* Pine River
* Rocky Branch
* Saco River
* Sawyer River
* Shepards River
* South Branch Mad River
* South River
* Swift River (Bearcamp River)
* Swift River (Saco River)
* West Branch
* Whiteface River
* Wildcat Brook
* Wonalancet River

Lakes|

* Lake Arrowhead
* Balch Pond
* Barker Pond
* Broad Bay
* Chocorua Lake
* Conway Lake
* Dan Hole Pond
* Echo Lake
* Hancock Pond
* Kezar Lake
* Lovewell Pond
* Moose Pond
* Ossipee Lake
* Pine River Pond
* Province Lake
* Sand Pond
* Silver Lake
* Skelton Dam

Towns|

* Acton
* Arundel
* Baldwin
* Bartlett
* Biddeford
* Bridgton
* Brownfield
* Buxton
* Chocorua
* Conway
* Cornish
* Dayton
* Denmark
* Eaton
* Effingham
* Freedom
* Fryeburg
* Hart's Location
* Hiram
* Hollis
* Limerick
* Limington
* Lovell
* Lyman
* Madison
* Newfield
* Ossipee
* Parsonsfield
* Porter
* Saco
* Sebago
* Shapleigh
* Standish
* Stoneham
* Stow
* Sweden
* Tamworth
* Waterboro
* Waterford

Landmarks|

* Crawford Notch
* Maine Central Railroad
* U.S. Route 302
* White Mountains

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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