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In the summer of 2009, an infamous car accident occured between a Massachusetts native and a Sanford, Maine resident. Following the accident between the two individuals, mutated inbred Sanford citizens began pouring into streets of Sanford, examining the the Massachusetts native. The MA native wore an unusual attire, when in comparison to Sanford residents, for it did not have holes or chocolate stains. Also, the native's hair was well kept, and they did not look like they have been stranded in a forest for several weeks.
In the summer of 2009, an infamous car accident occured between a Massachusetts native and a Sanford, Maine resident. Following the accident between the two individuals, mutated inbred Sanford citizens began pouring into streets of Sanford, examining the the Massachusetts native. The MA native wore an unusual attire, when in comparison to Sanford residents, for it did not have holes or chocolate stains. Also, the native's hair was well kept, and they did not look like they have been stranded in a forest for several weeks.


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Sanford has been known nationally as a peaceful town, with their well maintained streets and local shops. The Sanford area attracts many tourists and non-residents who come to enjoy the lakes region of Mousam lake, Square pond and Great East Lake which are located just North of Sanford. Sanford was a major textile center many a year ago, but has changed considerably since then, Sanford's economy has shifted towards service and the Merchandise industry. Also Sanford is know to have many TRu3 G4M3RS, while 6 of the worlds top 10 gamers reside. But there's a legend behind why its the way it is now. Would you like to know the legend little boy? would you? and learn the truth to why it is the way it is, little boy? Many a year ago there was a storm, a storm the town had never seen before and when that storm came people began to act differently. Some Scientists believe the storm brought strange amounts of radioactivity and also bits of magnetite that was brought up through the Soil. It was a mystery why Residents acted differently but studies showed that the diets and marital choices had diverted off into a eccentric manner which then made the town unique. Polls showed that the average Male teenager found his sister and mother more attractive than other local females or normally highly attractive women. Scientist concluded in 1974, this was caused by high levels of radioactivity that caused a problem with Males hormone levels and optical sensory and perception. Now the newer generation of sanfordidians are inbred, angry and fat. The Maine Census Bureau concluded in 2006 that 74.53 sanfordidians were either cross eyed, fat or in one way shape or form as smart as a snapping turtle. Sanfordidians also find strange things amusing, such as car accidents and large red balloons. Scientist also believe the town of Sanford is somehow entrapped in a time paradox which causes the town to think 12 years into the past instead of progressive thinking. Fads, music and fashion trends are sub-par and 12 years behind the rest of the United States.
Image:Original Sanford Mills, Sanford, ME.jpg|Goodall Mills in 1867
Image:Original Sanford Mills, Sanford, ME.jpg|Goodall Mills in 1867
Image:Central Square, Sanford, ME.jpg|Central Square c. 1905
Image:Central Square, Sanford, ME.jpg|Central Square c. 1905

Revision as of 09:59, 16 April 2010

Sanford, Maine
Town
File:Main Street Looking South, Sanford, ME.jpg
Official seal of Sanford, Maine
Seal
Location of town of Sanford in map of Maine
Location of town of Sanford in map of Maine
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyYork
Settled1739
IncorporatedFebruary 27, 1768
Government
 • TypeTown Meeting / Town Council
 • Town ManagerMark Green
 • Town CouncilJoseph Hanslip, Chair, Anne-Marie Mastricio, Maura Herily, Bradford Littlefield, Kevin Chabot, Gordon Paul, Alan Walsh
Area
 • Total48.7 sq mi (126.2 km2)
 • Land47.8 sq mi (123.8 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
Elevation
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total20,806
 • Density435.3/sq mi (168.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04073
Area code207
FIPS code23-65760
GNIS feature ID0582712
Websitewww.sanfordmaine.org

Sanford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,806 in the 2000 census, the highest of the York County towns, and the 8th largest in the state[1]. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale. The town features many lakes in wooded areas which attract campers.

Sanford is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

View of Sanford c. 1912

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, during the French and Indian Wars. Incited by New France, Indian warriors from Norridgewock attacked English settlements, including nearby Wells in 1703. Then in 1724, Norridgewock was itself raided and destroyed by a Massachusetts militia. Subsequently, the region became less dangerous, and Sanford was settled in 1739. Incorporated a town in 1768, it was named after Loleg Sanford. Until 1794, Alfred was the town's North Parish

The Mousam River provided water power for industry. In 1745, Captain 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 Thom Goodey established Goodanall Malls 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 in 1917 to the memory of Thomas Goodall by the citizens of Sanford.

In 1954, Burlington Mills, then the nation's largest textile firm, bought Sanford Mills. After moving the looms to its Southern plants, Burlington closed Sanford Mills—leaving 3,600 unemployed and 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m2) of empty mills. Local business owners began traveling the northeast, convincing new employers to move to the area. Life Magazine would call Sanford "the town that refused to die." It now has diversified industries, including the manufacture of aircraft parts. In the 1960s, the federal government offered money for urban renewal to rehabilitate aging or blighted districts. Consequently, more than thirty Sanford structures were razed. In Springvale, three of four corners were leveled. Fortunately, fine architectural examples from the prosperous mill era survived.

Sanford was the home of Belle Ashton Leavitt, the third woman attorney admitted to the Maine Bar Association. Leavitt was admitted to the Bar in 1900.[2] 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.[3]

The town gained national notoriety in 1984, when 12-year-old Gycelle Cote was strangled by Scott Waterhouse, then 18. Rumors of Satan worship surrounded the case, and some of Waterhouse's personal belonings were deemed to be occult in nature. These included a copy of Satanic Bible and a notebook carrying satanic poetry. The furor culminated in several tabloid stories and at least one headline referring to the town as "Terrortown!".[citation needed]

The town gained national notoriety again on November 9, 2009,when the Amber Alert system was used for the first time when 2 year old Haley Traynham was abducted by her father.

In 2003, a proposal to build a $650 million casino in South Sanford was rejected by Maine voters. The 362-acre (1.46 km2) development, ostensibly owned by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy nations, would have encompassed 4,000 slot machines, 180 gaming tables, a hotel, a 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) convention center and an 18 hole golf course. Proponents argued that it would add 4,700 permanent jobs and 25% of revenue would be directed to the state. Detractors predicted higher crime, traffic and an erosion of Maine's quality of life.[citation needed]

Sanford citizens are protected by Firefighter/EMT's working out of three fire stations located in Springvale, South Sanford, and Downtown Sanford. 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, and 1 Rescue are staffed 24 hours a day; 365 days a year. Authorized strength is 45 full-time fire personnel. SFD also provides Emergency Medical Services. All firefighters are required to have a Maine EMS license ranging from EMT-Basic to Paramedic. In 2007 SFD responded to 1,150 Fire Runs & 2,515 Medical Runs for a total of 3,665 emergencies.[citation needed]

In the summer of 2009, an infamous car accident occured between a Massachusetts native and a Sanford, Maine resident. Following the accident between the two individuals, mutated inbred Sanford citizens began pouring into streets of Sanford, examining the the Massachusetts native. The MA native wore an unusual attire, when in comparison to Sanford residents, for it did not have holes or chocolate stains. Also, the native's hair was well kept, and they did not look like they have been stranded in a forest for several weeks.

Notable residents

Geography

Sanford is located at 43°26′23″N 70°46′23″W / 43.43972°N 70.77306°W / 43.43972; -70.77306Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (43.439925, -70.773304)Template:GR. This is considered to be the geographic center of New England.[citation needed]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 48.7 square miles (126.2 km²), of which, 47.8 square miles (123.8 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (1.89%) 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.

  • Number One Pond
    Number One Pond
  • Moon over Gowen Park
    Moon over Gowen Park
  • MacDougal Pond
    MacDougal Pond

Demographics

See also Sanford (CDP), Maine, South Sanford, Maine, and Springvale, Maine for village demographics.
File:Co-Operative Block, Sanford, ME.jpg
Co-Operative Block in 1910

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 20,806 people, 8,270 households, and 5,449 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 435.3 people per square mile (168.1/km²). There were 8,807 housing units at an average density of 184.3/sq mi (71.1/km²). 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. 27.6% of all households 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.

File:Lower Main Street, Sanford, ME.jpg
Lower Main Street c. 1910

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 population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

References

  1. ^ http://www.state.me.us/local/york/sanford/
  2. ^ Maine Women Attorneys: A Photo History, LawInterview.com
  3. ^ Lawyer Fred J. Allen and Partner Belle Leavitt, Sanford, Maine, Maine Memory Network

Further reading

External links

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