New Sharon

• Official Name — New Sharon, Maine • Settlement Type — Town • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Maine • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Franklin • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 121.29 • Area Land Km2 — 119.63 • Area Water Km2 — 1.66 • Area Total Sq Mi — 46.83 • Area Land Sq Mi — 46.19 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.64 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 1458 • Population Density Km2 — 12.2 • Timezone — Eastern (EST) • Utc Offset — -5 • Timezone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — -4 • Elevation Ft — 394 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 04955 • Area Code — 207 • Blank Name — FIPS code • Blank Info — 23-49345 • Blank1 Name — GNIS feature ID • Blank1 Info — 582624 • Website — https: www.newsharon.maine.gov/

• Illustration — New Sharon According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.83 sqmi, of which 46.19 sqmi is land and 0.64 sqmi is water.

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, New Sharon has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,407 people, 585 households, and 405 families living in the town. The population density was 30.5 PD/sqmi. There were 700 housing units at an average density of 15.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% White, 0.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population. There were 585 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.3% 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 2.41 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age in the town was 43.7 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,297 people, 518 households, and 360 families living in the town. The population density was 28.2 PD/sqmi. There were 598 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile (5.0/km). The racial makeup of the town was 98.92% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population. There were 518 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,083, and the median income for a family was $37,171. Males had a median income of $29,118 versus $21,927 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,690. About 12.3% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

• Barry Longyear, author • Melanie Sachs, member of the Maine House of Representatives