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Cumberland County
County
The Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°47′04″N 70°19′41″W / 43.784477°N 70.32798°W / 43.784477; -70.32798
Country	United States
State	Maine
Founded	November 1, 1760
Named for	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
Seat	Portland
Largest city	Portland
Area
• Total	1,217 sq mi (3,150 km)
• Land	835 sq mi (2,160 km)
• Water	383 sq mi (990 km)  31%
Population
• Total	303,069
• Estimate	305,231
• Density	250/sq mi (96/km)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	cumberlandcountyme.gov

Cumberland County is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 303,069, making it the most populous county in Maine. Its county seat is Portland. Cumberland County was founded in 1760 from a portion of York County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, and named for William, Duke of Cumberland, a son of King George II. Cumberland County has the deepest and second-largest body of water in the state, Sebago Lake, which supplies tap water to most of the county. The county is the state's economic and industrial center, having the resources of the Port of Portland, the Maine Mall, and having corporate headquarters of major companies such as onsemi, IDEXX Laboratories, Unum, and TD Bank. Cumberland County is part of the Portland–South Portland, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,217 square miles (3,150 km), of which 835 square miles (2,160 km) is land and 382 square miles (990 km) (31%) is water.

Most of Casco Bay and most of its islands east of East Cundy Point belong to the county's territory, as does the northernmost part of Saco Bay. Sebago Lake flows into Casco Bay via the Presumpscot River, and Nonesuch River flows into Saco Bay. North and west of Sebago Lake, the terrain of the county begins to flow into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range.

Adjacent counties

• Androscoggin County – north
• Oxford County – northwest
• Sagadahoc County – northeast
• York County – southwest

Major highways

• I-95 / Maine Turnpike
• I-295
• U.S. Route 202
• U.S. Route 302
• U.S. 1
• Maine State Route 9
• Maine State Route 77
• Maine State Route 114
• Falmouth Spur

National protected area

• Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 265,612 people, 107,989 households, and 67,709 families living in the county. The population density was 318 inhabitants per square mile (123/km). There were 122,600 housing units at an average density of 147 per square mile (57/km). The racial makeup of the county was 95.74% White, 1.06% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 107,989 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.30% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,048, and the median income for a family was $54,485. Males had a median income of $35,850 versus $27,935 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,949. About 5.20% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

19.6% were of English, 15.5% Irish, 9.6% French, 7.8% United States or American, 7.7% Italian, 6.3% French Canadian and 5.9% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.4% spoke English and 2.1% French as their first language.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 281,674 people, 117,339 households, and 70,778 families living in the county. The population density was 337.2 inhabitants per square mile (130.2/km). There were 138,657 housing units at an average density of 166.0 per square mile (64.1/km). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 2.4% black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.7% were English, 21.1% were Irish, 9.0% were German, 8.4% were Italian, 6.0% were Scottish, 5.5% were French Canadian, and 4.4% were American.

Of the 117,339 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.7% were non-families, and 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,658 and the median income for a family was $71,335. Males had a median income of $48,158 versus $38,539 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,041. About 6.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Cumberland County is represented by county commissioners and the daily operations are run by a county manager. The county has several responsibilities, including running a Sheriff's department, the Cumberland County Jail, and a county court system. Cumberland County also has its own treasury department, emergency management agency and also has a district attorney office. The county also has a stake in the Cross Insurance Arena (formerly called the Cumberland County Civic Center), as well as programs in local economic development and tourism.

Cumberland County is divided into five districts of approximate equal population, each of which elects one county commissioner. The sheriff is elected countywide and runs the Cumberland County Sheriff's office and the Cumberland County Jail.

Politics

Like the rest of Maine, Cumberland County was a solid Republican county after the Civil War. Between 1860 and 1960, the Republican presidential nominee won Cumberland County in every election except 1912, when the county was won by Democrat Woodrow Wilson following a split in the Republican vote between incumbent president William Howard Taft and Progressive nominee, the former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt. The county remained steadfastly and overwhelmingly Republican even in Franklin D. Roosevelt's huge Democratic landslide win in 1936.

In 1964, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won Cumberland County and Maine's 15 other counties as part of a 44-state landslide over controversial Republican nominee Barry Goldwater. Cumberland remained in the Democratic column in 1968, backing Hubert H. Humphrey, who had chosen Maine Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate. These Democratic victories were a sign of things to come for Cumberland County. Though it would snap back into the Republican column for Richard Nixon in 1972, Republican victories in Cumberland grew increasingly narrower, with Republican Gerald Ford winning it by less than 2,000 votes over Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1976. Carter would narrowly win the county in 1980, marking the first time Cumberland had diverged from the rest of Maine in a presidential election, as the state would be carried by Republican nominee Ronald Reagan.

Reagan would easily carry Cumberland in his 49-state landslide re-election in 1984; however, it was Maine's closest county, with Democrat Walter Mondale losing it by a relatively narrow 13.7%. In 1988, George H. W. Bush would become the last Republican, as of 2020, to carry Cumberland County at the presidential level, winning it by less than seven points. In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton would win the county with nearly 43% of the vote against Bush and independent Ross Perot; it would be the last time a Democrat would receive less than 50% of the vote in Cumberland County in a presidential election. In 2004, Cumberland would become the most Democratic county in Maine, a position it has retained through 2020. In 2008, over 105,000 ballots would be cast for the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama; it would be the first time a candidate received 100,000 votes in Cumberland County in history. Democrats have exceeded 100,000 votes in Cumberland in each subsequent presidential election. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won Cumberland County with 66% of the vote, the most lopsided presidential election result in the county since Lyndon Johnson won 69% of the vote in 1964.

In 2012, the county voted 65% to legalize same-sex marriage.

Voter registration

Communities

Cities

• Portland (county seat)
• South Portland
• Westbrook

Towns

• Baldwin
• Bridgton
• Brunswick
• Cape Elizabeth
• Casco
• Chebeague Island
• Cumberland
• Falmouth
• Freeport
• Frye Island
• Gorham
• Gray
• Harpswell
• Harrison
• Long Island
• Naples
• New Gloucester
• North Yarmouth
• Pownal
• Raymond
• Scarborough
• Sebago
• Standish
• Windham
• Yarmouth

Census-designated places

• Bridgton
• Brunswick
• Brunswick Station
• Casco
• Cousins Island
• Cumberland Center
• Dunstan
• Falmouth
• Falmouth Foreside
• Freeport
• Gorham
• Gray
• Little Falls
• Littlejohn Island
• Naples
• North Windham
• Oak Hill (known as "Scarborough" prior to 2020)
• Standish
• Steep Falls
• South Windham
• Yarmouth

Other unincorporated communities

• Bailey Island
• Higgins Beach
• North Bridgton
• Orr's Island
• Prouts Neck
• Sebago Lake
• South Casco
• South Freeport

Education

School districts include:

• Brunswick School District
• Cape Elizabeth School District
• Chebeague Island School District
• Falmouth School District
• Gorham School District
• Long Island School District
• Portland Public Schools
• Regional School Unit 05
• Regional School Unit 14
• Scarborough School District
• School Administrative District 06
• School Administrative District 15
• School Administrative District 17
• School Administrative District 55
• School Administrative District 61
• School Administrative District 51
• School Administrative District 75
• Sebago Public Schools
• South Portland School District
• Westbrook School District
• Yarmouth School District

Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, a state-owned school, is in the county.

In popular culture

The fictional town of Jerusalem's Lot, featured in the vampire novel 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King, is situated in Cumberland County. King makes passing reference to other nearby towns and cities, including Portland, Falmouth, and Westbrook.

The video game Trauma Team takes place in Cumberland County in the year 2020, referencing Portland and its Back Cove neighborhood. Neither actual hospital housed in Portland is mentioned in-game; instead, a fictional trauma center called Resurgam First Care is fabricated for the plot (in real life, Portland's city motto is "Resurgam", Latin for "I will rise again"). Two other fictional places are mentioned that reference the county name: "Cumberland College" and "Cumberland Institute of Forensic Medicine".

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine

References

1. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Cumberland County, Maine". Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
11. ^ "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
13. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
14. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. "2016 Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates". Election Hub. November 8, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
16. Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions (March 29, 2024). "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide" (PDF). Maine SOS. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cumberland County, ME" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Cumberland County government
• Cumberland County Archived November 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine on Maine.gov
• Bibliography of Casco Bay

v t e Places adjacent to Cumberland County, Maine
Oxford County Androscoggin County Sagadahoc County Cumberland County, Maine Atlantic Ocean York County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Cumberland County, Maine, United States
County seat: Portland
Cities	Portland South Portland Westbrook
Towns	Baldwin Bridgton Brunswick Cape Elizabeth Casco Chebeague Island Cumberland Falmouth Freeport Frye Island Gorham Gray Harpswell Harrison Long Island Naples New Gloucester North Yarmouth Pownal Raymond Scarborough Sebago Standish Windham Yarmouth
CDPs	Bridgton Brunswick Brunswick Station Casco Cousins Island Cumberland Center Dunstan Falmouth Falmouth Foreside Freeport Gorham Gray Little Falls Littlejohn Island Naples North Windham Oak Hill South Windham Standish Steep Falls Yarmouth
Other villages	Bailey Island Casco Terrace Higgins Beach North Bridgton Orrs Island Prouts Neck Sebago Lake South Casco South Freeport
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43°49′N 70°20′W / 43.81°N 70.33°W / 43.81; -70.33

• Maine counties
• Cumberland County, Maine
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• Populated places established in 1760
• Prince William, Duke of Cumberland