Gilead, Maine
| Gilead, Maine | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
A view of Gilead in 1892
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 Gilead, Maine
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| Coordinates: 44°24′1″N 70°57′46″W / 44.40028°N 70.96278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.67 sq mi (50.95 km2) |
| • Land | 18.88 sq mi (48.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 209 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 207 |
| • Density | 11.1/sq mi (4.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 04217 |
| Area code(s) | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-27505 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582490 |
Gilead is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. Upon incorporation in 1804, it was named for the large quantity of Balm of Gilead trees in the town center. The population was 209 at the 2010 census.
In the late 1700s, Massachusetts sold land in what is now Maine to encourage the settlement of the area. In 1772, Oliver and John Peabody, of Andover, MA and John and Samuel Bodwell of Methuen, MA bought 6000 acres above Sudbury Canada. Gilead was first granted as Peabody's Patent. In 1804, there were 20 families and the need for schools, churches, roads and other community necessities had become evident. It was time to raise money to bring this about. The petition was granted on June 23, 1804 and Peabody's Patent became Gilead.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.67 square miles (50.95 km2), of which, 18.88 square miles (48.90 km2) of it is land and 0.79 square miles (2.05 km2) is water.
Gilead is the first town encountered when crossing into Maine from New Hampshire on U.S. Route 2, which is the major road in the town.
As of the census of 2010, there were 209 people, 98 households, and 59 families residing in the town. The population density was 11.1 inhabitants per square mile (4.3/km2). There were 151 housing units at an average density of 8.0 per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100.0% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
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