 |
A. POPULATION
Sebago’s year-round population remained constant for a period of four decades beginning in 1920 and ending in 1960 (in 1920, there were 541 residents; in 1960 there were 546 residents). Between 1960 and 2000, the Town experienced a period of fairly rapid population growth, increasing in size from 546 people in 1960 to 1,433 people in 2000, for a gain of 887 people or 162%. The Town’s growth rate during this period was much greater than that of Cumberland County (45%) and the State (29%). Sebago’s historical growth patterns are shown in the chart below and are summarized in Table 1 which also shows figures for Cumberland County and the State.
Table 1 Population of Sebago, Cumberland County, And Maine 1920-2000 |
Year |
Sebago |
Cumberland County |
Maine |
1920 |
541 |
124,376 |
768,014 |
1930 |
470 |
134,645 |
797,423 |
1940 |
518 |
146,000 |
847,226 |
1950 |
577 |
169,201 |
914,950 |
1960 |
546 |
182,751 |
970,689 |
1970 |
708 |
192,528 |
992,048 |
1980 |
974 |
215,789 |
1,124,660 |
1990 |
1,259 |
243,135 |
1,227,928 |
2000 |
1,433 |
265,612 |
1,274,923 |
1970-80 change |
38% |
12% |
13% |
1980-90 change |
29% |
13% |
9% |
1990-00 change |
14% |
9% |
4% |
1960-00 change |
162% |
45% |
29% |
Source: U.S. Census
Factors contributing to Sebago’s growth between 1960 and 2000 include the national trend to migrate from urban to rural areas, the attractiveness of Sebago Lake and other Town lakes for residential development, and the relatively low cost of land. Seasonal fluctuations in population have had a major impact on the local economy, on housing, the Town’s fiscal capacity, traffic conditions and public services. A precise estimate of seasonal population is not available. However, the number of seasonal dwellings has declined, from 655 units in 1990 to 582 units in 2000, probably as a result of the conversion of some seasonal units to year-round use. Assuming an average of three persons per seasonal dwelling at peak times, the Town’s summer population could easily be double that of the
year-round population.
Comparative Population Change
Table 2 contains a summary of population changes over the past 30 years for Sebago and a number of nearby communities, as well as Cumberland County and the State. Despite the fact that Sebago’s 1970-80 growth rate (38%) was three times that of Cumberland County (12%), the rate was even higher in all other communities shown in the table except Baldwin (30%) and Bridgton (19%). Sebago’s growth rates were not as high during succeeding decades, but were still far above the rates for Cumberland County and the State.
Table 2 Comparative Population Change 1970 – 2000 |
|
1970 |
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
% Change 1970-80 |
% Change 1980-90 |
% Change 1990-00 |
Sebago |
708 |
974 |
1,259 |
1,433 |
38 |
29 |
14 |
Baldwin |
878 |
1,140 |
1,219 |
1,290 |
30 |
7 |
6 |
Bridgton |
2,967 |
3,528 |
4,307 |
4,883 |
19 |
22 |
13 |
Casco |
1,256 |
2,243 |
3,018 |
3,469 |
79 |
35 |
15 |
Denmark |
397 |
672 |
855 |
1,004 |
69 |
27 |
17 |
Hiram |
686 |
1,067 |
1,260 |
1,423 |
56 |
18 |
13 |
Naples |
956 |
1,833 |
2,860 |
3,274 |
92 |
56 |
14 |
Raymond |
1,328 |
2,251 |
3,311 |
4,299 |
70 |
47 |
30 |
Standish |
3,122 |
5,946 |
7,678 |
9,285 |
90 |
29 |
21 |
Windham |
6,593 |
11,282 |
13,020 |
14,904 |
71 |
15 |
14 |
Cumberland County |
192,528 |
215,789 |
243,135 |
265,612 |
12 |
13 |
9 |
Maine |
993,722 |
1,124,660 |
1,127,928 |
1,274,923 |
13 |
9 |
4 |
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, 1980, 1990
Age Distribution
Table 3 contains a summary of age distribution for Sebago, Cumberland County and the State for 2000. Sebago’s age distribution in the “under 5,” category (45%) is smaller than the other two jurisdictions (each 6%). The school age category, “5-17,” (19%) is slightly larger than Cumberland County and the State (both 18%). However, the “18-44” category, generally, the family formation and child bearing years (32%) is substantially smaller than that of Cumberland County (40%) and the State (46%). The “middle age” category (45-64) is larger (30%) than that of Cumberland County (24%), and is significantly larger than that of the State (16%). The “65 and over” category is somewhat larger (15%) than County and State percentages (13% and 14%,
respectively). Not surprisingly, according to the 2000 Census, the median age in Sebago (42.4 years) is much higher than the County and State medians (37.6 and 38.6 years, respectively).
Table 3 Population by Age Category, 2000 |
|
Sebago |
Cumberland County |
Maine |
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
Under 5 |
59 |
4 |
15,443 |
6 |
70,726 |
6 |
5-17 |
272 |
19 |
46,519 |
18 |
230,512 |
18 |
18-44 |
465 |
32 |
105,577 |
40 |
583,894 |
46 |
45-64 |
425 |
30 |
62,749 |
24 |
206,389 |
16 |
65 and over |
212 |
15 |
35,324 |
13 |
183,402 |
14 |
Total |
1,433 |
100 |
265,612 |
101 |
1,274,923 |
100 |
Source: U.S. Census, 2000
Table 4 provides an overview of how dramatically the Town’s population changed during the 1990-2000 decade. There were major losses in the “under 5” and “18-44” categories, and major gains in the “5-17”, “45-64” and “65 and over” categories.
Table 4 Sebago Population Growth by Age Category, 1990-2000 |
|
1990 |
2000 |
1990-2000 Change |
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
Under 5 |
101 |
8 |
59 |
4 |
-42 |
-42 |
5-17 |
194 |
15 |
272 |
19 |
78 |
40 |
18-44 |
511 |
41 |
465 |
32 |
-46 |
-9 |
45-64 |
277 |
22 |
425 |
30 |
148 |
53 |
65 and over |
176 |
14 |
212 |
15 |
36 |
20 |
Total |
1,259 |
100 |
1,433 |
100 |
174 |
14 |
Source: US Census, 1990, 2000
Household Size
The average household size in Sebago (2.45) has been declining since 1980, as it has in Cumberland County, the State of Maine and all nearby comparison communities (see Table 5). In the year 2000, the number of persons per household in Sebago was slightly greater than at either the County or State level, but lower than all comparison communities except Denmark. In general a higher number of persons per household reflects a higher number of school age children in the general population.
Table 5 Comparative Household Size, 1980-2000 |
|
1980 |
1990 |
2000 |
1990-2000 % change |
Sebago |
2.63 |
2.50 |
2.45 |
-7 |
Baldwin |
3.14 |
2.91 |
2.62 |
-10 |
Bridgton |
2.62 |
2.54 |
2.50 |
-5 |
Casco |
2.99 |
2.83 |
2.58 |
-9 |
Denmark |
2.56 |
2.70 |
2.41 |
-6 |
Hiram |
2.93 |
2.75 |
2.66 |
-3 |
Naples |
2.71 |
2.65 |
2.52 |
-7 |
Raymond |
2.94 |
2.85 |
2.66 |
-7 |
Standish |
3.07 |
2.91 |
2.72 |
-7 |
</ |
