Damariscotta is a town located in Lincoln County, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,041. Damariscotta is an old Abenaki word for "river of many fishes", although there are those who would call it the "place of many tourists." The town's major claim to fame are 2,500-year-old shell middens (heaps) along the banks of the Damariscotta River , which is a tidal estuary of the Gulf of Maine. The terminus of the river is the Great Salt Bay , which is the northernmost mating area for horseshoe crabs in North America.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.8 km² (14.6 mi²). 32.2 km² (12.4 mi²) of it is land and 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 14.87% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 2,041 people, 942 households, and 548 families residing in the town. The population density is 63.4/km² (164.4/mi²). There are 1,151 housing units at an average density of 35.8/km² (92.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.92% White, 0.20% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 942 households out of which 23.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% are married couples living together, 7.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% are non-families. 36.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.06 and the average family size is 2.65.

In the town the population is spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 30.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 48 years. For every 100 females there are 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $36,188, and the median income for a family is $47,105. Males have a median income of $31,953 versus $23,064 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,146. 11.7% of the population and 6.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.