Augusta is a city located in the state of Maine. It serves as the county seat of Kennebec county, and it is also the state capital. The city was first settled in the 18th century and was incorporated as a city in the 19th century. However, despite its long history, the city has a population of just 18,494 according to recent estimates, making it the third least-populous capital city in the U.S.

Augusta History

The region that is now the city of Augusta was first inhabited by the Canibas Indians. Augusta was explored in the early 17th century by the Europeans. Over 20 years later, it was settled as a trading post and was known as Cushnoc. During its earliest history, it was a site for fur trading - known as the Popham Colony, although uprisings by the Native Americans, severe freezing winter conditions that stalled farming efforts, and a decline in revenues led the Europeans to leave the area, where it remained unsettled for 75 years.

In the mid 18th century, a blockhouse was constructed and came to be known as Fort Western. A few years later, it was incorporated with Hallowell. By the end of the 18th century, however, it was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court and was known as Harrington. That name changed later that year to Augusta. In 1799, Augusta was designated as the county seat for Kennebec County.

After Maine was incorporated into the U.S. as a state, Augusta was designated as the state capital in 1827. It achieved city status in 1849. It was during this time that the city became quite prosperous. In the mid-1800s, the city had one of the highest populations in the country. However, it was soon overtaken as other metro areas in the Midwest flourished.

The city’s economy was based around agriculture, and then many sawmills were constructed, making Augusta a prominent mill city. This growth continued through the 19th century with the addition of cotton mills, paper and pulp plant, and other mills and factories that produced everything from lumber to doors, shutters, furniture and even headstones. In more recent years, the city has become known as a center for publishing and shipping.

It was during the 19th century that the railroad and steamboat arrived to Augusta. Gas lights were installed, a hospital was built, and telephone service was made available to residents furthering population growth. The central business district over the years, however, has suffered. As the city grew, many businesses moved away from the central location, while a fire in 1865 also destroyed many buildings. In the 20th century, the construction of highways led to more businesses moving to other areas of Augusta.

The city has been trying to revitalize its downtown area since the 1980s. The dam across the Kennebec that was constructed in 1837 was removed in 1999 and a park was constructed in the area. Old mills and factories have been converted to housing, and the local government is making additional efforts to improve the city and attract new residents.

Augusta City Size

Augusta’s population is over 18,000 people per the latest estimates. The city has a total area of just over 58 square miles and a population density of 330 people per square mile.

Augusta Demographics

The majority of the city’s population is white, with this race making up over 94% of the total population. Just 1.1% of residents are black, 0.7% are Native American, 1.5% are Asian, and 2.3% are mixed. Less than 2% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin. The largest age group living in Augusta is 45 to 64, making up almost 30% of the population. Over 18% of residents are under age 18, while 18% are at least 65 years old. There are more males than females living in Augusta, with females making up 51.4% of the population. Approximately 15% of the total population of Augusta lives below the federal poverty line.

Augusta Population Growth

In its early population history, Augusta saw relatively steady growth according to past census data. The population exceeded 5,000 by 1940 before dropping off a bit in 1860. However, it rebounded by the end of the century, recording over 10,000 residents at the time of the 1890 census. The city’s population slowly grew through the 20th century until it began to post losses beginning with the 1980 census. A much larger population decline was recorded during the censuses of 1990 and 2,000, bringing the population down to under 20,000, a number it had originally exceeded in 1950. The 2010 census saw growth again, but recent estimates show that the population is down over 3% since that census was taken. The city is continuing efforts to revive its main areas to bring in more residents, but only time will tell if these efforts will be successful.