Morrill, Maine

Morrill is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 971 at the 2020 census.

History
Morrill is situated in the central part of Waldo County, 6½ miles west of Belfast. The surface of the town is uneven, but with very little waste land. Morey and Rowe hills are probably the highest elevations, though these have no great altitude. The soil is sandy in parts, and in others clay loam. Hay and potatoes are the chief crops. The usual forest trees of the region thrive here. Cross Pond, in this town, contains about 100 acre, and another—Dolliff—about 50 acre. The chief water-power is at the village on the east on the Passagassawakeag Stream. There are here shingle and stave mills, and a horse-rake factory. Morrill is on the Belfast and Kendall’s Mills stage-line. The nearest railroad station is at Belfast. The town roads are very good. There is one bridge 120 ft in length, constructed of stone and timber.

Morrill was incorporated March 3, 1855; being named in honor of Hon. Anson P. Morrill, then governor of the State. The first settlements were made by James Weymouth, Benjamin Smith, Joseph Corning and Nathaniel Cushman, in 1801 and 1802. They purchased their lands of General Henry Knox, proprietor under the Waldo Patent.

The climate of this town is regarded as quite healthful. There are four inhabitants past eighty years of age, and four between seventy and eighty. The Grange has a good building here, which is used as a townhall. There is a Methodist society in the town, and a Union meetinghouse at the village. The town has five public schoolhouses. The entire school property is valued at $2,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $133,099. In 1880 it was $122,098. The rate of taxation in the latter was for money tax, 42 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 523. In 1880 it was 494.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.05 sqmi, of which 16.56 sqmi is land and 0.49 sqmi is water. Principal bodies of water include Smiths Mill Pond (81 acres) and Cross Pond (159 acres). It is bounded on the north by Knox, to the east by Waldo and Belfast, south by Belmont, and west by Searsmont and Montville.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 884 people, 337 households, and 242 families residing in the town. The population density was 53.4 PD/sqmi. There were 379 housing units at an average density of 22.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.3% White, 0.2% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 337 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the town was 40.9 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 29.6% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 774 people, 299 households, and 217 families residing in the town. The population density was 46.7 PD/sqmi. There were 331 housing units at an average density of 20.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.

There were 299 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $29,750 versus $25,096 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,596. About 13.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Quantabacook Lake
Recreation

Quantabacook Lake – Along with nearby ponds, a 15 mi stretch of the St. George River, from Appleton to Warren, supports an assemblage of rare plants, invertebrates, and natural communities that is found nowhere else in central or coastal Maine. The River meanders from its headwaters above Quantabacook Lake southward through Searsmont, Appleton, Union, and Warren. An outstanding unpatterned fern ecosystem abuts the northeast end of Quantabacook Lake. Boat access is available off Route 3. Look and listen for Loons once you're on the water.

Nature & Wildlife Sanctuary

A privately owned nature and wildlife sanctuary is at the head (north) of Quantabacook Lake along Route 3, this sanctuary includes a small islet Converse Island approximately 2 acre in size, and a few rock outcroppings in Quantabacook Lake. (Location coordinates: 44.4022, −69.16799)

Local landmarks
Local landmarks include Bartlett Stream Reservoir (44.4084073, −69.2211529), Converse Island (44.3999002, −69.1740011), Dolliff Pond (44.4211851, −69.1903184), Green Wood Cemetery (44.4259067, −69.2414312), Hillcrest Cemetery (44.4081297, −69.2133748), Little Pond (44.3881302, −69.1972633), Merrill Point (44.4050744, −69.1839293), Morey Hill (44.4397959, −69.1861516), Quantabacook Lake (44.3889637, −69.1772626), Quantabacook Lake Dam (44.3700751, −69.1828183), Ruffingham Meadow State Game Management Area (44.4078516, −69.2392090), Ruffingham Meadows Dam (44.4084073, −69.2211529), Sheep Island (44.3925747, −69.1803182), Thompson Brook (44.4128516, −69.2311532), Wilson Brook (44.4022966, −69.1958743), Witcher Swamp (44.3809077, −69.2417093), Wood Island (44.4050744, −69.1836516).

Education
Ames Elementary—Gladys Weymouth Schools

Weymouth School is located in Morrill. It contains six classrooms: two each for kindergarten, first and second grades. Support services include one special ed tech, and a Reading Recover/literacy teacher. We have one full-time administrative assistant that serves both schools, one custodian and one kitchen cook.

Ames School is located in Searsmont. It contains eight classrooms: two third, two fourth and two fifth grade classrooms and one behavior day treatment program. New to our school this year is the Pre-K program that services four year olds from the Tri-Town area. This classroom has a full-time teacher, one full time assistant teacher and a part-time ed tech. It is a full day program. Support staff include four ed techs who support day treatment students inclusively in regular ed classrooms, one special education teacher who supports students inclusively in their classrooms and works with the ed tech at the Weymouth School to deliver services there for K–2 students, a literacy teacher, one secretary, a custodian and one kitchen cook.