Caribou, Maine

Caribou is the second largest city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. Its population was 7,396 at the 2020 census. The city is a service center for the agricultural and tourism industries, and the location of a National Weather Service Forecast Office.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

Climate chart for Caribou

Caribou has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with very cold, snowy winters, and mild to warm summers, and is located in USDA hardiness zone 4b/4a.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The monthly daily average temperature ranges from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> On average, there are 38 nights annually that drop to Template:Convert or below, and 91 days where the temperature stays below freezing, including 69 days from December through February.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> Although 1991–2020 averaged 2 days annually with highs at or above Template:Convert, more than 35 percent of all years on record have not seen such temperatures.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> Extreme temperatures range from Template:Convert on February 1, 1955, up to Template:Convert as recently as June 19, 2024.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> June 19, 2024 saw a heat index of 103 °F during a heat wave that hit the Midwest and New England.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The average first freeze of the season occurs on September 23, and the last May 15, resulting in a freeze-free season of 130 days; the corresponding dates for measurable snowfall, i.e. at least Template:Convert, are October 23 and April 25.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> The average annual snowfall for Caribou is approximately Template:Convert, while snowfall has ranged from Template:Convert in 1961–1962 to Template:Convert in 2007−2008; the record snowiest month was December 1972 with Template:Convert, while the most snow in one calendar day was Template:Convert on March 14, 1984.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Caribou, ME (CAR)"/> Measurable snowfalls typically occur from early November to early April. A snow depth of at least Template:Convert is on average seen 78 days per winter, including 63 days from January to March,<ref name="NOAA KCAR"/> when the snow pack is typically most reliable.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 8,189 people, 3,559 households, and 2,206 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,914 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.0% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.01% of the population.

There were 3,559 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 44 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 8,312 people, 3,517 households, and 2,324 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,858 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 99.22% White, 0.01% African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 3,517 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city 22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.6% was from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,485, and the median income for a family was $38,378. Males had a median income of $29,202 versus $20,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,061. About 8.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The school district for this community is Regional School Unit 39.<ref name=ArostookCoSDMap2020>Template:Cite map - Text list</ref>

• Caribou Community School – Prekindergarten through 8th grade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Template:Annotated link<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Template:Annotated link<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Template:Annotated link<ref name="BNSC">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Template:Annotated link<ref name="Astronaut">Template:Cite web</ref>

References

• Template:Cite book

External links

• City of Caribou, Maine
• Caribou Public Library
• Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Map of Caribou, Maine, c. 1870, from the Maine Memory Network