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Coordinates: 43°45′45″N 70°8′25″W / 43.76250°N 70.14028°W / 43.76250; -70.14028
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'''Cousins Island''' is an island in [[Casco Bay]] within the town of [[Yarmouth, Maine|Yarmouth]] in [[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland County]], [[Maine]], United States. It is listed as a [[census-designated place]], with a population of 490 as of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Cousins Island CDP, Maine |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 12, 2012 }}</ref> The CDP is part of the [[Portland, Maine|Portland]]&ndash;[[South Portland, Maine|South Portland]]&ndash;[[Biddeford, Maine|Biddeford]], Maine [[Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].
'''Cousins Island''' is an island in [[Casco Bay]] within the town of [[Yarmouth, Maine|Yarmouth]] in [[Cumberland County, Maine|Cumberland County]], [[Maine]], United States. It is listed as a [[census-designated place]], with a population of 490 as of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Cousins Island CDP, Maine |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 12, 2012 }}</ref> The CDP is part of the [[Portland, Maine|Portland]]&ndash;[[South Portland, Maine|South Portland]]&ndash;[[Biddeford, Maine|Biddeford]], Maine [[Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].


The island is connected to mainland Yarmouth by the [[Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge]] (colloquially known as the Cousins Island Bridge),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge |url=https://bridgehunter.com/me/cumberland/bh59152 |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Bridgehunter.com}}</ref> built in 1955. It is also connected to [[Chebeague Island, Maine|Chebeague Island]] by a 15-minute ferry ride on the Chebeague Transportation Company's ferry, the ''Islander''. The island's southwestern peninsula is the site of the [[Wyman Power Station]], an oil-fired electric power plant capable of producing up to 823 megawatts of electricity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=ME|title = Maine - State Energy Profile Overview - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)}}</ref> Wyman is a [[peaking power plant]], which means it is fired up to operate only during times of high electricity demand in the region, such as hot summer days. The Wyman Energy Center also includes a [[lithium-ion battery]] [[grid energy storage]] system which was the largest and the first of its kind in New England at the time of commissioning.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Yarmouth power plant installs giant battery in first project of its kind in New England|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2016/12/17/yarmouth-power-plant-installs-giant-battery-in-first-of-its-kind-project-in-new-england/|last=Turkel|first=Tux|date=2016-12-17|website=Portland Press Herald|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref> The battery is designed to provide [[ISO New England|ISO-New England]] an option for handling the continual changes in electricity supply and demand.<ref name=":0" />
The island is connected to mainland Yarmouth by the [[Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge]] (colloquially known as the Cousins Island Bridge),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge |url=https://bridgehunter.com/me/cumberland/bh59152 |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Bridgehunter.com}}</ref> built in 1955. It is also connected to [[Chebeague Island, Maine|Chebeague Island]] by a 15-minute ferry ride on the Chebeague Transportation Company's ferry, the ''[[Chebeague Island Ferry|Islander]]''. The island's southwestern peninsula is the site of the [[Wyman Power Station]], an oil-fired electric power plant capable of producing up to 823 megawatts of electricity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=ME|title = Maine - State Energy Profile Overview - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)}}</ref> Wyman is a [[peaking power plant]], which means it is fired up to operate only during times of high electricity demand in the region, such as hot summer days. The Wyman Energy Center also includes a [[lithium-ion battery]] [[grid energy storage]] system which was the largest and the first of its kind in New England at the time of commissioning.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Yarmouth power plant installs giant battery in first project of its kind in New England|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2016/12/17/yarmouth-power-plant-installs-giant-battery-in-first-of-its-kind-project-in-new-england/|last=Turkel|first=Tux|date=2016-12-17|website=Portland Press Herald|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref> The battery is designed to provide [[ISO New England|ISO-New England]] an option for handling the continual changes in electricity supply and demand.<ref name=":0" />


The island, [[Cousins River]] and [[Littlejohn Island]] (collectively known at the time as the Hogg Islands)<ref name=cli/> are named after Englishman [[John Cousins]] ({{circa|1596}}–1682), who emigrated from [[Marlborough, Wiltshire]]. He became the owner of Cousins Island in 1645 after purchasing it from Richard Vines, Steward General and councillor for Sir [[Ferdinando Gorges]].<ref name=cli>[https://www.cousinsandlittlejohnislands.org/about-2/our-history/ Our History] – cousinsandlittlejohnislands.org</ref> Two years later, he sold approximately half of it to Richard Bray, who settled there with William Wise.<ref name=ccj9>''Chamber of Commerce Journal of Maine'', Volume 13 (1901), p. 9</ref>
The island, [[Cousins River]] and [[Littlejohn Island]] (collectively known at the time as the Hogg Islands)<ref name=cli/> are named after Englishman [[John Cousins]] ({{circa|1596}}–1682), who emigrated from [[Marlborough, Wiltshire]]. He became the owner of Cousins Island in 1645 after purchasing it from Richard Vines, Steward General and councillor for Sir [[Ferdinando Gorges]].<ref name=cli>[https://www.cousinsandlittlejohnislands.org/about-2/our-history/ Our History] – cousinsandlittlejohnislands.org</ref> Two years later, he sold approximately half of it to Richard Bray, who settled there with William Wise.<ref name=ccj9>''Chamber of Commerce Journal of Maine'', Volume 13 (1901), p. 9</ref>

Heritage Radio station [[WYAR]] was established in 1998 by [[Gary King (broadcaster)|Gary King]] in the basement of his Cousins Island home. King died in 2019, but the station is still on air today.


==Geography==
==Geography==
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== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[List of islands of Maine]]
* [[List of islands of Maine]]
* [[Madeleine Point]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 02:01, 5 January 2024

Cousins Island, Maine
Census-designated place
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Coordinates: 43°45′45″N 70°8′25″W / 43.76250°N 70.14028°W / 43.76250; -70.14028
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyCumberland
TownYarmouth
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.98 sq mi (5.14 km2)
 • Land1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2)
 • Water0.92 sq mi (2.39 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
528
 • Density497.64/sq mi (192.21/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code207
FIPS code23-08500

Cousins Island is an island in Casco Bay within the town of Yarmouth in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is listed as a census-designated place, with a population of 490 as of the 2010 census.[2] The CDP is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The island is connected to mainland Yarmouth by the Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge (colloquially known as the Cousins Island Bridge),[3] built in 1955. It is also connected to Chebeague Island by a 15-minute ferry ride on the Chebeague Transportation Company's ferry, the Islander. The island's southwestern peninsula is the site of the Wyman Power Station, an oil-fired electric power plant capable of producing up to 823 megawatts of electricity.[4] Wyman is a peaking power plant, which means it is fired up to operate only during times of high electricity demand in the region, such as hot summer days. The Wyman Energy Center also includes a lithium-ion battery grid energy storage system which was the largest and the first of its kind in New England at the time of commissioning.[5] The battery is designed to provide ISO-New England an option for handling the continual changes in electricity supply and demand.[5]

The island, Cousins River and Littlejohn Island (collectively known at the time as the Hogg Islands)[6] are named after Englishman John Cousins (c. 1596–1682), who emigrated from Marlborough, Wiltshire. He became the owner of Cousins Island in 1645 after purchasing it from Richard Vines, Steward General and councillor for Sir Ferdinando Gorges.[6] Two years later, he sold approximately half of it to Richard Bray, who settled there with William Wise.[7]

Heritage Radio station WYAR was established in 1998 by Gary King in the basement of his Cousins Island home. King died in 2019, but the station is still on air today.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.7 km2) is land and 0.93 square miles (2.4 km2), or 46.51%, is water.[8]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020528—
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Cousins Island CDP, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  3. ^ "Ellis C. Snodgrass Memorial Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "Maine - State Energy Profile Overview - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)".
  5. ^ a b Turkel, Tux (December 17, 2016). "Yarmouth power plant installs giant battery in first project of its kind in New England". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Our History – cousinsandlittlejohnislands.org
  7. ^ Chamber of Commerce Journal of Maine, Volume 13 (1901), p. 9
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Brunswick Station CDP, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
[edit]
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