Unorganized territory New England town

1 unorganized territory

1.1 gores , similar entities
1.2 unorganized townships
1.3 disincorporated towns
1.4 coastal waters

unorganized territory

all 3 of northern new england states (vermont, new hampshire, , maine) contain areas unincorporated , unorganized, not part of town, city or plantation. maine has more such area other 2 states. while these areas exist, importance should not overstated. exception rather rule in new england system, , number of new england residents live in them extremely small in comparison live in towns , cities, in maine. such areas located in sparsely populated regions. of barely inhabited interior of maine unorganized, example.

the majority of unincorporated areas in new hampshire in coos county, , majority of unincorporated areas in vermont in essex county. 2 additional counties in new hampshire , 3 additional counties in vermont contain smaller amounts of unincorporated territory. in maine, 8 of state’s sixteen counties contain significant amounts of unorganized territory (in essence, counties in northern , interior parts of state). 4 other counties contain smaller amounts.

most of these areas have no local government @ all; indeed, have no permanent population whatsoever. areas have rudimentary organization not rise level of organized general-purpose municipal government (e.g., town clerk’s office exists purpose of conducting elections state or federal offices). in general, unorganized areas fall 1 of 3 categories below.

gores , similar entities

during 17th, 18th , 19th centuries, town boundaries being drawn up, small areas left over, not included in town. typically smaller normal-sized town, these areas known variety of names, including gores, grants, locations, purchases, surpluses, , strips. these areas not included in town due survey errors (which technical meaning of term “gore”). represent small areas left on when particular region carved towns, not large enough town on own. appear have been granted outside usual town structure, in areas not contemplated towns ever develop. on time, located in more populated areas were, in general, annexed neighboring towns, or incorporated towns in own right. no such areas exist today in massachusetts, connecticut or rhode island, remain in new hampshire, vermont , maine.

new hampshire: coos county contains total of seventeen grants, purchases , locations. together, these cover significant amount of land area, had 61 residents of 2000 census (44 of whom lived in single entity, wentworth s location). remaining unincorporated gore-like entity outside of coos county hale’s location, in neighboring carroll county, 2.5-square-mile (6.5 km) tract, has reported population in 3 censuses since 1900. (note hart s location, in carroll county, has been incorporated since 1795, although continues carry word “location in name. wentworth s location incorporated town @ 1 time.)
vermont: essex county contains 3 gores , grants. together, cover 25 square miles (65 km), , reported 10 residents in 2000 census. remaining unincorporated gore-like entity outside of essex county buel s gore, in chittenden county, 5-square-mile (13 km) tract, reported 30 residents in 2010. until 1960s or 1970s, franklin county contained gore well, eliminated dividing between 2 neighboring towns.
maine: interior of state contains number of entities of type. there few remaining in more populated areas of state well. examples include hibberts gore, in lincoln county, , batchelders grant, in southern oxford county.

unorganized townships

all 3 of northern new england states contain town-sized unorganized entities, referred unorganized townships (sometimes, townships ) or unorganized towns . of these areas drawn on maps in 18th , 19th centuries might termed “future towns”, never saw enough settlement commence operation of formal town government.

new hampshire: coös county contains 6 unorganized townships not appear have ever been actively incorporated. collective population in 2000 census 114, of whom lived in 1 of 2 townships (dixville , millsfield). there no other unorganized townships in state have never been incorporated.
vermont: essex county contains 3 unorganized townships not appear have ever been actively incorporated. collective population in 2000 census 41. there no other unorganized townships in state have never been incorporated.
maine: interior of maine contains hundreds of unorganized townships, of have never been incorporated or organized. of interior of maine divided surveyed townships identified letters , numbers indicate position on grid. these never intended ever become towns.

disincorporated towns

all 3 of northern new england states include @ least 1 unorganized township once town, has disincorporated , reverted unorganized territory, in general, due population loss. maine has unorganized townships once organized plantations.

new hampshire: town of livermore, located in mountainous area of grafton county, disincorporated in 1951. livermore reported no population in final census incorporated town (1950), , has reported no more 3 residents in census since then. of territory part of white mountain national forest. since once incorporated town, wentworth’s location put category well. wentworth’s location disincorporated in 1966; population in 1970 census 37.
vermont: towns of glastenbury , somerset, located in green mountains on opposite sides of bennington-windham county line, disincorporated in 1937. in 1940 census, glastenbury reported 5 residents, somerset four. in 1 census since has population of either reached double digits.
maine: dozens of towns , plantations have surrendered municipal organization on years , reverted unorganized territory. large number of municipal dissolutions took place between 1935 , 1945, have occurred before , after time period. recent town disincorporations include centerville (2004), madrid (2000) , greenfield (1993). recent plantations surrender organization prentiss plantation , e plantation, both in 1990.
massachusetts: towns of dana, prescott, greenwich , enfield disincorporated in 1938 make way quabbin reservoir. territory, however, divided between neighboring towns, , did not produce newly unincorporated land.

maine has more unorganized territory vermont or new hampshire. fewer 100 vermont residents , fewer 250 new hampshire residents live in unorganized areas. in maine, contrast, 10,000 residents live in unorganized areas. result, maine has developed more of infrastructure administration of unincorporated , unorganized areas other new england states. existence of fallback explains why maine has had more towns disincorporated on years other new england state. there have been numerous instances of towns in maine disincorporating despite populations numbered in hundreds. while these not large communities, large enough realistically operate town government if wanted to, elected not to. in vermont , new hampshire, disincorporation has, in general, not been brought discussion unless town’s population has approached single digits.

coastal waters

in general, coastal waters in new england states administered directly either state or federal agencies , not part of town. several towns, however, have chosen include or part of corresponding coastal waters in territory. coastal waters include man-made structures built within them. in connecticut, example, artificial, uninhabited island in long island sound @ boundary new york state, housing stratford shoal light, not part of town , administered directly united states coast guard. in general, inhabited minor off-shore islands administered part of nearby town, and, in cases, own independent towns, such town of gosnold, in massachusetts, encompasses elizabeth islands.