Census Data for West Forks Plantation
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave West Forks Plantation a population of 58 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave West Forks Plantation a population of 60 people.
The community of West Forks Plantation is located in Somerset County. The 2010 Census gave Somerset County; a population of 52,228 people. This means that West Forks Plantation had 0.11% of the county's total population, making it Somerset's 34th most populous community.
At the same time, Maine had a population of 1,328,361 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for West Forks Plantation has a total area of 49.13 square miles [127.2 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.44 square miles [1.1 km²]).
Somerset County has a land area of 3,924 square miles [10,164.2 km²]. At 48.69 square miles [126.1 km²], West Forks Plantation has 1.24% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like West Forks Plantation, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for West Forks Plantation reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of West Forks Plantation might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 45° 22' 59" (or 45.38°)
- Lon: -69° 59' 57" (or -70°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Somerset County ...
West Forks Plantation is located in Somerset County<3>.
The county had a population of 52,228 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 60 people, West Forks Plantation represented 0.11% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of West Forks Plantation has a population density of 1.22 people per square mile [0.47 people/km²], Somerset County averages 13.31 people per square mile [5.14 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Somerset County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for West Forks Plantation, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of West Forks Plantation. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for West Forks Plantation or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of West Forks Plantation, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for West Forks Plantation.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 45.383325° (or 45°22'59" N)
- Lon: -69.999241° (or -69°59'57" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 45.384000° (or 45°23'2" N)
- Lon: -70.008188° (or -70°0'29" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,304 feet to the east<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#582805) to West Forks Plantation. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of West Forks Plantation. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 45.401439° (or 45°24'5" N)
- Lon: -70.015619° (or -70°0'56" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 7,822 feet to the southeast<5> of the point given by the GNIS for West Forks Plantation. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Forks Plantation.
Miscellaneous Information for West Forks Plantation ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Somerset County or the community of West Forks Plantation:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 23 (Maine)
- County Code: 025 (Somerset County)
- Place Code: 82840 (West Forks Plantation)
- State & County Code: 23/025 (Maine / Somerset County)
- State & Place Code: 23/82840 (Maine / West Forks Plantation)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- West Forks Plantation is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Forks Plantation.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for West Forks Plantation. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Maine: https://www.maine.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of Maine's counties, including Somerset, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 263 degrees and a distance of 2,304 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 212 degrees and a distance of 7,822 feet. |