Census Data for West Gardiner
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave West Gardiner a population of 3,369 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave West Gardiner a population of 3,474 people.
The community of West Gardiner is located in Kennebec County. The 2010 Census gave Kennebec County; a population of 122,151 people. This means that West Gardiner had 2.84% of the county's total population, making it Kennebec's 13th most populous community.
At the same time, Maine had a population of 1,328,361 people, meaning that West Gardiner had 0.26% of the total population of Maine - making it the state's 102nd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for West Gardiner has a total area of 27.07 square miles [70.1 km²]. Of this total, 24.63 square miles [63.8 km²] is land, with the balance (9.01%) being water (2.44 square miles [6.3 km²]).
Kennebec County has a land area of 867 square miles [2,246.9 km²]. At 24.63 square miles [63.8 km²], West Gardiner has 2.84% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like West Gardiner, 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 Gardiner reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of West Gardiner 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: 44° 13' 28" (or 44.22°)
- Lon: -69° 52' 31" (or -69.88°)
- 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).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, West Gardiner had 1,556 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 3,474 people, this averages 2.23 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows West Gardiner had a land area of 24.63 square miles [63.8 km²]. This translates to 57.5 Housing Units per square mile [22.19 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: West Gardiner had 1,308 Housing Units, a population of 2,902 people and a land area of 24.64 square miles [63.8 km²]. This gives a density of 2.22 people per Housing Unit and 48.34 Housing Units per square mile [18.66 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for West Gardiner and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Kennebec County ...
West Gardiner is located in Kennebec County<4>.
The county had a population of 122,151 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 3,474 people, West Gardiner represented 2.84% of the county's total.
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Kennebec County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for West Gardiner, 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 Gardiner. 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 Gardiner 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 Gardiner, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for West Gardiner.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 44.224584° (or 44°13'28" N)
- Lon: -69.875512° (or -69°52'31" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 44.227486° (or 44°13'38" N)
- Lon: -69.886503° (or -69°53'11" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,060 feet to the east<5> 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 (#582806) to West Gardiner. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of West Gardiner. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 44.223682° (or 44°13'25" N)
- Lon: -69.891159° (or -69°53'28" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 4,101 feet to the east<6> of the point given by the GNIS for West Gardiner. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Gardiner.
Miscellaneous Information for West Gardiner ...
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 Kennebec County or the community of West Gardiner:
- 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: 011 (Kennebec County)
- Place Code: 82945 (West Gardiner)
- State & County Code: 23/011 (Maine / Kennebec County)
- State & Place Code: 23/82945 (Maine / West Gardiner)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- West Gardiner 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 Gardiner.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for West Gardiner. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Kennebec County: www.kennebeccounty.org/
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> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Maine's counties, including Kennebec, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 249 degrees and a distance of 3,060 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 274 degrees and a distance of 4,101 feet. |