These Are The 10 Maine Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2018

The Black community is one of the fastest growing communities in America this decade.

There are now 42 million people who identify as Black or African American living in America, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Maine is 15,472 – at 1.2% of the total population of Maine.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. As most scholars and historians agree, an increase in the diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted Maine? Which cities and towns in Maine have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Maine with the largest African American population in 2018:

1. Portland (Photos)
2. Lewiston (Photos)
3. Caribou (Photos)
4. Waterville (Photos)
5. Biddeford (Photos)
6. Westbrook (Photos)
7. Bangor (Photos)
8. Bath (Photos)
9. Old Town (Photos)
10. Saco (Photos)

Portland took the number one over all spot for the largest Black population in Maine for 2018. See if it ranked as one of the most african american cities in America.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.

To see where Maine ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Maine or the most diverse places in Maine.

How We Determined The Cities In Maine With The Largest Black Population For 2018

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the census. So that’s where we went to get the breakdown of race across Maine.

That lead us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2012-2016 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

• Hispanic or Latino
• White alone*
• Black or African American alone*
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
• Asian alone*
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
• Some other race alone*
• Two or more races*

Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 19 cities.

We then calculated the percent of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 8.2% to 0.1%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of Black population with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Portland took the distinction of being the most Black, while Brewer was the least African American city.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Maine ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

1. Portland

Population: 66,649
% African American: 8.17%
# Of African American Residents: 5,447
Percent Change Since 2010: 46.42%
More on Portland: Data | Jobs

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with a population of 66,937 as of 2016. This makes it the fourth least populous city in the U.S. to be the most populous in its state. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine’s total population. The Old Port district is frequented by tourists, while Portland Head Light is also a destination. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which is a reference to the recoveries from four devastating fires. Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named after Portland, Maine.

2. Lewiston

Population: 36,277
% African American: 3.78%
# Of African American Residents: 1,370
Percent Change Since 2010: 14.84%
More on Lewiston: Data | Jobs

Lewiston is the second largest city in Maine and the most central city in Androscoggin County. The city borders the coastal sideways of the Gulf of Maine and is south of Augusta, the state’s capital and north of Portland, the cultural hub of Maine. It is one-half of the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Statistical Area, commonly referred to as “L.A.” or “L-A.” Lewiston exerts a significant impact upon the diversity, religious variety, commerce, education, and economic power of Maine. It is known for a relatively low cost of living, substantial access to medical care, and an extremely low violent crime rate. While the dominant language spoken in the city is English, it is home to the largest French-speaking population in the United States while it is second to St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, in percentage of speakers.

3. Caribou

Population: 7,902
% African American: 3.34%
# Of African American Residents: 264
Percent Change Since 2010: 8700.0%
More on Caribou: Data | Jobs

Caribou is the second largest city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. Its population was 8,189 at the 2010 census.

4. Waterville

Population: 16,134
% African American: 3.34%
# Of African American Residents: 539
Percent Change Since 2010: 1.13%
More on Waterville: Data | Jobs

Waterville is a city in Kennebec County of the U.S. state of Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, the population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Waterville is also the latter of the cities which make up the Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area.

5. Biddeford

Population: 21,341
% African American: 2.29%
# Of African American Residents: 488
Percent Change Since 2010: 96.77%
More on Biddeford: Data | Jobs

Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census. Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.

6. Westbrook

Population: 17,969
% African American: 2.28%
# Of African American Residents: 409
Percent Change Since 2010: -32.06%
More on Westbrook: Data | Jobs

Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.

7. Bangor

Population: 32,491
% African American: 1.36%
# Of African American Residents: 442
Percent Change Since 2010: 10.5%
More on Bangor: Data | Jobs

Bangor is a city along the Penobscot River in the U.S. state of Maine. The city proper has a population of 33,039, while the Bangor metropolitan area has a population of 153,746. Bangor is known as the “Queen City” of Maine.

8. Bath

Population: 8,334
% African American: 1.3%
# Of African American Residents: 108
Percent Change Since 2010: -43.16%
More on Bath: Data | Jobs

Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census, and 8,357 as of 2013, the population has had a change of -10.2% since 2000. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County, which includes one city and 10 towns. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is home to the Bath Iron Works and Heritage Days Festival, held annually on the Fourth of July weekend. It is commonly known as “The City of Ships.” Bath is part of the metropolitan statistical area of Greater Portland.

9. Old Town

Population: 7,655
% African American: 1.16%
# Of African American Residents: 89
Percent Change Since 2010: 102.27%
More on Old Town: Data | Jobs

Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city’s developed area is chiefly located on relatively large Marsh Island, though its boundaries extend beyond that. The island is surrounded and defined by the Penobscot River to the east, and the Stillwater River to the west.

10. Saco

Population: 19,008
% African American: 1.06%
# Of African American Residents: 202
Percent Change Since 2010: 188.57%
More on Saco: Data | Jobs

Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems, a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics. Saco sees much tourism during summer months, due to its amusement parks, Ferry Beach State Park, and proximity to Old Orchard Beach.

There You Have It – Black Populations Across Maine

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Maine according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Maine:

1. Brewer
2. Gardiner
3. Presque Isle

For more Maine reading, check out:

• These Are The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine For 2018
• 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
• 10 Best Places To Live In Maine

Detailed List Of The Most African American Cities In Maine

Rank	City	Population	% African American
1	Portland	66,649	8.17%
2	Lewiston	36,277	3.78%
3	Caribou	7,902	3.34%
4	Waterville	16,134	3.34%
5	Biddeford	21,341	2.29%
6	Westbrook	17,969	2.28%
7	Bangor	32,491	1.36%
8	Bath	8,334	1.3%
9	Old Town	7,655	1.16%
10	Saco	19,008	1.06%
11	Augusta	18,691	0.93%
12	Auburn	22,943	0.89%
13	South Portland	25,397	0.86%
14	Rockland	7,220	0.78%
15	Ellsworth	7,879	0.74%
16	Belfast	6,641	0.59%
17	Presque Isle	9,298	0.52%
18	Gardiner	5,670	0.21%
19	Brewer	9,284	0.14%