Slide 4 of 18

The second major factor influencing population change is migration. Hancock County has experienced a rapid influx of persons between 1990 and 1996. While natural increase added only 1/10th of one percent to the population each year, net migration added 9/10ths of one percent per year. Bucksport has experienced somewhat more balanced, if modest, gains in population, with natural increase contributing 3/10ths of one percent per year and migration contributing 5/10ths of one percent per year. The effect is a very similar overall growth pattern. At these rates the population of Bucksport would double after approximately 100 years. However, projections that far into the future are not reliable. As the population continues to age deaths may be expected to overtake births. Migration will depend much more on economic factors, particularly the availability of jobs and building sites for new homes. Interestingly, Orland is estimated to have 185 person increase due to migration, one more person than Bucksport. Another means for measuring demographic change in housing data. 1999 building permit data data indicate that permits were issued for 21 new single family homes and 14 mobile or modular homes. This translates to approximately 69 new residents or summer residents in one year at 2.55 persons per household. As household size has declined in the past two decades, the number of households needed for a given number of people has increased.