Bowdoin was part of a tract of land extending from Merrymeeting Bay to the Androscoggin River that was conveyed in 1752 by the Kennebec Company to William Bowdoin of Boston, older brother of James Bowdoin. Originally called West Bowdoinham Plantation, it was settled some years before the Revolutionary War. In 1773, William Bowdoin died, and by 1779 James Bowdoin had legal claim to the area and was granting deeds. It contained about 121 families when the town was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court on March 21, 1788, named after the Bowdoin family. In 1799, it ceded land to form Thompsonborough, whose name changed in 1802 to Lisbon. In 1834, it ceded more territory to Lisbon. Bowdoin developed as an agricultural town, raising sheep and producing apples, wheat, hay and potatoes. Other industries included an ice company, sawmill, gristmill, carding mill and brickyard. Since 1993, alpacas have been raised in the town.
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,061 people, 1,143 households, and 867 families living in the town. The population density was. There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 1,143 households, of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couplesliving together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age in the town was 40.4 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 33.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,727 people, 987 households, and 765 families living in the town. The population density was 62.7 people per square mile. There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.80% White, 0.26% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population. There were 987 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.11. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $42,688, and the median income for a family was $46,094. Males had a median income of $32,975 versus $22,025 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,260. About 7.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
