It was first called T4 R4 NWP. On June 30, 1804, Dr. John Warren of Boston bought on speculation from Massachusetts for two cents an acre, or $460.80. To encourage settlement, he gave away some land and built a combination gristmill and sawmill. The town would be incorporated on December 11, 1816, as Corinna, named after Dr. Warren's daughter. The first homes were built of hewn logs. Corinna developed into a farming community, with water powered mills at the outlet of Corundel Lake. After the arrival of the Dexter and Newport Railroad in 1865-1866, the village developed into a small mill town. Industries would include sawmills, planing mills, woolentextile mills, and a door, sash and blind factory. There were also boot and shoemaking shops and an ironfoundry. The Eastland Woolen Mill manufactured woolen materials from the 1930s until it closed in 1997, after which it was demolished. The town is now largely a bedroom community of Bangor.
Historic building
The Stewart Free Library, a gift to the town by Corinna-born Minneapolis millionaire Levi M. Stewart, was designed by Minneapolis architect William Harrison Grimshaw. The library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and contains well-preserved historic interiors as well as a majestic facade with clocktower. It resembles a mid-western county courthouse more than a typical small-town Maine library. The Corinna Union Academy educated students in the town from 1851 to 1968. A memorial dedicated to the soldiers that have died in the War on Terror is located near the river. It is made out of marble and incised with the names of fallen soldiers.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,198 people, 926 households, and 622 families living in the town. The population density was. There were 1,075 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population. There were 926 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age in the town was 43 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,145 people, 842 households, and 621 families living in the town. The population density was 55.5 people per square mile. There were 981 housing units at an average density of 25.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.42% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population. There were 842 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.89. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $32,115, and the median income for a family was $37,900. Males had a median income of $28,707 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,345. About 14.1% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
