Good things to know about Lewiston Auburn, Maine’s second cities and surrounding region
From education to arts and culture to boundless outdoor beauty, this part of Central Maine offers a great lifestyle that’s affordable to all.
Welcome to the Lewiston Auburn region, a beautiful and thriving metro area with a rich history of hard-working people who value community and opportunity.
There are so many great things that people don’t know about this area, whether they’ve been in Maine for generations or they have recently moved here: like the diverse cultural and artistic fabric, farm-to-table food options, excellent educational institutions, comprehensive healthcare and accelerating economic development that has brought prosperity to individuals and the community.
Here’s a closer look at a place that is often called “up-and-coming” these days but has always been pretty good.
Bigger than ever
The Lewiston Auburn metro statistical area is Maine’s second largest. The population includes more than 114,000 people across 16 communities in Androscoggin County. Did you know that this is also the youngest area of Maine? About a third of the population is between 18 and 39.
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The population is projected to grow by nearly 10,000 people over the next five years, and the region is ready to meet the need for housing. In the past five years, projects for at least 578 housing units have been permitted in Auburn. In 2022, the city of Auburn estimated more than $74 million spent on multiple construction projects. The city of Lewiston has received federal grants to build hundreds of new units and renovate older units of public housing. Thanks to its “hidden gem” status, Androscoggin County has an average list price about 15% lower than the rest of the state on the open residential market.
Annually, there’s about $5.8 billion gross regional product from over 3,400 pay-rolled businesses. Business incubators like Uplift LA, a Black Chamber of Commerce and multiple accelerator programs have all opened in recent years with more in development.
And here’s something literally big: the Norway Savings Bank Arena is Maine’s only dual surface ice arena, so there’s plenty of time to skate year-round.
Smarter than ever
The region’s educational offerings extend from Head Start and private preschool facilities to first-rate public and private K-12 schools to post-secondary institutions that educate nearly 6,000 students each year. The Lewiston Public Library is ready for all our young people, kicking off a capital campaign for a new children’s room just this year.
Most people know Bates College, the renowned private liberal arts college with notable alumni in all types of professional sectors. Fewer people know that the University of Southern Maine has a Lewiston-Auburn campus, or that Central Maine Community College in Auburn participates in the statewide system’s Free College Scholarship for Maine high school graduates. It’s also home to the Mustangs, which includes a popular esports team on their athletics roster. The Esports Arena has 30 high-end PCs in a competitive layout. Meanwhile, the Lewiston Regional Technical Center recently opened The Green Ladle, a culinary arts program combining academics with career skills.
Most people know Lewiston High School is a powerhouse in soccer, winning the state championship four times in eight years, including 2023. Fewer know that the mock trial team are the reigning state champs too, and that the area’s FIRST Robotics team, with members from Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School in Auburn, has won major competitions. Meanwhile, Edward Little students are enjoying the state-of-the-art, $126 million building that opened this year.
Healthier than ever
The Dempsey Center is a renowned cancer community nonprofit founded in 2008 by actor Patrick Dempsey, who grew up in the area. An annual cycling, running and walking fundraiser called The Dempsey Challenge brings locals and celebrities together to strengthen the free counseling, holistic therapies and community events at the Centers.
There are more than 350 farms in Androscoggin County, growing produce, raising livestock and creating their own products. Local fruits, veggies, dairy and meat can be found at farmers markets, u-pick orchards and fields, local grocers, and eventually at the developing Lewiston-Auburn Community Market and food incubator space.
Meanwhile, the downtown areas are a 30-to-45-minute drive from the natural wonders of Maine’s coast and forests. Whether you hike, ski, run, trail ride, fish, hunt or simply bathe in the beauty of nature, it could all be part of an easy excursion.
Greener than ever
The Androscoggin River is the powerhouse of the region, nourishing the ecosystem for thousands of years, and eventually fueling the paper and textile industries that built up this region in the 19th century. Unfortunately, those same industries that uplifted so many families became major polluters of the river. Our modern regulations were actually shaped by Rumford-born Senator Edward Muskie, who drafted the federal Clean Water Act in the 1970s, in part to help the Androscoggin.
Now, the Androscoggin is returning more to nature, as decades of investment have taken hold. Fisheries have returned, kayakers can explore the riverbanks, and regular clean-ups show how deeply the community cares about its environment. The Androscoggin Land Trust has preserved more than 5,000 acres around the river’s watershed, and in the shared downtowns of Lewiston and Auburn, a 2.5-mile Riverwalk shows off Great Falls from all angles.
More artistic than ever
Today, the gorgeous, historic architecture of cities’ downtowns and the beauty of the river is being brought back to life as professional theater, music and dance organizations have made a home in the community. The Public Theatre is a nationally recognized professional theater that produces a full season every year, and the Great Falls Comedy Club has programming every weekend. Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theater is heading into the 85th season, a testament to the deep bench of local talent and their fans.
The Franco Center is the region’s premier performance and event center. It is home to the 80-member Midcoast Symphony Orchestra and the Maine Music Society’s choral and chamber singers. Bates College integrates its arts programming into the fabric of the cities. The Museum of Art is open year-round, and the annual dance festival brings in artists from around the world.
Better than ever
Affordable real estate, first-rate healthcare and abundant employment opportunities are basic reasons for people to move to the Lewiston Auburn region, but its wide variety of amazing lifestyle choices are second to none. From the Maine MILL’s preservation of the French and manufacturing heritage to city-sponsored Pride events, the Somali Bantu Community Association’s programming and beyond, this region is thriving with energy from diverse sources, new and historic.
Dig into discoverlamaine.com to see where you would fit into this wonderful region, whether you’re visiting for a day or planning to spend a lifetime.
To discover more about the LA Region, click here.
Original article published by the Sun Journal of September 25, 2024.
