Auburn

Auburn was first settled in 1786 as part of Bakerstown, renamed Poland when it was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court in 1795. By annexing land from towns around it, including part of Poland in 1852, Minot in 1873, and all of Danville (first called Pejepscot) in 1867, Auburn grew geographically into one of Maine's largest municipalities. Incorporated a city on February 22, 1869, Auburn in 1917 would be the first city in the state to adopt a council-manager form of government. In 1937, one of the largest labor disputes in Maine history occurred in Lewiston and Auburn. The city is located at 44°5N 70°14W (44.089, 70.241). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.74 square miles (153.170 km²) Auburn and its sister city Lewiston are known locally as the Twin Cities. The population was 24,061 at the 2020 census. Auburn is one of two principal cities and included in the Portland-South Portland-Lewiston statistical area (which is part of the Portland, Maine, Metropolitan Statistical Area). The other city and town is Lewiston, New England and is the home of the University of Maine at Orono. The name was apparently inspired by a village (real or fictitious) featured in the 1770 poem "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith. In 1917 one factory in Auburn was producing 75 percent of the world's supply of white canvas shoes.

History

Auburn was first settled in 1786 as part of Bakerstown, renamed Poland when it was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court in 1795. It was then part of Minot, formed from parts of Poland and incorporated in 1802. By annexing land from towns around it, including part of Poland in 1852, Minot in 1873, and all of Danville (first called Pejepscot) in 1867, Auburn grew geographically into one of Maine's largest municipalities. Incorporated a city on February 22, 1869, Auburn in 1917 would be the first city in the state to adopt a council-manager form of government. In 1917 one factory in Auburn was producing 75 percent of the world's supply of white canvas shoes. After World War II the shoe industry began to decline, and between 1957 and 1961 the largest manufacturers closed their factories. In 1985, the area became noted in 1985 due to the plane crash that took the life of Samantha Smith, who was killed in the crash. The town is located on the banks of the Androscoggin River, which is a tributary of the Penobscot River. In 1835, the factory system of shoe manufacture originated at Auburn. The population in 1860 was only about 4,000 but by 1890 it was about 12,000, when its shoe factories attracted many French Canadian immigrants, many of whom arrived by train from Quebec. In 1937, one of the largest labor disputes in Maine history occurred in Lewiston and Auburn.

Geography

Auburn is located at 44°5N 70°14W (44.089, 70.241). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.74 square miles (170.27 km²) Auburn is drained by the Little Androscoggin River and Androscogsgin River. The city is home to the University of Maine at Orono, which was founded in 1788. Auburn is located on the shores of the Little androscogins River, which is a tributary of the Penobscot River. It is also the site of the state's largest lake, the Sebasticook River. Auburn has a population of 2,816. It has a land area of 59.33 square miles, of which 6.41 square miles is water. It also has a water surface of 6.60 square miles. The town is located near the junction of two rivers, the Androscosogins and the Penoski River, and the Oronosquahawk River, both of which flow into the Little Oronoso River. In the summer, the town is known for its hot springs, which can reach temperatures of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) The city's population is about 2,000. It was the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in 1858. The state's first post-secondary school was opened in Auburn in 1881.

Demographics

Auburn is one of two principal cities of and included in the Lewiston-AubURN, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. As of the census of 2010, there were 23,055 people, 9,974 households, and 5,818 families living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 93.7% White, 2.5% African American, 0.4% Native American,0.9% Asian, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population. The median income for a six-person household was $35,652. The city is part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, Maine combined statistical area. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city has a population of 23,051, up from 23,203 as of the 2000 census. The population of Auburn is expected to rise to 23,000 by the end of the year, with a population growth rate of 0.7%. The city's population is projected to rise by 0.8% over the next few years, with the growth rate outpacing that of the rest of the state. It is the largest city in the state, followed by Lewiston, Maine, which is home to the state's capital, Portland, and the state seat of Augusta, Maine. It has a median age of 39.9 years and a population density of 388.6 inhabitants per square mile (150.0/km²).

Government

Auburn is in Maine's 2nd congressional district, Maine Senate District 20, and Maine House of Representatives Districts 68, 69, and 70. The city's governing body is a City Council, consisting of a mayor and 7 councilmembers (one from each of the five wards, and two elected at large). The current mayor is Jason J. Levesque. The last mayor was Jonathan LaBonte. He was the youngest mayor in the city's history. John Jenkins is a former mayor and state senator from Auburn. He is the son of John Jenkins, who was a state senator and former mayor of Auburn. The mayor is elected atlarge. The City Council is made up of seven members, one from each ward. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term, and the City Council members are elected to three-year terms, one of which is up for re-election every two years. Auburn is in the state of Maine's second congressional district and the state's 20th state senate district. It is also in the second state district of the state for the state legislature, which is currently in its 68th district. Auburn has a population of 2,000. It has a land area of 1,500 square miles (3,000 square kilometers) and is divided up into five wards. It also has a water supply system that supplies the city with drinking water and other supplies. It was the site of the World War II Battle of the Bulge, which took place in 1871.

Education

Public primary and secondary education is provided by the Auburn School Department, including Edward Little High School. In addition, there are the following schools in the city: St. Dominic Regional High School, a Catholic high school. Central Maine Community College, a community college, is also located in Auburn. The city is home to the Maine Maritime Museum, which was founded in 1875. It is also the home of the Maine State Museum, a state historic site, which dates back to the 17th century. It was also the site of the state's first post-secondary school, which opened in 1876. The museum is located in the town's downtown area, which is also home to a number of other historic sites. The town also has its own version of the New England Shakespeare Festival, which took place in the early 1900s and is held every year in a different part of the city. It also hosts the Maine Museum of History and Art, which also opened in the late 1800s. The Maine State Maritime Museum was established in 1877 and is based in the Auburn section of the town. It opened its doors to the public in 1881. It has since become a major tourist attraction, especially in the area's coastal areas. The state's only public high school, Edward Little, is located on the city's eastern edge. The school also has a high school on the coast, called St.Dominic Regional High, which has a campus in the center of Auburn. In the town, there is also a public elementary and middle school, as well as a small community college.

Transportation

Auburn is the home of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. Pan Am Railways (formerly Springfield Terminal Railway and Maine Central Railroad) is the primary rail connection for the city. The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad's main line from Portland to Montreal also runs through the southwestern section of the city, passing near the Auburn/Lewiston municipal Airport. Two freight railroads pass through the city; at Lewiston Junction, a branch leased from the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad runs northwest through Auburn. The branch formerly crossed the Androscoggin River into Lewiston. The city is home to the U.S. Highway 95, which runs through much of Auburn. It is also home to State Route 121, which closely parallels US Route 202 through the southern part of the town. It also has State Route 136 and State Route 122, which run through the northern part of Auburn and into the town of Lewiston, Maine. The town's main airport is located off Hotel Road, near the city's downtown area. It was founded in the 1950s as the Auburn and Lewiston Airport. It has since been expanded into a regional airport, which opened in the 1990s. The airport is the only one of its kind in the state, serving a wide variety of industries. It opened in 2007. It serves as a hub for the Maine-New Hampshire International Airport, which is located near the town's central business district. The state's largest employer is the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which has offices in Auburn, Maine, Augusta, and Ellsworth.

Sites of interest

Festival Plaza, completed in 2002, is a public park and performance space along the Androscoggin River. Knight House Museum (1796) is the oldest frame house downtown, with a pre-1835 handwork shoe shop. The Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes food to agencies across the state from its main warehouse in Auburn. Hamster Point is aajestic river side gardens with stunning views of the river and the city. The city's fire department has a collection of antique fire equipment from the city's early days. The town's library has a large collection of Civil War memorabilia, farming tools and a bird collection. It is home to the state's oldest public library, which dates back to 1788. The library is located in the town's oldest building, which was built in 1778. It was the first public library in the state, and is located on the site of the former town hall, which is now a public art museum. It has a series of cast bronze shoes recalling the early shoe manufacturing history of the area. It also features the Falls Fountain, which references Native American legends of being able to hide behind the falls; and the Shoe Fountain, that recalls the early shoes manufacturing history. It's also the home of the Auburn Mall, where shoppers can shop for clothing, toys and other items from local boutiques and boutiques. There are also public gardens along the river, as well as a park and a fire department museum. There is also a public library with a large number of antiques and fire equipment.

National Register of Historic Places

Auburn Public Library (1903) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library is located in the historic district of Auburn, Maine. It was built in 1803 and is the oldest public library in the state. It is also home to the First Universalist Church, which was established in 1876. The church is located on the banks of theroscoggin River, which runs through the town. It has been on the N.R.S. since 1873. It also contains a number of other historic buildings. The town's main street is called Main Street and has been there since 1871. It runs through a historic district known as the Main Street Historic District. The district is home to several historic buildings, including a courthouse and a public library. The main street Historic District is also known as Main Street in the Town of Auburn and is known for its architecture. It includes a courthouse, public library, and a historic church. The historic district also includes several other buildings that were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. These include a church, a mill, a house, a school, a hospital, a farm, a home and a school. The house is listed as part of the Main St Historic District, which is also listed as a historic site in the town of Auburn.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine = 78.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 67. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 30. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Auburn = 2.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 24,061 individuals with a median age of 40.4 age the population dropped by -0.17% in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 405.48 residents per square mile of area (156.56/km²). There are average 2.18 people per household in the 10,250 households with an average household income of $44,182 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.40% of the available work force and has dropped -4.66% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 23.28%. The number of physicians in Auburn per 100,000 population = 230.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Auburn = 43.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 76.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 128. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 199. 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 11.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 55, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine which are owned by the occupant = 53.95%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 57 years with median home cost = $136,320 and home appreciation of -5.61%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $18.67 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $6,525 per student. There are 11.1 students for each teacher in the school, 343 students for each Librarian and 252 students for each Counselor. 6.97% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 12.37% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.60% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).