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EspañolLEWISTON, MAINE
(Redirected from Lewiston (ME))
'Lewiston', in Androscoggin County, is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Maine. The estimated 2007 population was 37,734. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area (which is part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, Maine Combined Statistical Area).
A former industrial center, it is located in southwest Maine, at the falls of the Androscoggin River, across from Auburn. Lewiston and Auburn are often thought of as a single entity and referred to as 'Lewiston-Auburn', which is colloquially abbreviated as 'L-A' or 'L/A', and have a combined population of roughly 59,000 people. Lewiston is home to Bates College, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn College, and two significant regional general hospitals: Central Maine Medical Center and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center.
Lewiston was settled in 1770 and officially incorporated in 1795. At least four houses that existed in 1795 in Lewiston have survived to the present and are currently designated "Historic Buildings" by the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1809, Michael Little built a large wooden sawmill next to the falls. Burned in 1814 by an arsonist, it was later rebuilt. In 1836, local entrepreneurs — predominantly the Little family and friends — formed the Androscoggin Falls, Dam, Lock and Canal Company.
Later reorganized as the ''Lewiston Water Power Company'' the new sales of stock attracted Boston investors — including Thomas J. Hill, Lyman Nichols, George L. Ward, Alexander De Witt, and Benjamin E. Bates (Namesake of Bates College) – who financed a canal system and several textile mills on the Androscoggin river, beginning Lewiston's transformation from a small community into a hub of textile production.
Lewiston's population boomed during these years. During the Civil War, high demand for textiles provided Lewiston with a strong industrial base. Starting in the 1870s, railroad connections to Canada brought an influx of French-Canadian millworkers, and the city's population has been largely Franco-American since.
The local Kora Shrine was organized in 1891 and held its first meetings in a masonic temple on Lisbon street. This group would from 1908 to 1910 build the Kora Temple on Sabattus street, the largest home of a fraternal organization in the state. Architect George M. Coombs would design its Moorish style structure.
City leaders decided to build a church to which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland would relocate. Construction of the ''Church of Saints Peter and Paul'' began in 1905 and ended in 1938, mostly funded through thousands of small donations from Lewiston residents.
While the Diocese of Portland did not relocate to Lewiston, the church is a prominent landmark and source of pride, and became a basilica in 2004. It is one of the few American basilicas located outside of a major metropolitan area.
Starting in the late 1950s, lower production costs elsewhere led to the closure of many of Lewiston's textile mills, which were the city's economic base and once produced a quarter of American textiles. Today, health care is Lewiston's largest industry. Other industries include paper manufacturing, shoe manufacturing, and tourism. Central Maine Medical Center is the city's largest employer.
In 2001, approximately 1,100 Somalis began immigrating to Lewiston from Somalia and the greater Atlanta area.
In October 2002, then-Mayor Laurier T. Raymond, the son of immigrants himself, wrote an open letter addressed to leaders of the Somali community, predicting a negative impact on the city's social services and requesting that Somali leaders discourage further Somali relocation to Lewiston. The letter angered some persons and prompted some community leaders and residents to speak out against the mayor, drawing national attention. Demonstrations were held in Lewiston, both by those who supported the Somalis' presence and those who opposed it.
In January 2003, a small group from the white supremacist Creativity Movement demonstrated in Lewiston against the Somali population, prompting a simultaneous counter-demonstration of about 4,000 people [1] at Bates College and the organization of the "Many and One Coalition." Widespread publicity was given to the fact that the mayor chose to be out of state "on vacation" on the day of the rallies, while the governor and other dignitaries attended.
In 2006, it was estimated that well over 50% of Somali immigrant adults were still unemployed, even after 5 years from their arrival in Lewiston as reported by William Finnegan of New Yorker Magazine.
In May 2004, the City of Lewiston announced an ambitious plan for urban renewal near its downtown area. The plan, still in its formative stages, is to demolish several blocks of nineteenth-century millworker housing, lay new streets with updated infrastructure, construct more owner-occupied, lower-density housing, and build a boulevard through the neighborhood, using federal Community Development Block Grant funds provided over a period of ten years. Many residents of the affected neighborhoods felt that the plan was initially announced with very little input from them. They formed a neighborhood group called "The Visible Community," which has been actively involved in the planning process.
Lewiston is located at (44.097473, -70.192416).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 91.1 km² (35.2 mi²). 88.3 km² (34.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.13%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,690 people, 15,290 households, and 8,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 404.2/km² (1,047.0/mi²). There were 16,470 housing units at an average density of 186.5/km² (483.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.75% White, 1.07% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population. There were 15,290 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81. 72.51% of residents spoke only English at home, while 25.77% spoke French &ea=&order=&ll=all.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,191, and the median income for a family was $40,061. Males had a median income of $30,095 versus $21,810 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,905. About 10.0% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
★ Bill Carrigan (1883-1969), manager of the 1915 and 1916 world champion Boston Red Sox.
★ Ernest "Ernie" Coombs CM (November 26, 1927 - September 18, 2001) was a television children's entertainer, known by generations of Canadian's as "Mr. Dressup."
★ George M. Coombs (unknown-1909), leading Maine architect of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His firm continues today as Harriman Associates.
★ Patrick Dempsey (1966), star of movies such as ''Sweet Home Alabama'' and the TV show ''Grey's Anatomy'', was born in Lewiston.
★ Thomas A. Desjardin (1964), American writer and Civil War scholar
★ Rick DiPietro, (1981), ice hockey goaltender for Boston University, New York Islanders and Team USA in 2006 Olympics in Turin, was born in Lewiston.
★ Joey Gamache, world champion lightweight boxer
★ Alonzo Garcelon, Governor of Maine 1879-1880
★ Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), modernist painter
★ Edward C. Hayes (1868-1928), President of the American Sociological Association
★ Ray LaMontagne, (1974), folk singer-songwriter
★ James B. Longley (1924-1980), Governor of Maine
★ Muhammad Ali's famous "Liston Knockout" took place at what is now known as the Androscoggin Bank Colisée, formerly Central Maine Civic Center (on Birch St.) in Lewiston on May 25, 1965. Photographer Neil Leifer made a trip back to the venue in May 2005 to commemorate his famous color photograph for a feature to be published in a future edition of ''Sports Illustrated''.
★ The ''Farmer's Almanac'' is printed in Lewiston.
★ The Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is the league's lone U.S.-based franchise.
★ Railroad Park, a large park in downtown Lewiston. Also the launching point of the largest balloon festival in New England, the Great Falls Balloon Festival.
★ Grand Trunk Rail Station, an historical look at the railroad running through downtown Lewiston.
★ Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, just off of Highland Spring Road, it is the largest bird sanctuary in New England.
★ The Public Theatre, a nationally recognized theatre for their artistic excellence, The Public Theatre is a professional Equity theatre located in the heart of downtown Lewiston.
★ The Lewiston skatepark fully concrete with a nine foot pool coaping bowl, snake run, pole jam, stair set, hand rail, legdes, and anything else you can expect from sloppy sam.
1. Elder, Janus G. ''A History of Lewiston, Maine with a Genealogical Register of Early Families'' page 52.
★ Elder, Janus G., "''A History of Lewiston, Maine with a Genealogical Register of Early Families.''" Heritage Books, Inc., 1989
★ Hodgkin, Douglas I., "''Lewiston Memories: A Bicentennial Pictorial.''" Jostens Printing & Publishing, 1994
★ Finnegan, William, "''Letter from Maine: New in Town, the Somalis of Lewiston.''" The New Yorker, December 11th, 2006
★ Official Municipal site
★ History of Lewiston on Municipal site
★ Lewiston Sun-Journal Online
★ L/A Arts
★ Lewiston, Maine detailed profile
★ The Public Theatre
'Somali immigration related'
★ Recent article on Somali immigration
★ Text of Laurier T. Raymond's letter
★ Text of Somalis' letter in response
★ The Many and One Coalition
★ Overview of Somali Immigration to Lewiston in 2006
'Lewiston', in Androscoggin County, is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Maine. The estimated 2007 population was 37,734. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area (which is part of the Portland-Lewiston-South Portland, Maine Combined Statistical Area).
A former industrial center, it is located in southwest Maine, at the falls of the Androscoggin River, across from Auburn. Lewiston and Auburn are often thought of as a single entity and referred to as 'Lewiston-Auburn', which is colloquially abbreviated as 'L-A' or 'L/A', and have a combined population of roughly 59,000 people. Lewiston is home to Bates College, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn College, and two significant regional general hospitals: Central Maine Medical Center and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center.
| Contents |
| History |
| Industrial Development |
| Industrial decline |
| Somali Influx |
| Heritage initiative |
| Geography |
| Climate |
| Demographics |
| Notable people |
| Facts and figures |
| Places of interest |
| Notes |
| References |
| External links |
History
Industrial Development
Lewiston factories circa 1910
Lewiston was settled in 1770 and officially incorporated in 1795. At least four houses that existed in 1795 in Lewiston have survived to the present and are currently designated "Historic Buildings" by the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1809, Michael Little built a large wooden sawmill next to the falls. Burned in 1814 by an arsonist, it was later rebuilt. In 1836, local entrepreneurs — predominantly the Little family and friends — formed the Androscoggin Falls, Dam, Lock and Canal Company.
"for the purpose of erecting and constructing dams, locks, canals, mills, works, machines, and buildings on their own lands and also manufacturing cotton, wool, iron, steel, and paper in the towns of Lewiston, Minot, and Danville".[1]
Later reorganized as the ''Lewiston Water Power Company'' the new sales of stock attracted Boston investors — including Thomas J. Hill, Lyman Nichols, George L. Ward, Alexander De Witt, and Benjamin E. Bates (Namesake of Bates College) – who financed a canal system and several textile mills on the Androscoggin river, beginning Lewiston's transformation from a small community into a hub of textile production.
Lewiston's population boomed during these years. During the Civil War, high demand for textiles provided Lewiston with a strong industrial base. Starting in the 1870s, railroad connections to Canada brought an influx of French-Canadian millworkers, and the city's population has been largely Franco-American since.
''Canal & mills'' in 1907
The local Kora Shrine was organized in 1891 and held its first meetings in a masonic temple on Lisbon street. This group would from 1908 to 1910 build the Kora Temple on Sabattus street, the largest home of a fraternal organization in the state. Architect George M. Coombs would design its Moorish style structure.
City leaders decided to build a church to which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland would relocate. Construction of the ''Church of Saints Peter and Paul'' began in 1905 and ended in 1938, mostly funded through thousands of small donations from Lewiston residents.
''City Park'' in c. 1920
While the Diocese of Portland did not relocate to Lewiston, the church is a prominent landmark and source of pride, and became a basilica in 2004. It is one of the few American basilicas located outside of a major metropolitan area.
Industrial decline
Starting in the late 1950s, lower production costs elsewhere led to the closure of many of Lewiston's textile mills, which were the city's economic base and once produced a quarter of American textiles. Today, health care is Lewiston's largest industry. Other industries include paper manufacturing, shoe manufacturing, and tourism. Central Maine Medical Center is the city's largest employer.
Somali Influx
In 2001, approximately 1,100 Somalis began immigrating to Lewiston from Somalia and the greater Atlanta area.
In October 2002, then-Mayor Laurier T. Raymond, the son of immigrants himself, wrote an open letter addressed to leaders of the Somali community, predicting a negative impact on the city's social services and requesting that Somali leaders discourage further Somali relocation to Lewiston. The letter angered some persons and prompted some community leaders and residents to speak out against the mayor, drawing national attention. Demonstrations were held in Lewiston, both by those who supported the Somalis' presence and those who opposed it.
In January 2003, a small group from the white supremacist Creativity Movement demonstrated in Lewiston against the Somali population, prompting a simultaneous counter-demonstration of about 4,000 people [1] at Bates College and the organization of the "Many and One Coalition." Widespread publicity was given to the fact that the mayor chose to be out of state "on vacation" on the day of the rallies, while the governor and other dignitaries attended.
In 2006, it was estimated that well over 50% of Somali immigrant adults were still unemployed, even after 5 years from their arrival in Lewiston as reported by William Finnegan of New Yorker Magazine.
"Unemployment in the Somali community is estimated at fifty per cent. Alex Nicolaou, an employment counsellor for Catholic Charities in Maine, who works
mainly with Somalis."
Heritage initiative
''Panoramic view from City Hall,'' 1906
In May 2004, the City of Lewiston announced an ambitious plan for urban renewal near its downtown area. The plan, still in its formative stages, is to demolish several blocks of nineteenth-century millworker housing, lay new streets with updated infrastructure, construct more owner-occupied, lower-density housing, and build a boulevard through the neighborhood, using federal Community Development Block Grant funds provided over a period of ten years. Many residents of the affected neighborhoods felt that the plan was initially announced with very little input from them. They formed a neighborhood group called "The Visible Community," which has been actively involved in the planning process.
Geography
Climate
Demographics
''Post Office'' in 1908
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,690 people, 15,290 households, and 8,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 404.2/km² (1,047.0/mi²). There were 16,470 housing units at an average density of 186.5/km² (483.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.75% White, 1.07% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population. There were 15,290 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81. 72.51% of residents spoke only English at home, while 25.77% spoke French &ea=&order=&ll=all.
''Park Street'' in c. 1910
In the city the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,191, and the median income for a family was $40,061. Males had a median income of $30,095 versus $21,810 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,905. About 10.0% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
★ Bill Carrigan (1883-1969), manager of the 1915 and 1916 world champion Boston Red Sox.
★ Ernest "Ernie" Coombs CM (November 26, 1927 - September 18, 2001) was a television children's entertainer, known by generations of Canadian's as "Mr. Dressup."
★ George M. Coombs (unknown-1909), leading Maine architect of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His firm continues today as Harriman Associates.
★ Patrick Dempsey (1966), star of movies such as ''Sweet Home Alabama'' and the TV show ''Grey's Anatomy'', was born in Lewiston.
★ Thomas A. Desjardin (1964), American writer and Civil War scholar
★ Rick DiPietro, (1981), ice hockey goaltender for Boston University, New York Islanders and Team USA in 2006 Olympics in Turin, was born in Lewiston.
★ Joey Gamache, world champion lightweight boxer
★ Alonzo Garcelon, Governor of Maine 1879-1880
★ Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), modernist painter
★ Edward C. Hayes (1868-1928), President of the American Sociological Association
★ Ray LaMontagne, (1974), folk singer-songwriter
★ James B. Longley (1924-1980), Governor of Maine
Facts and figures
★ Muhammad Ali's famous "Liston Knockout" took place at what is now known as the Androscoggin Bank Colisée, formerly Central Maine Civic Center (on Birch St.) in Lewiston on May 25, 1965. Photographer Neil Leifer made a trip back to the venue in May 2005 to commemorate his famous color photograph for a feature to be published in a future edition of ''Sports Illustrated''.
★ The ''Farmer's Almanac'' is printed in Lewiston.
★ The Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is the league's lone U.S.-based franchise.
Places of interest
★ Railroad Park, a large park in downtown Lewiston. Also the launching point of the largest balloon festival in New England, the Great Falls Balloon Festival.
★ Grand Trunk Rail Station, an historical look at the railroad running through downtown Lewiston.
★ Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, just off of Highland Spring Road, it is the largest bird sanctuary in New England.
★ The Public Theatre, a nationally recognized theatre for their artistic excellence, The Public Theatre is a professional Equity theatre located in the heart of downtown Lewiston.
★ The Lewiston skatepark fully concrete with a nine foot pool coaping bowl, snake run, pole jam, stair set, hand rail, legdes, and anything else you can expect from sloppy sam.
Notes
1. Elder, Janus G. ''A History of Lewiston, Maine with a Genealogical Register of Early Families'' page 52.
References
★ Elder, Janus G., "''A History of Lewiston, Maine with a Genealogical Register of Early Families.''" Heritage Books, Inc., 1989
★ Hodgkin, Douglas I., "''Lewiston Memories: A Bicentennial Pictorial.''" Jostens Printing & Publishing, 1994
★ Finnegan, William, "''Letter from Maine: New in Town, the Somalis of Lewiston.''" The New Yorker, December 11th, 2006
External links
★ Official Municipal site
★ History of Lewiston on Municipal site
★ Lewiston Sun-Journal Online
★ L/A Arts
★ Lewiston, Maine detailed profile
★ The Public Theatre
'Somali immigration related'
★ Recent article on Somali immigration
★ Text of Laurier T. Raymond's letter
★ Text of Somalis' letter in response
★ The Many and One Coalition
★ Overview of Somali Immigration to Lewiston in 2006
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