Lewiston-Auburn

The second-largest city in Maine [1], Lewiston is an enclave of student life, thanks to prestigious Bates College. Like many college towns, however, where there’s well-respected academia, there’s history, and Lewiston is no exception. Settlement for both Lewiston and Auburn started about 1770 around the river that runs between the towns. By the mid-19th century, industry had picked up in the form of Bates Mill, which used hydropower via the river.

Milling continued to be a primary industry into the 20th century, by which point satellite mills had opened. Today, the mills are used more for tourist purposes, though they do turn out small runs of fabrics.