Lewiston, Maine

Maili1
6mo ago
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Lewiston, Maine, was my home through school and for a decade after college. Eventually, I made the move to Portland. Lewiston isn’t remarkable for being amazing or awful; it's a blend of both worlds. Like many American cities, it has affluent areas and neighborhoods that are struggling. But when thinking about Lewiston, you can't ignore Auburn—its twin city. The two are so intertwined that it’s impossible to truly know one without the other.

Lewiston’s roots lie in its days as a bustling mill town. French and Irish immigrants, both largely Roman Catholic, settled in different neighborhoods, shaping the town's identity. However, when the mills shut down, Lewiston faced a decline. Over the past 30 years, it has been slowly reinventing itself, finding a new direction.

One of Lewiston’s standout features is its diversity. While Maine is the whitest state in the U.S., Lewiston has become a hub for new Americans, creating a vibrant melting pot. This diversity adds richness to the community that I wish had existed when I lived there. Meanwhile, many of the older, long-term residents are of French Canadian descent, reflecting the city’s historical ties.

SadExtension524
2y ago
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L/A Twin Cities
I moved here in 2021 from the Midwest and I quite like it. I don't live downtown, more on the outskirts but still IN town. People don't bother others up here. But everyone is still generally nice to each other.

Where I came from, my vehicle had been broken into the one time I left the doors unlocked. I don't worry about that here. Where I came from, there was a drive-by shooting at my apartment complex. I don't worry about that here. Not saying it never happens, but it's a cesspool of crime like people make it out to be.

There are nice neighborhoods and not nice neighborhoods anywhere you go, as I'm sure you already know. Is there crime? Yeah but that's everywhere and I'd hardly call it dangerous. Is there drug use? Yeah but again, that's everywhere. Unhoused people? Sure but I challenge you to find a town in Maine that doesn't have that issue too.

Lewiston to me is like a hardy, blue-collar type of town. Lewiston-Aubrun has plenty of stores and restaurants that are really good. We've got some nice parks, a Riverwalk, good libraries, some festivals that are fun, and there's entertainment to be found. This Wednesday the Auburn community band is starting their free summer concert series. And we have Range Pond, plus I think a city pool if you want to go for a dip.

Actual-Manager-4814
2y ago
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From my experience, it's just kind of dated. There's definitely been an injection of life, mostly from the immigrant population, but it has potential to be more and I think it's definitely heading in that direction. There are already some really nice things happening downtown. There's a decent little comedy scene, open mics, live music. Auburn has a neat little riverfront space that hosts festivals.

What we love about it is we were able to buy a house that is 5 minutes from downtown Auburn, which has a supermarket, pharmacy, craft beer, some gems for restaurants; and we are also 5 minutes from a ski mountain, the lake, hiking trails. In Auburn there is a place called Mt. Apatite, that doesn't have much elevation at all but it's a nice little stroll, has a legit mountain biking trail, and you can even mine for gems.

If you've spent a lot of time in big cities, the time you save just getting from point A to B up here will be mind blowing. Traffic is literally non-existent. And it's still only 35-40 minutes from Portland if you want to catch a show or spend the day in the Old Port. When I lived in the Old Port it would take that long just to get home from work and find a spot I could park my car overnight.

Additional-Tea-5986
6mo ago
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Mom is from there and I spent every summer there growing up. It has a great history as a New England textile town with a huge French Canadian population. Sort of a rust-belt kind of town with New England charm. Culturally most similar to New Hampshire; kind of an old yankee culture removed from the world. Maine is very nice, very overlooked. Better places to visit would be booth bay harbor, Portland, or any of the outdoorsy spots. LLBean factory not too far away (and is a blast).

UNDISCOVERED LEWISTON, ME!!