107-517: Lyceum Hall is a historic commercial building in downtown Lewiston, Maine , United States. Built in 1872, the Second Empire hall is one of the city's few surviving designs of Charles F. Douglas , a leading Maine architect of the period, and for a number of years housed the city's only performance venue. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Lyceum Hall
214-687: 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 designed this Moorish -style structure. City leaders decided to build a cathedral to which the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland could relocate. Construction of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul began in 1905 and ended in 1938, funded mostly through thousands of small donations from Lewiston residents. It
321-451: A spree shooting occurred at two locations in Lewiston. Eighteen people were killed, and 13 others were injured. The first mass shooting occurred at a bowling alley during a youth league event, while the second occurred minutes later at a restaurant. After a two-day manhunt, the shooter, 40-year-old Robert R. Card, was found dead on October 27 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in
428-414: A 1000-seat theater on the third floor, which was the city's only public performance venue until the construction of the city's Music Hall. The building underwent a full restoration in the 1980s. Lewiston, Maine Lewiston ( / ˈ l uː ɪ s t ən / ; French: [luistɔ̃] ) is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine , with the city's population at 37,121 as of
535-504: A center for politics, law, healthcare, and insurance companies . Concord is located in south-central New Hampshire at 43°12′24″N 71°32′17″W / 43.20667°N 71.53806°W / 43.20667; -71.53806 (43.2070, −71.5371). It is 38 miles (61 km) north of the Massachusetts border, 40 miles (64 km) west of the Maine border, 54 miles (87 km) east of
642-402: A day between Boston and Concord. Since then, there has not been any passenger rail service to Concord. In 2021, Amtrak announced their plan to implement new service between Boston and Concord by 2035. Local bus service is provided by Concord Area Transit (CAT), with three routes through the city. Regional bus service provided by Concord Coach Lines and Greyhound Lines is available from
749-473: A female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. Of all households, 35.9% 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. The median income for a household in the city was $ 36,743, and the median income for a family was $ 46,289. Males had a median income of $ 38,881 versus $ 30,465 for females. The per capita income for
856-540: 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 & 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
963-614: A low crime rate and cheap housing. In 1999, ethnic Somalis subsequently began a secondary migration from other states to the former mill town, and after 2005, many Somali Bantus , a separate ethnicity, followed suit. In October 2002, then- Mayor Laurier T. Raymond wrote an open letter addressed to leaders of the Somali community, predicting a negative impact on the city's social services and requesting that they discourage further relocation to Lewiston. The letter angered many and prompted some community leaders and residents to speak out against
1070-457: A low terrace to the west of the river, with residential neighborhoods climbing hills to the west and extending southwards towards the town of Bow. To the east of the Merrimack, atop a 100-foot (30 m) bluff, is a flat, sandy plain known as Concord Heights, which has seen most of the city's commercial development since 1960. The eastern boundary of Concord (with the town of Pembroke ) is formed by
1177-454: A period of ten years. Some residents of the affected neighborhoods felt that the plan was initially announced with little input from them. They formed a neighborhood group called "The Visible Community", which has since been actively involved in the planning process, and resulted in cooperation between neighbors and city officials to redesign Kennedy Park , including input on the location of new basketball courts, and feedback regarding creation of
SECTION 10
#17328693067871284-681: A popular building material for many monumental halls in the early United States, and Concord granite was used in the construction of both the New Hampshire State House and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In 1828, Lewis Downing joined J. Stephens Abbot to form Abbot and Downing . Their most famous product was their Concord coach , widely used in the development of the American West , and their enterprise largely boosted and changed
1391-711: A private preparatory school ; NHTI , a two-year community college ; the New Hampshire Police Academy; and the New Hampshire Fire Academy. Concord's Old North Cemetery is the final resting place of Franklin Pierce , 14th President of the United States . Interstate 89 and Interstate 93 are the two main interstate highways serving the city, and general aviation access is via Concord Municipal Airport . The nearest airport with commercial air service
1498-452: A significant influx of Québécois millworkers who worked alongside Irish immigrants and Yankee mill girls. Lewiston's population boomed between 1840 and 1890 from 1,801 to 21,701. Canadiens settled in an area downtown that became known as Little Canada, and Lewiston's character has remained largely Franco-American ever since. In 1855, a Maine preacher traveled from Parsonsfield to Lewiston to establish an institution of higher learning in
1605-648: A small farming town into a textile manufacturing center on the model of Lowell, Massachusetts . The creation of the Bates manufacturing trusts saw rapid economic growth, positioning the city as the wealthiest city in Maine, and created budding affluent districts such as the Main Street–Frye Street Historic District . Although the odd-majority of the population was working class , a distinctive upper class emerged at this time. The Bates Mill remained
1712-517: A small library. Lewiston also features The Public Theatre, which puts on different plays throughout the year with about six to eight productions per season. It is downtown on Maple St. It was on Park street. It features all types of plays, with actors from all over the world. Its offices are in Auburn at the Great Falls Plaza. Concord, New Hampshire Concord ( / ˈ k ɒ ŋ k ər d / )
1819-530: A wooded area near Lisbon . It was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Maine. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 35.54 square miles (92.05 km ), of which 34.15 square miles (88.45 km ) is land and 1.39 square miles (3.60 km ) is water. Lewiston is drained by the Androscoggin River , which forms its western border. The city
1926-553: Is Manchester–Boston Regional Airport , 23 miles (37 km) to the south. Concord's downtown underwent a significant renovation between 2015 and 2016, during the city's "Complete Streets Improvement Project". At a proposed cost of $ 12 million, the project promised to deliver on categories of maintenance to aging infrastructure , improved accessibility , increased sustainability , a safer experience for walkers, bikers and motorists alike, and to stimulate economic growth in an increasingly idle downtown. The main infrastructural change
2033-536: Is Manchester–Boston Regional Airport , 23 miles (37 km) to the south. There has been no passenger rail service to Concord since 1981. Historically, the Boston and Maine Railroad served the city. The area that would become Concord was originally settled thousands of years ago by Abenaki Native Americans called the Pennacook . The tribe fished for migrating salmon , sturgeon , and alewives with nets strung across
2140-636: Is an average of 12 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs annually. The window for freezing temperatures on average begins on September 27 and expires on May 14. The monthly daily average temperature range from 20.6 °F (−6.3 °C) in January to 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) in July. Temperature extremes have ranged from −37 °F (−38 °C) in February 1943 to 102 °F (39 °C) in July 1966. See or edit raw graph data . U.S. Decennial Census As of
2247-517: Is bordered by Auburn beyond the river, as well as the towns of Greene , Sabattus , and Lisbon . It is between Portland , the state's largest city and cultural center, and the state capital of Augusta . Downtown Lewiston runs from Oxford Street up to Jefferson Street, and from Adams Avenue to Main Street. This is the city's most densely settled area, home to about half the population. It contains mostly housing, although on Lisbon Street and Main Street, it
SECTION 20
#17328693067872354-584: Is bounded by the triangle formed by Pond Road, Randall Road, and Sabattus Street (Route 126). This neighborhood is mostly mid-income suburban residential. McMahon Elementary, Lewiston Middle School, and Lewiston High School serve the area. Lewiston has a humid continental climate , with very significant temperature variation throughout the year. Summers are usually short, warm, and humid, while winters tend to be very cold, long, and snowy. Lewiston averages 74 inches (190 cm) of snow annually, although this number varies greatly from winter to winter. Snow tends to be
2461-469: Is bracketed and dentillated, and a secondary cornice at the transition between the roof sections is dentillated. The hall was built in 1872 to a design by Charles F. Douglas , a prominent local architect. Douglas designed a number of Lewiston's downtown buildings during a flurry of construction after the American Civil War , but this is the only one to survive relatively intact. It originally housed
2568-688: Is entirely businesses. This neighborhood was once the commercial hub of the whole county, but with the city's economic decline, many downtown stores closed and the former mill housing became run-down, resulting in fallen land values. But like many post-industrial centers, there has followed a period of renovation and revitalization that continues today. This neighborhood includes: Consisting mostly of suburban mid-income housing, this neighborhood runs between Lisbon and Webster Streets, East Avenue, and Alfred Plourde Parkway. Schools that serve this neighborhood are Farwell Elementary, Martel Elementary, Lewiston Middle School, and Lewiston High School. This neighborhood
2675-420: Is known for having an overall low cost of living , substantial access to medical care , and a low violent-crime rate. In recent years, the city of Lewiston has also seen a spike in economic and social growth. While the dominant language spoken in the city is English, it is home to a significant Somali population as well as the largest French-speaking population in the United States (by population) while it
2782-441: Is located on the west side of Lisbon Street, the principal commercial street in downtown Lewiston. It is nominally a 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story masonry structure, with a mansard roof providing space for a full fourth floor. The building facade is symmetrical, with a central one-bay section flanked by identical two-bay sections. The central section has the recessed building entrance on the first floor, and narrow round-arch windows on
2889-489: Is made up of its downtown, including its North End and South End neighborhoods, plus the four distinct villages of Penacook , Concord Heights, East Concord, and West Concord. Concord, as with much of New England, is within the humid continental climate zone ( Köppen Dfb ), with long, cold, snowy winters, warm (and at times humid) summers, and relatively brief autumns and springs. In winter, successive storms deliver moderate to at times heavy snowfall amounts, contributing to
2996-593: Is now called the Business Service Center at Key Bank Plaza, and is home to the local Chamber of Commerce , the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, and an arrangement with a number of business service providers. The area's renaissance has gained local, regional, and national recognition. In 2002 and again in 2006, the L-A area led the state in economic development activity, according to
3103-739: Is second to St. Martin Parish, Louisiana , in percentage of speakers. The Lewiston area traces its roots to 1669 with the early presence of the Androscoggin tribe (the namesake of the county in which the city resides ). In the late 18th century, in 1795, Lewiston was incorporated as Lewistown. The presence of the Androscoggin River and Lewistown Falls made the town an attractive area for manufacturing and hydro-power businesses. The rise of Boston rail and textile tycoon Benjamin Bates saw rapid economic growth rivaling that of Cambridge , Worcester , and Concord . Irish immigrants were recruited to build
3210-622: Is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County . As of the 2020 census the population was 43,976, making it the 3rd most populous city in New Hampshire after Manchester and Nashua . The area was first settled by Europeans in 1659. On January 17, 1725, the Province of Massachusetts Bay granted the Concord area as the Plantation of Penacook, and it
3317-581: Is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Maine, and Lewiston's most prominent landmark. While the Diocese of Portland did not relocate to Lewiston, the church nevertheless became a basilica in 2004. It is one of the few American basilicas outside of a major metropolitan area. In 1937, one of the largest labor disputes in Maine history occurred in Lewiston and Auburn. The Lewiston-Auburn Shoe Strike lasted from March to June and at its peak involved 4,000 to 5,000 workers on strike. After workers attempted to march across
Lyceum Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
3424-587: Is the oldest state house in which the legislature meets in its original chambers. The building was remodeled in 1866, and the third story and west wing were added in 1910. Across from the State House is the Eagle Hotel on Main Street, which has been a downtown landmark since its opening in 1827. U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant , Rutherford Hayes , and Benjamin Harrison all dined there, and Franklin Pierce spent
3531-530: The 2020 United States Census . The city lies halfway between Augusta , the state's capital , and Portland , the state's most populous city. A part of Androscoggin County , it is one-half of the Lewiston–Auburn metropolitan statistical area , commonly referred to as "L/A." or "L-A." Lewiston exerts a significant impact upon the diversity , religious variety, commerce, education, and economic power of Maine. It
3638-584: The Amoskeag Falls downriver, connecting Concord with Boston by way of the Middlesex Canal . In 1808, Concord was named the official seat of state government, and in 1816 architect Stuart Park was commissioned to design a new capitol building for the state legislature on land sold to the state by local Quakers . Construction on the State House was completed in 1819, and it remains the oldest capitol in
3745-546: The Boston and Maine Railroad . The former Concord Station was located at what is now a Burlington department store on Storrs Street. The station itself was built in 1860, but the fourth and most famous iteration of the station was built in 1885, which had a brick head house designed by Bradford L. Gilbert . The head house was demolished in 1959 and replaced by a smaller "McGinnis Era" station. By 1967, all passenger rail services to Concord had been discontinued. For 13 months in 1980 and 1981, MBTA Commuter Rail ran two round trips
3852-763: The New Hampshire Executive Council , Concord is in the 2nd District, represented by Cinde Warmington, the sole Democrat on the council. In the United States House of Representatives , Concord is in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Ann McLane Kuster . New Hampshire Department of Corrections operates the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and New Hampshire State Prison for Women in Concord. Concord leans strongly Democratic in presidential elections;
3959-692: The Soucook River , a tributary of the Merrimack. The Turkey River winds through the southwestern quarter of the city, passing through the campus of St. Paul's School before entering the Merrimack River in Bow. In the northern part of the city, the Contoocook River enters the Merrimack at the village of Penacook. Concord is 16 miles (26 km) north of Manchester , New Hampshire's largest city, and 66 miles (106 km) north of Boston . The city of Concord
4066-615: The South due to lower costs of power from more modern technologies (Lewiston's water wheel technology gave way to hydroelectricity , cheaper transportation—as most cotton and materials came from the South—and cheaper labor). Starting in the late 1950s, many of Lewiston's textile mills began closing. This gradually led to a run-down and abandoned downtown area. Chain stores located downtown— Woolworth's , W. T. Grant , S. S. Kresge , JC Penney and Sears Roebuck —shut their doors or moved to malls on
4173-563: The Vermont border, and 170 miles (270 km) south of the Canadian border at Pittsburg . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 67.2 square miles (174.0 km ). 64.0 square miles (165.7 km ) of it are land and 3.2 square miles (8.4 km ) of it are water, comprising 4.81% of the city. Concord is drained by the Merrimack River . Penacook Lake ,
4280-549: The census of 2020, there were 43,976 people residing in the city. The population density was 687.7 people per square mile (265.5 people/km ). At the 2010 Census there were 42,695 residents and 10,052 families in the city, as well as 18,852 housing units at an average density of 293.2 per square mile (113.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city in 2020 was 84.5% White , 4.9% Black or African American , 1.0% Native American , 4.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.4% from some other race , and 1.8% from two or more races. 4.9% of
4387-450: The legislature meets in its original chambers. Concord is entirely within the Merrimack River watershed and the city is centered on the river. The Merrimack runs from northwest to southeast through the city. The city's eastern boundary is formed by the Soucook River , which separates Concord from the town of Pembroke . The Turkey River passes through the southwestern quarter of the city. The city consists of its downtown , including
Lyceum Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
4494-428: The 1980s that saw high unemployment and downtown stagnation, several key events have led to economic and cultural growth, including the transformation of the historic Bates Mill Complex . Because the city took over the complex in 1992 after back taxes went unpaid, years of taxpayer frustration in the city's need to maintain the 1.1-million-square-foot (100,000 m ) behemoth led to two referendums (one non-binding vote,
4601-420: The 2020 census , there were 37,121 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city including Hispanics in the racial categories was 77.9% White, 13.9% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% Native American, and 1.0% some other race. 5.5% were of two or more races. As of the 2010 census , there were 36,592 people, 15,267 households, and 8,622 families residing in the city. The population density
4708-760: The Androscoggin River from Lewiston to Auburn, Governor Lewis Barrows sent in the Maine Army National Guard . Some labor leaders, among them CIO Secretary Powers Hapgood , were imprisoned for months after a Maine Supreme Judicial Court judge issued an injunction seeking to end the strike. After World War I, profits from the textile industry in New England mill towns such as Lewiston; Biddeford ; Manchester, New Hampshire ; Waterbury, Connecticut ; and Fall River , Haverhill , Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts began to decline. Businesses began moving to
4815-599: The Androscoggin had been completely driven out of Maine. The governor of New France , Louis de Buade , allocated them two seigneuries on the Saint Francis River . A grant comprising the area of Lewiston was given to Moses Little and Jonathan Bagley, members of the Pejepscot Proprietors , on January 28, 1768, on the condition that fifty families live in the area before June 1, 1774. Bagley and Little named
4922-481: The Concord city charter , the mayor chairs the council, however has very few formal powers over the day-to-day management of the city. The actual operations of the city are overseen by the city manager , currently Thomas J. Aspell Jr. The current police chief is Bradley S. Osgood. In the New Hampshire Senate , Concord is in the 15th District, represented by Democrat Becky Whitley since December 2020. On
5029-481: The Concord Transportation Center at 30 Stickney Avenue next to Exit 14 on Interstate 93, with service south to Boston and points in between, as well as north to Littleton and northeast to Berlin . General aviation services are available through Concord Municipal Airport , located 2 miles (3 km) east of downtown. There is no commercial air service within the city limits; the nearest such airport
5136-476: The Concord area during campaign season. The city also developed an identity within the emerging space industry , with the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center opening in 1990 to commemorate Alan Shepard , the first American in space from nearby Derry , and Christa McAuliffe , a teacher at Concord High School who died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster . Today, Concord remains
5243-778: The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development's list of business investments and expansions. In a 2006 KPMG International study measuring the cost of locating and maintaining a business, Lewiston ranked first among the New England communities analyzed, and finished 24th out of 49 U.S. communities analyzed. Lewiston earned a 2007 All-America City Award designation by the National Civic League . The national competition "recognizes communities whose residents work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve measurable, uncommon results." 10 cities are selected as All-America Cities each year. In 1999,
5350-630: The North End and South End neighborhoods, along with the four villages of Penacook , Concord Heights, East Concord, and West Concord. Penacook sits along the Contoocook River , just before it flows into the Merrimack. As of 2020, the top employer in the city was the State of New Hampshire, and the largest private employer was Concord Hospital . Concord is home to the University of New Hampshire School of Law , New Hampshire's only law school ; St. Paul's School ,
5457-556: The Somali community. The rally repudiating the white nationalists attracted 4,000 attendees, including governor John Baldacci , Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and other officials. Mayor Raymond was reportedly out of town on vacation on the day of the protests. In August 2010, the Lewiston Sun Journal reported that Somali entrepreneurs had helped reinvigorate downtown Lewiston by opening shops in previously closed storefronts. Amicable relations were also reported by
SECTION 50
#17328693067875564-490: The United States government began preparations to resettle an estimated 12,000 refugees from Somalia to select cities throughout the United States. Most of the early arrivals in the United States settled in Clarkston , Georgia , a city adjacent to Atlanta . However, they were mostly assigned to low-rent, poverty-stricken inner-city areas, so many began to look to resettle elsewhere in the U.S. Word soon spread that Lewiston had
5671-500: The United States. The State Hospital continued to expand throughout the following decades, and in 1891 Concord Hospital opened its doors as Margaret Pillsbury General Hospital, the first general hospital in the state of New Hampshire. Concord's economy changed once again in the 20th century with the declining railroad and textile industry. The city developed into a center for national politics due to New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, and many presidential candidates still visit
5778-399: The age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. Of all households, 34.4% were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size
5885-414: The city economy in the mid-19th century. In subsequent years, Concord would also become a hub for the railroad industry, with Penacook a textile manufacturing center using water power from the Contoocook River . The city also around this time started to become a center for the emerging healthcare industry, with New Hampshire State Hospital opening in 1842 as one of the first psychiatric hospitals in
5992-523: The city from east to west. State routes 13 and 132 also serve the city: Route 13 leads southwest out of Concord towards Goffstown and Milford , while Route 132 travels north parallel to Interstate 93. New Hampshire Route 106 passes through the easternmost part of Concord, crossing I-393 and NH 9 before crossing the Soucook River south into the town of Pembroke . To the north, NH 106 leads to Loudon , Belmont and Laconia . Historically, Concord served as an important railroad terminal and station for
6099-576: The city limits. Interstate 89 links Concord with Lebanon and the state of Vermont to the northwest, while Interstate 93 connects the city to Plymouth , Littleton , and the White Mountains to the north and Manchester and Boston to the south. Interstate 393 is a spur highway leading east from Concord and merging with U.S. Route 4 as a direct route to New Hampshire's Seacoast region . North-south U.S. Route 3 serves as Concord's Main Street, while U.S. Route 202 and New Hampshire Route 9 cross
6206-440: The city was $ 20,014. About 16% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over. Survey Year 2000 Source: U.S. Route 202 and Maine State Routes 11 and 100 are co-signed along Main Street. According to Lewiston's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: The Franco Center opened in 2000 in what
6313-591: The city. In 1855, the Maine State Legislature was petitioned by Lewiston locals to found the Maine State Seminary . The school opened in 1855, and educated the working class of Maine while also providing education for blacks and women at a time when other universities barred their entrance. At its founding, it became the first coeducational college in New England and one of the earliest proponents of abolitionism . During this time, in 1863, Lewiston
6420-749: The college was chartered as Bates College . The city is home to the only basilica in Maine, Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul ; 5 colleges and universities; 44 listings on the National Register of Historic Places ; the Androscoggin Bank Colisée ; the Stephens Observatory ; the Olin Arts Center ; the Bates College Museum of Art (BCMoA); and two significant general hospitals: Central Maine Medical Center and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center . Prior to European colonization ,
6527-405: The council-manager system. The city council consists of a mayor and 14 councilors, ten of which are elected to two-year terms representing each of the city wards, while the other four are elected at-large to four-year terms. The mayor is elected directly every two years. The current mayor as of 2024 is Byron Champlin, who was elected on November 7, 2023, with more than 75% of the vote. According to
SECTION 60
#17328693067876634-474: The dominant form of precipitation between late November and late March, although freezing rain , sleet , and rain can also occur in the winter when large low pressure systems track directly over or west of the city. Summer in Lewiston typically consists of pleasant temperatures, although high humidity can make the temperature feel more uncomfortable at times. Severe summertime storms, such as tornadoes and tropical cyclones are rare, but not unheard of. As of
6741-432: The downtown. Many power lines were buried, and street trees , colorful benches, art installations, and other green spaces were added, all allowing people to reclaim a space long dominated by cars. Main Street underwent serious traffic calming , including a road diet , increased diagonal parking, widening sidewalks, adding shared lane markings, adding trees, texturing medians and coloring crosswalks red. Another aspect of
6848-420: The estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $ 52,695, and the median income for a family was $ 73,457. Male full-time workers had a median income of $ 49,228 versus $ 38,782 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 29,296. About 5.5% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over. In 2020,
6955-647: The fall of 2002, brings independent films and filmmakers to Concord and has provided an outlet for local filmmakers to display their films. SNOB Film Festival was a catalyst for the building in 2007 of Red River Theatres, a locally owned, nonprofit, independent cinema named after the 1948 film featuring John Wayne. Other sites of interest include the Capitol Center for the Arts , the New Hampshire Historical Society , which has two facilities in Concord, and
7062-579: The first canal in the city. In the spring of 1850, some 400 Irish men recruited in and around Boston by construction contractor Patrick O'Donnell arrived in Lewiston and began work on the canal system. Impressed with the labor force and "working spirit" of the Lewistonions, Bates founded the Bates Manufacturing Company , leading to the construction of 5 mills starting with Bates Mill No. 1 . In August 1850, Maine Governor John Hubbard signed
7169-614: The high demand for textiles helped Lewiston develop a strong industrial base through the Bates Enterprise. However, the concentration of wealth in Benjamin Bates sparked the 1861 Lewiston cotton riots which prompted him to give thousands of dollars back to the city and expand the employment opportunities at his mills. In 1861, a flood of French-Canadian immigration into Maine began, spawned by industrial work opportunities in Maine cities with water power from waterfalls. This brought
7276-632: The incorporation act and the mill was completed 1852. Bates positioned the mill in Lewiston due to the location of the Lewiston Falls which provided the mill with power. Under Bates' supervision, during the Civil War, the mill produced textiles for the Union Army . His mills generated employment for thousands of Irish, Canadians, and immigrants from Europe. The mill was Maine's largest employer for three decades. This company began Lewiston's transformation from
7383-414: The largest all-concrete skate park in Maine. Downtown is home to a new headquarters for Oxford Networks, along with a $ 20-million upgrade in local fiber-optics, a new auto parts store, a campus of the for-profit Kaplan University , the headquarters for Northeast Bank , a parking garage, and the newly renovated Maine Supply Co. building , listed on the National Register of Historic Places . That facility
7490-477: The largest employer in Lewiston from the 1850s to the mid-late 20th century. Railroad construction was key to the development of both Lewiston and its neighbor, Auburn. In 1849, the Androscoggin & Kennebec railroad, running through Lewiston and Auburn, connected these towns to Waterville and the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railway line between Portland, Maine, and Montreal, Quebec. The Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad
7597-406: The largest lake in the city and its main source of water, is in the west. The highest point in Concord is 860 feet (260 m) above sea level on Oak Hill, just west of the hill's 970-foot (300 m) summit in neighboring Loudon . Concord lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed and is centered on the river, which runs from northwest to southeast through the city. Downtown is located on
7704-513: The last Republican nominee to carry the city was then Vice President George H. W. Bush in 1988. Voter turnout was 72.7% in the 2020 general election, down from 76.2% in 2016, but still above the 2020 national turnout of 66.7%. Newspapers and journals Radio The city is otherwise served by Manchester area stations . New Hampshire Public Radio is headquartered in Concord. Television The New Hampshire State House , designed by architect Stuart Park and constructed between 1815 and 1818,
7811-567: The local Franco-American merchants and the Somali storekeepers. Somali farmers have had a positive impact on Lewiston agriculture life. Farming was known to be "low caste" to Somalis, before they were forced to labor during slavery. Since migrating to Maine farming has become a part of life to some Somalis. Somali-American players contributed to the Lewiston High School boys soccer team's state championship wins in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2023 under coach Mike McGraw. On October 25, 2023,
7918-404: The mayor, drawing national attention. Demonstrations were held in Lewiston, both by those who supported the immigrants' presence and those who opposed it. In January 2003, about 32 members of a white nationalist group from Illinois demonstrated in Lewiston to denounce Somali immigrants. This prompted a simultaneous counter-demonstration on the campus of Bates College to demonstrate support of
8025-613: The mill building. The Bates Mill complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2010. In May 2004, the city officials announced a plan for urban renewal near the downtown area. The plan was to demolish several blocks of 19th-century millworker housing, lay new streets with updated infrastructure, construct more owner-occupied, lower-density housing, and build a boulevard through one neighborhood using federal Community Development Block Grant funds provided over
8132-409: The most expensive offenders, the budget ended up at $ 14.2 million, with the project actually coming in $ 1.1 million below that. Although adding final aesthetic touches with the extra money were debated, the city council ended up deciding to save for financially straining years ahead. The design was carried out by McFarland Johnson, IBI Group, and City of Concord Engineering. Concord is governed via
8239-444: The most represented ethnic group in Lewiston, with 29.4% being of French-Canadian descent and 18.3% French (the two were listed as separate categories in the census although the vast majority were of French-Canadian descent). Following French were Irish at 10.2% and English at 9.9%. 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
8346-538: The nation in which the state's legislative branches meet in their original chambers. Concord was also named the seat of Merrimack County in 1823, and the Merrimack County Courthouse was constructed in 1857 in the North End at the site of the Old Town House. In the early 19th century, much of the city's economy was dominated by furniture -making, printing, and granite quarrying ; granite had become
8453-505: The new construction was adding heated sidewalk capabilities, utilizing excess steam from the local Concord Steam plant, and minimizing sand and snow blowing needed during the winter months. Funding for Complete Streets came from a combination of $ 4,710,000 from a USDOT TIGER grant and the rest from the City of Concord. The project was initially proposed as costing $ 7,850,000, but ran over budget due to overambitious ideas. After scrapping some of
8560-404: The new town Lewistown. Paul Hildreth was the first man to settle in Lewiston in the fall of 1770. By 1795, Lewiston was officially incorporated as a town. At least four houses that have survived from this period are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places . King Avenue and Ralph Avenue were named after Ralph Luthor King, who owned the land near the fairgrounds. Elliott Avenue
8667-453: The night before departing for his inauguration. Other well-known guests included Jefferson Davis , Charles Lindbergh , Eleanor Roosevelt , Richard M. Nixon (who carried New Hampshire in all three of his presidential bids), and Thomas E. Dewey . The hotel closed in 1961. South from the Eagle Hotel on Main Street is Phenix Hall, which replaced "Old" Phenix Hall, which burned in 1893. Both
8774-620: The north end of Main Street is the Pierce Manse , in which President Franklin Pierce lived in Concord before and following his presidency. The mid-1830s Greek Revival house was moved from Montgomery Street to North Main Street in 1971 to prevent its demolition. Beaver Meadow Golf Course, located in the northern part of Concord, is one of the oldest golf courses in New England. Besides this golf course, other important sporting venues in Concord include Everett Arena and Memorial Field. The SNOB (Somewhat North Of Boston) Film Festival, started in
8881-642: The old and new buildings featured multi-purpose auditoriums used for political speeches, theater productions, and fairs. Abraham Lincoln spoke at the old hall in 1860; Theodore Roosevelt , at the new hall in 1912. North on Main Street is the Walker-Woodman House, also known as the Reverend Timothy Walker House, the oldest standing two-story house in Concord. It was built for the Reverend Timothy Walker between 1733 and 1735. On
8988-474: The other binding). Voters soundly supported the need to pursue redevelopment by maintaining the property and selling it to private developers. In 2001, the city sold three mill buildings to local developers. In 2003, Platz Associates sold the Bates Mill Complex, with the exception of Mill 5 and a small support building. For the next four years, a number of business enterprises expanded after Platz redeveloped
9095-399: The outskirts of Lewiston or Auburn. The city's flagship department store, the four-story B. Peck & Co., closed in 1982 after more than a century in business. As businesses and jobs began to leave the city, people followed. The population stopped increasing at its previous rate and began to slowly decline after 1970, then at a greater rate in the 1990s. After a difficult economic period in
9202-470: The populace rose from 1,801 in 1840 to 21,701 in 1890. In 1855, local preacher Oren Burbank Cheney founded the Maine State Seminary , the first coeducational university in New England and one of the first universities to admit black students before the Emancipation Proclamation . Lewistown quickly became associated with the liberal arts and was incorporated as "Lewiston" in 1864, a year before
9309-460: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010 there were 17,592 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were headed by married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9416-471: The railroad links and dig the canals for the textile mills. The Irish stayed, and worked the mills and established flourishing businesses, as evidenced by the McGillicuddy, Callahan, and other Blocks and the St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's churches. In the 1850 U.S. Census , Lewiston was 23% Irish born. The increase in economic stimulus prompted thousands of Quebecers to migrate, causing a population boom ;
9523-544: The rapids of the Merrimack River . The stream was also the transportation route for their birch bark canoes, which could travel from Lake Winnipesaukee to the Atlantic Ocean. The broad sweep of the Merrimack River valley floodplain provided good soil for farming beans , gourds , pumpkins , melons and maize . The area was first settled by Europeans in 1659 as Penacook, after the Abenaki word "pannukog" meaning "bend in
9630-435: The region of Lewiston was inhabited by the Androscoggin , an Abenaki people. During the 17th century, Androscoggin were among the first Native American tribes to make contact with European colonists in Maine. Relations soon deteriorated over colonial expansion, and conflicts with colonists and epidemics of infectious diseases devastated the Androscoggin, which responded by migrating to New France from 1669 onwards. By 1680,
9737-407: The relatively reliable snow cover. In addition, lows reach below 0 °F (−18 °C) on an average 15 nights per year, and the city straddles the border between USDA Hardiness Zone 5b and 6a. However, thaws are frequent, with one to three days per month with 50 °F (10 °C)+ highs from December to February. Summer can bring stretches of humid conditions as well as thunderstorms, and there
9844-612: The river," referencing the steep bends of the Merrimack River through the area. On January 17, 1725, the Province of Massachusetts Bay , which then claimed territories west of the Merrimack, granted the Concord area as the Plantation of Penacook. It was settled between 1725 and 1727 by Captain Ebenezer Eastman and others from Haverhill, Massachusetts . On February 9, 1734, the town was incorporated as "Rumford", from which Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford , would take his title. It
9951-401: The second and third floors, set in a recessed brick panel. The remaining ground-floor bays all have commercial glass storefront windows, articulated by stone or brick piers. The outer bays on the second floor have segmented-arch windows, while those on the third floor are round-arched. The fourth floor dormers have segmented-arch windows. The main cornice (below the steep mansard roof section)
10058-472: The site of Pennacook Falls. Concord grew in prominence throughout the 18th century, and some of the earliest houses from this period survive at the northern end of Main Street . In the years following the Revolution , Concord's central geographical location made it a logical choice for the state capital, particularly after Samuel Blodget in 1807 opened a canal and lock system to allow vessels passage around
10165-498: The top employer in the city remained the State of New Hampshire, with over 6,000 employed workers, while the largest private employer was Concord Hospital, with just under 3,000 employees. According to the City of Concord's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top 10 employers in the city for the Fiscal Year 2020 were: Interstate 89 and Interstate 93 are the two main interstate highways serving Concord, and join just south of
10272-468: The towns of Lewiston, Minot , and Danville. The sales of stock attracted Boston investors—including Thomas J. Hill, Lyman Nichols, George L. Ward and Alexander De Witt . De Witt convinced textile and rail tycoon Benjamin Bates , then-President of the Union Pacific Railroad , to come to Lewiston and fund the emerging Lewiston Water Power Company. Soon after Bates arrived, the company created
10379-423: Was 1,047.0 inhabitants per square mile (404.2/km ). There were 16,470 housing units at an average density of 483.2 per square mile (186.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.4% from some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. People of French-American descent were by far
10486-442: Was 1,071.5 inhabitants per square mile (413.7/km ). There were 16,731 housing units at an average density of 489.9 per square mile (189.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 86.6% White , 8.7% Black, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian , 2.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.6% from some other race , and 2.6% from two or more races. In 2010, there were 15,267 households, of which 27.5% had children under
10593-411: Was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males. For the period 2009–2011,
10700-431: Was 2.90. The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female. As of the 2000 census, there were 35,690 people, 15,290 households, and 8,658 families residing in the city. The population density
10807-455: Was constructed by Irish laborers, many of whom joined the Lewiston canal construction crews in 1850. The Irish laborers and their families lived in shanty-town neighborhoods called "patches". By 1854, one quarter of Lewiston's population was Irish, the highest concentration in any settlement in Maine. Subsequently, trains connected Quebec with Lewiston on a daily schedule. During the Civil War ,
10914-439: Was formerly St. Mary's Parish. The performing arts center programs events for both Franco-American related performances as well as other cultural displays, such as the center's Piano and Celtic Series. The diverse programming of the venue hosts both local and international performers. The center also hosts events and serves as a museum of the city's Franco-American past with historical artifacts and documentation on display as well as
11021-500: Was incorporated as a city. In 1872, St. Peter's church was built in Lewiston. This was the first French-Canadian national church in Maine. In 1864, the Maine State Seminary was renamed Bates College in honor of Benjamin Bates . In 1880, Le Messager , a French-language newspaper, began printing in Lewiston to serve its predominant ethnic population. The local Kora Shrine was organized in 1891 and held its first meetings in
11128-473: Was incorporated on February 9, 1734, as the Town of Rumford. Governor Benning Wentworth gave the city its current name in 1765 following a boundary dispute with the neighboring town of Bow ; the name was meant to signify the new harmony between the two towns. In 1808, Concord was named the official seat of state government, and the State House was completed in 1819; it remains the oldest U.S. state capitol wherein
11235-411: Was named after his wife, Grace O. Elliott, whose son eventually built the family home at 40 Wellman Street. Lewiston was a slow but steadily growing farm town throughout its early history. By the early-to-mid-19th century, however, as water power was being honed, Lewiston's location on the Androscoggin River would prove to make it a perfect location for emerging industry. In 1809, Michael Little built
11342-469: Was reducing the four-lane street (two in each direction) to two lanes plus a turning lane in the center. The freed-up space would contribute to extra width for bikes to ride in either direction, increased curb size and an added median where there is no need for a turning lane. Concord opted to add shared lane markings for bikes, rather than a dedicated protected bike lane . By adding curb space, this project created new opportunities for pedestrians to enjoy
11449-473: Was renamed "Concord" in 1765 by Governor Benning Wentworth following a bitter boundary dispute between Rumford and the town of Bow ; the city name was meant to reflect the new concord, or harmony, between the disputant towns. Citizens displaced by the resulting border adjustment were given land elsewhere as compensation. In 1779, New Pennacook Plantation was granted to Timothy Walker Jr. and his associates at what would be incorporated in 1800 as Rumford, Maine ,
#786213