Lewiston–Auburn (L–A) are
twin cities in
Androscoggin County, Maine
Androscoggin County (French: ''Comté d'Androscoggin'') is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 111,139. Its county seat is Auburn and its largest city is Lewiston.
Androscoggin County com ...
, USA. Together, they have a population of 61,182 in a combined . The cities are commonly called "Cities of the Androscoggin," as they are seated along the banks of the
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River (Abenaki: ''Aləssíkαntekʷ'') is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Ma ...
which separates them. They share infrastructure and transportation, such as the
Lewiston-Auburn CityLink
The Lewiston-Auburn citylink is the primary provider of mass transportation in Androscoggin County, Maine
Androscoggin County ( French: ''Comté d'Androscoggin'') is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the county's popul ...
, the
Lewiston and Auburn Railroad Company and the
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Auburn-Lewiston Airport is a public airport in Androscoggin County, Maine, opened in 1935. It is five miles southwest of the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, both of which own and operate the airport, though it is in the Auburn city limits.
Th ...
. They also form the
Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Androscoggin County. The Lewiston–Auburn Economic Growth Council has been promoting the cities as one community for decades in its campaign to promote growth in industry and business.
French-Canadian heritage
The twin cities have a long history of
French-Canadian immigration, and still retain a very large percentage of citizens who identify as so. In the 2000 census, 19.4% of those five and older in the cities combined (more so on the Lewiston side of the river) said that they spoke French.
Auburn
Auburn was incorporated in 1842, and has a population of 24,061.
Lewiston
Lewiston was incorporated in 1863, and has a population of 37,121.
Merging cities
For years, the idea of consolidating the cities into one has floated around. Proponents have cited budget savings and the already existing sense of community and unity that exists. In May 2013, city councilors from both cities discussed the possibility of merging through a new voter-approved charter. With most in support, they agreed to discuss further in detail at a later point.
In 2017, a vote on merging the two cities appeared on city ballots. The measure was rejected by a wide margin.
References
Lewiston, Maine
Auburn, Maine
Cities in Androscoggin County, Maine
Cities in Maine
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