Lewiston (pop. 37,121) is the second largest city in Maine. Only Portland has more people. Lewiston lies on the east bank of the Androscoggin River, across from Auburn. These two cities form a metropolitan area that has 111,139 people.
Lewiston has light manufacturing industries, and it is a regional center for education and health care. The city has two large hospital complexes. It is the home of Bates College, Maine College of Health Professions, and Lewiston-Auburn College of the University of Southern Maine.
A canal fed by the Androscoggin River runs through downtown Lewiston. Several large brick buildings stand along the canal. They served as textile mills from the mid-1800’s to the mid-1900’s but have been redeveloped into offices for a variety of businesses and organizations.
Lewiston was first settled in 1770. A number of Irish people moved there in the 1840’s and 1850’s to help dig canals and build the textile mills. Lewiston became a city in 1861. Many French Canadians settled there after the American Civil War ended in 1865 to work in the mills. Lewiston has a council-manager government.
