City of Auburn, Maine

Auburn is one of Maine’s Twin Cities, but it has plenty to offer in its own right. The history of the city is one common to many throughout Maine – a settlement along the river that thrived as mills and factories attracted immigrant populations to the area. Even as the industries that led to Auburn’s growth have declined and left the city, it remains one of Maine’s bigger cities. With a population of around 23,000, Auburn is bigger than the state capital of Augusta.

Whether you work in Auburn or live there and commute to Augusta, Portland, or just across the river to Lewiston, you never have to look far to find an easy route. Interstate 95, as well as Routes 202 and 4 provide easy access to larger cities. You’re also not far from the lakes or mountains.

Exploring Auburn Maine

As a city that acts as a service center as well as a cultural, educational and recreational center, Auburn is a thriving community with much to offer residents, commuters, and tourists alike.

Shopping & Dining

Dining and shopping in Auburn tends toward national chain options, or local Maine/New England chains like Pat’s Pizza and D’Angelos. For more local dining, Mac’s Grill, Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub, and Gipper’s Sports Grill are all options. National chains include Panera, Longhorn Steakhouse, and a variety of fast food choices.

The Auburn Mall is an indoor shopping space anchored by JC Penney and home to many other stores offering clothing, homegoods, books, and more. Walmart, Kohl’s, and TJ Maxx are all outside of the mall but within the city limits. For a thrifty treasure hunting experience, head to the Auburn Novelty shop on Turner Street or Orphan Annie’s on Court Street – just set aside plenty of time to explore.

For grocery shopping and other necessities, there’s a Shaw’s, Hannaford, and a Walgreens in the city.

Auburn is also home to numerous companies that draw people to the city for employment opportunities. Businesses in the city that provide services or manufacture products include Great Falls Marketing, Tambrands (owned by Procter & Gamble), Auburn Concrete, Hammond Lumber, and International Paper.

The Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is active, offering assistance to local businesses and helping draw new ones to the area.

Cultural Attractions

Though it’s a city on the smaller side by national standards, Auburn has plenty to offer in the way of cultural attractions. The Community Little Theatre has been putting on plays since 1940 and has a bright future ahead of it – in the 2000s they signed a 99-year lease for the Great Falls Performing Arts Center.

People interested in learning more about their family’s history, or the history of Auburn and Androscoggin County as a whole can visit the local historical society. Housed in the County Building in Auburn, the Androscoggin Historical Society puts on events and historical demonstrations throughout the year and also offers tours of the historic 1796 Knight House.

The Knight House is not the only historic building in Auburn, however. The Main Street Historic District offers many buildings of historic and architectural interest. It’s still a largely residential neighborhood and people driving or walking through the area will notice elaborate structures like the Horatio Foss House or the A.A. Garcelon House.

Recreation

Indoors and out, Auburn has a way for you to stay active. The Auburn Riverwalk has a 1.6 mile trail that snakes along the Androscoggin River, offering a place for biking and running, or tranquil walks with stops to take in the views. Take in a hockey game at the Norway Savings Bank Arena, or hit the slopes in the winter at Lost Valley. Mount Apatite Park is open year-round and has more than 300 acres to explore. Golfers have several courses to choose from in Auburn, including Martindale Country Club.

Throughout the year Auburn plays host to special events. The Winter Festival brings the community together and encourages people to get outside during the colder months. Art in the Park is a day for people to appreciate artwork and meet artists while enjoying live music on a summer day in Maine. The annual Great Falls Balloon Festival is put on by Auburn and Lewiston and balloons rise on either side of the Androscoggin over the course of a summer weekend. The sights are impressive – whether it’s seeing the balloons lined up on the ground, waiting to fly, or the balloons actually in the air floating above Maine’s Twin Cities and the Androscoggin River. In addition to the impressive balloon launches, a carnival and family fun day are part of the festivities.

Schools

Auburn is home to seven public elementary schools, one public middle school, and Edward Little, the local public high school. St. Dominic’s is the local Catholic high school, drawing students from outside of Auburn who want a private education. Franklin Alternative School is also located in the city.

Central Maine Community College draws students from the region for higher education. The school offers in-person and online courses, as well as opportunities for high school students to earn college credits. They proudly advertise that they offer some of the lowest tuition rates in New England.

Healthcare

While Auburn does not have a hospital within its city limits, both St. Mary’s and Central Maine Medical Center are nearby, just across the river in Lewiston. Auburn does have a St. Mary’s campus that offers some medical care. The Auburn campus includes radiology and lab services, cardiac and physical rehab, as well as an internal adult medicine practice.

Auburn residents have many local options for primary care, as well as dentists, optometrists, and other medical specialties. Family Health Associates, Auburn Family Dental, and Riverside Eye Center are just some of the many medical practices in the city.

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