Town of Oakland, Maine
Source: Central Maine Growth Council Website
Welcome To Downtown Oakland
Located in the Belgrade Lakes region, Oakland is a mid-sized town of just over 6,000 people. In the summer, kids from all over flock to the camps that sit on the lakeshores in Oakland.
Residents of Oakland can enjoy life in a quieter, lakeside setting without losing the benefits of larger cities. Easy access to I-95 means easy access to city amenities; the town is just a few minutes from the city of Waterville and less than 20 miles from the state capital of Augusta.
The town bills itself as having “lots of countryside,” making it the perfect spot for people who want a little bit of space and some solitude, but still enjoy being able to hop on the highway and find a more active and populated scene.
History & Development of Oakland
The area that now makes up Oakland was settled around 1780, though Oakland didn’t officially become a town until 1833. The area was identified as good farmland and the Messalonskee Stream that flows through the town made it an ideal location for mills. By the late 19th century, mills and factories dotted the town and provided jobs for residents. At one time Oakland was even known as “The Tool Handle Capital of the World” because of its prominent role in that sector of manufacturing. As the southern terminus of the Somerset Railroad which ran all the way up to Moosehead Lake, Oakland’s manufacturers had easy access to move goods further north.
Today, the businesses in the area look different – Oakland is home to FirstPark, a business park designed for 21st century business technology needs. However, the town is still dotted with local businesses and reminders of Oakland’s past.
Exploring Oakland Maine
Businesses & Services
Along the busier stretches of road through Oakland you’ll find a mix of chain stores and local businesses, as well as a concentration of houses of worship. Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches are all concentrated on or near the aptly-named Church Road. Memorial Hall, built by Civil War Veterans and on the National Register of Historic Places, is also located on Church Road. The building is notable as a rare smaller town example of Italian-Gothic architecture.
Church Road is also home to a second building on the National Register of Historic Places – the Oakland Public Library. A Carnegie Library, it was completed in 1915 but was expanded in 2003 to serve the growing needs of the community.
As you drive, Church Road becomes Main Street and the buildings along the side of the road are home to a mix of locally-owned businesses and chain stores. Candy Hollow, Blake Family Hardware, and Buddies Groceries sit alongside a Subway, a Walgreens, and a Big Apple. The Oakland House of Pizza and Early Bird Restaurant are casual but reliable favorites for a good, affordable meal.
Just across the intersection from Main Street, you’ll find the town office, police department, and fire department.
Other businesses in Oakland, both downtown and further afield, include a barber shop, car dealerships and auto repair shops, a winery, and an upholstery shop.
Healthcare
With close proximity to Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville and MaineGeneral’s locations in Waterville and Augusta, residents of Oakland have easy access to healthcare. In Oakland itself, Oakland Family Medicine and Twin Pines Family Medicine are options for primary care. The FirstPark Campus is also home to several medical practices, including orthopedics practices, eye doctors, and wound care.
The Lakes Region
With its location in the Belgrade Lakes, Oakland affords residents and visitors plentiful opportunities to enjoy recreation and relaxation on the water. The town has two public beaches, each on a different body of water, and three lakes draw kayakers, canoeists, boaters, swimmers, and fishermen. In the winter, ice shacks dot the lakes as ice fishermen enjoy the season.
Seasonal residences and year-round homes alike have lake frontage. Peaceful in the winter and lively in the summer, the lakes draw residents and visitors and help define Oakland as a town.
Recreation
Source: Maine’s Fenway Facebook Page
Maine’s Fenway
Oakland is home to the beautiful Harold Alfond Little Fenway Park. Complete with a replica Green Monster, Little Fenway gives kids the opportunity to play in a unique and exciting spot. The park hosts summer camps for a variety of sports as well as baseball and softball tournaments, and it can even be rented out for events.
Hiking trails are easy to find in Oakland. To encourage outdoor recreation, the town has even created a “100-mile hike club.” When residents complete 100 miles of hiking along the Messalonskee Stream Trail they earn a t-shirt noting their membership in this “club.”
The town is also home to Pleasant Point Park, 75 acres of protected land that has a softball field and trails in addition to its waterfront access. Oakland Waterfront Park has a beautiful gazebo where concerts are held, as well as a playground for the kids to enjoy.
Oakland has an active town recreation department that hosts events like “Get Out and Play Night” for kids and also runs youth sports leagues.
Schools
There are four public schools in Oakland – Messalonskee Middle School, Messalonskee High School, Atwood Elementary School, and Williams Elementary School. Oakland schools are part of RSU 18 and students from the nearby towns of Belgrade, China, Rome, and Sidney attend Messalonskee middle and high schools along with Oakland students. The district has a strong reputation for educational excellence.
