Androscoggin County was formed by act of Legislature passed March 18, 1854, from the counties of Cumberland, Lincoln, Kennebec, and Oxford. As early as 1606 King James granted by charter the territory between 84 and 44 north latitude to parties for the purpose of colonization. In 1620 James I. divided the tract embraced in the grand charter of 1606, and granted to the Plymouth Company in England the portion lying between the 40th and 48th degrees of north latitude. Sir Ferdinando Gorges was interested in both of these grants, and in 1622 he and Capt. John Mason obtained of the Plymouth Company a grant of the country lying between the Merrimac and Kennebec Rivers. These partners divided their possessions in the territory granted, Gorges taking that part lying east of Piscataqua River. Other parties received grants from the Plymouth Company and the King, which, owing to the imperfect geographical knowledge of the country granted, overlapped each other, and gave rise to many harassing disputes and conflicts as to title and jurisdiction. Upon the division by the Plymouth Company of their patent among their different proprietors, the portion lying between the Piscataqua and Kennebec Rivers was awarded to Gorges in 1635, and confirmed to him by King Charles I. in 1639. Gorges died in 1647, and his heirs maintained their claim to this grant till Massachusetts extinguished it by purchase in 1677. The territory within the limits of Androscoggin County was first nominally embraced within the judicial bounds of York County till June 19, 1760, when Cumberland and Lincoln Counties were formed, the boundary between which was the Androscoggin River north of where it enters the county as now bounded on the south. February 20, 1799, Kennebec County was formed from the northern part of Lincoln, with a boundary including Greene, Wales, Leeds, and East Livermore within its limits. March 4, 1805, Oxford County was established from northern parts of Cumberland and York, with a boundary to include Turner and Livermore. The southwestern portion remained with Cumberland till Androscoggin County was formed, as before stated, in 1854, taking as follows: Auburn, Danville, now the southern portion of Auburn, Durham, Poland, and Minot from Cumberland; Livermore and Turner from Oxford; East Livermore, Greene, Leeds, and Wales from Kennebec, and Lewiston, Webster, and Lisbon from Lincoln Counties. In area Androscoggin is the smallest county in the State except Sagadahoc, containing eleven towns and two cities. The location of a shire town at incorporation was left to vote of the inhabitants, but restricted to be within the corporate limits of Lewiston Falls Village, which embraced adjoining portions of the three towns of Lewiston, Auburn, and Danville. Auburn was selected, and a fine set of county buildings of brick with granite basement was erected in 1856 and 7 at a cost of $100,000. The population of the towns comprising the county was in 1830, 19,851; 1840, 22,532; 1850, 25,748; 1860, 29,743; 1870, 35,870. The valuation of estates in 1850 was $4,152,502; 1860, $8,230,892; 1870, $17,592,555. These figures show a prosperous growth in both wealth and population.

Before the white man came to this part of Maine the Anasagunticook or Androscoggin Indians peopled the valley of the river that takes their name, cultivating its rich intervals, fishing in its sparkling waters, and hunting in the dense forests that spread away on either bank. From one of its chiefs, Worumbee, the Indian title to a large part of the land in the county was obtained, as a reference to town histories will inform the reader.

The general surface of the county is moderately uneven. While it boasts no mountain ranges, numerous elevations of sufficient height, are found to command many charming views of rural scenery. The Androscoggin River traverses the county from north to south nearly through its centre, and that, with its tributaries and the numerous ponds with which they are connected, water it amply and furnish good and abundant powers for manufacturing purposes. By a reference to the town histories the extent and kind of manufactures may be gathered. The soil in the main is fertile, repaying well the intelligent farmer for the labor and capital invested in its culture. The value of its agricultural productions, as given by last census, may be found in the statistical table placed in this work, to which the attention of the reader is invited. In the early settlement of the county lumbering was the leading pursuit, followed as the forests disappeared by agriculture; but of late years manufacturing under the fostering care of State enactment and the improvement of water powers has largely attracted capital, and its productions are now counted by millions, exceeding in value those of any other industry in the county. The shipping facilities are wholly by rail. The Maine Central, with its Divisions, passes through the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, and the towns of Lisbon, Webster, Wales, Greene, Leeds, and East Livermore; the Grand Trunk accommodates the southwestern part of Auburn, and traverses Poland and Minot; and the Portland and Oxford Central, connecting with the Grand Trunk at Mechanic Falls ,passes through the western part of Minot; while the Lewiston and Auburn road, now in process of construction, connects these two cities with the Grand Trunk. Few counties in the State are so well supplied with railway communications as Androscoggin; three towns only in the county but have a railroad passing through them. These iron pathways link interests and give birth to enterprises that are felt in every hamlet in the land.

In judicial affairs the county belongs to the Western District, so called. An annual session of the Supreme Judicial Court, as a court of law, is held at Portland on the third Tuesday of July for this District. Nisi Prius terms for the county are held at Auburn on the third Tuesday of January, April, and September, civil and criminal.

Terms of the Probate Court are held at Auburn on the third Tuesday of each month. The County Commissioners hold their regular sessions the first Tuesday of April and October

Politically, Androscoggin belongs to the Second Congressional District. In State affairs it belongs to the Fourth District, and is entitled, under last apportionment, to two senators and nine representatives, distributed as follows: Turner and Livermore one; Lewiston three; Auburn two; Leeds, East Livermore, Greene, and Wales, one; Webster Durham and Lisbon, one; Poland and Minot, one.

A commendable interest is taken in the cause of education. A young but flourishing college, centrally located, opens its doors to those seeking higher attainments than can be given at the public schools, while everywhere throughout the county the common school receives the sympathy and earnest support of the inhabitants.

Source: Atlas and History of Androscoggin County, Maine, by Sanford Everts & Co., published in 1873, page 94.
Contributed 1 Nov 2024 by Norma Hass