Back When Maine Was Even Quieter: A Look at the Tiniest Towns of 1920

Who doesn't love a bit of outstanding Maine history? Thanks to this nifty invention called the 'Internet,' I stumbled upon a fascinating document to explore.

This document was some old Census data, which ended up being rather significant. The form is the official 1920 Census Bulletin for every county and town in Maine. It's a extraordinary look at where Mainers called home and how different those pockets look today.

Maine's Has Had Some Significant Chages Over the Last Century

A lot has changed in the past 100+ years, and many of those changes have directly affected county and town populations. Whether it was mill closures, the rise of suburbia, revitalization efforts, commercial development, economic recessions, shifts in manufacturing, or the opening and closing of military bases, each has played a role in shaping growth.

I decided to chart the 20 least populated towns from 1920, curious to see how things compare to today.

The majority of the places on the list are still very small towns, in fact, many remain among the tiniest in the state. It was no surprise that most are located in more remote counties like Washington and Oxford.

What Were the Small Towns in Maine 100 Years Ago?

One of the most interesting findings? Six of the towns are no longer even designated as towns. They've since become townships, plantations, or unorganized territories.

You’ll find the complete Top 20 list below, along with their current populations to show the positive (and sometimes negative) changes these municipalities have experienced over the generations.

How many have you visited?