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This landlocked region of Maine hosts hundreds of freshwater lakes
and some of Maine's greatests mountains. So if skiing and fishing
is your pleasure, you would do well to consider this region for your home.
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 WESTERN LAKES & MOUNTAINS at a Glance
Counties:
Cumberland,
Franklin,
Androscoggin,
Oxford
 CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Population:
265,612
Area:
836 sq. mi.
Major towns and cities:
Portland, South Portland, Brunswick
Average house price
$181,194
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Population:
29,467
Area:
1698 sq. mi.
Major towns and cities:
Average house price
$94,417
ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY
Population:
103,793
Area:
470 sq. mi.
Major towns and cities:
Auburn, Lewiston
Average house price
$99,009
OXFORD COUNTY
Population:
54,755
Area:
2078 sq. mi.
Major towns and cities:
Average house price
$101,658
Sources
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This region is bordered on the north and west by Canada and New
Hampshire. The southern part of the region is a short
drive from Portland, making it close enough in some cases to commute.
The Western Lakes and Mountain region includes four different counties,
each with its own unique features: Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford,
and Androscoggin.
Western Cumberland County is home to the Sebago Lake region.
This lake is Maine's second largest, with its pure water supplying
drinking water for Portland. Life on this lake is quieter than the
life on the coast, and rustic cabins dot the many lakes. It is a rapidly
developing area, however, and these small towns attract an ever-increasing
number of summer tourists.
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Franklin County is small in population and rich in its mountains
and lakes. Its county seat is Farmington, where The University of
Maine at Farmington is located. Franklin county boasts magnificent
mountains and ski areas, including Sugarloaf/USA and Saddleback
Mountain. It is also home to the Rangeley Lakes region, with its
nine-mile long Rangeley Lake and over a hundred smaller lakes.
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Androscoggin County is named for the Adroscoggin River,
a favorite of canoers and kayakers. The twin cities of Lewiston
and Auburn are the center of this region, and combined they almost
equal the size of Portland. These cities have been named as one
of the "hundred best small arts towns in America." This
area, rich in French Canadian heritage, saw a resurgance in the
nineties. Old mills and factories have been renovated and many new
businesses have made this a busy area.
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Oxford County is on the western border of Maine. Its mountains
and lakes are famous for both skiing, hiking and scenic beauty.
Part of the White Mountains National Forest is in Oxford County.
It is home to the Sunday River ski area near Bethel, surrounded
by covered bridges. The largest town in Oxford
County is Rumford (population 6472) which is the home to a major
paper mill.
In the Travel section, you can read more about the Western Lakes & Mountains region
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CENSUS 2000
 An ongoing special report on the census information and how it affects Maine's cities and towns. We've got news, analysis, charts, maps and more.
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