#Hashtag Hometown of the Week: Dixmont

Every week we feature a new hometown and share photos and facts using hashtags on social media. This week our #hashtag hometown is Dixmont!

The town was originally called Collegetown because the township had been donated to Bowdoin College. The name was changed after wealthy landowner Dr. Elijah Dix bought up much of the land and Dixmont was born. Dr. Dix is also associated with the naming of Dixfield, Maine. He also had a granddaughter who became very important and well known in Maine history, Dorthea Dix.

Dixmont was once on the busy stage coach route between Bangor and Augusta and was traveled by all of the important people who made that journey at the time. The town is home to about 1,180 residents and many farms with livestock. The town was also once home to a Shingle Mill, 3 saw mills, and 2 grist and flour mills which caused the population of the town to soar to 1,600 in the 1850's! That's about 400 more people living in the town than today!

Here are some photos we found of Dixmont on Instagram: