1893 Map of Buxton

About this map

The Saco River serves as the central artery of this late 19th-century landscape, carving through the boundary between Cumberland Co. and York County. The river’s power is reflected in a dense concentration of industrial settlements, including Bar Mills, Salmon Falls, and Union Falls, where the water was harnessed for early New England milling operations. In the western reaches, the Little Ossipee River meanders toward North Waterboro, while the Portland and Rochester Railroad provides a vital inland transit corridor through Hollis Center and South Hollis. To the south, the historic Shaker Village sits near Shaker Pond, marking a distinct communal settlement pattern. The map reveals a highly developed network of small manufacturing hubs and post offices such as Nasons Mills and Goodwins Mills, illustrating the peak of the region's river-and-rail economy before the widespread shifts of the twentieth century.