Situated in the southwestern corner of Maine, Sanford sprawls across a large landmass with a small population. Within the city's boundaries is a historic downtown core, numerous districts, forested areas, and agricultural land. Sanford has many lakes, rivers, and brooks for watersports, nature walks, and simply a place to cool down from the warm summers. Sanford is a must-see place for tourists to take a glimpse into the past of mills and factories, while enjoying the local Maine cuisine.

Geography Of Sanford

In the center of York County, Maine – Sanford stands at 94 meters above sea level on the banks of the Mousam River. The waterfront town covers an area of 126 sq. kilometers, making it the sixth-largest city by landmass in the Pine Tree State. Just over 50 kilometers south of Sanford, Maine and New Hampshire meet where the Piscataqua River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The towering lumberjack statue of Paul Bunyan in Bangor, Maine, is roughly 250 kilometers northeast of the city center. Approximately 150 kilometers south is the capital city of Massachusetts, Boston. A short, less than two-hour drive for citizens of Sanford to watch some of their favorite major league sports teams. However, 131 kilometers northwest, daring drivers can drive their vehicles to the top of the tallest mountain in New Hampshire – Mount Washington, which stands at 1,916 meters.

Climate

The climate in Sanford, Maine, acquires the best traits of each season, where the summers are warm although the winters are long, freezing, and snowy. Summer temperatures can climb over 30˚C, with humidity hovering around 25%, causing the air to be muggy from June into September. Rain is constant from late Spring and summer; however, October receives the most precipitation with an average of 106 millimeters. The low temperatures begin to fall below the freezing mark by November and thus turning rain droplets into heavy snowflakes. Residents must shovel nearly 1.5 meters of snowfall from driveways and pathways during winter. January is the most frigid month, with a median temperature of -6˚C, although records have dropped below -20˚C. The climate slowly warms up as the snowy months fade away, and temperatures will finally ascend to double-digits by mid-May.

Population And Economy Of Sanford

Sanford is currently the 7^th most populated city in Maine, with 21,116 people living happily within the city limits. The ethnicity demographic of Sanford is 95.6% White, 1.9% Hispanic, 1.8% Two or More Races, 1.6% Asian, 0.7% African American, and 0.2% Indigenous. The median household income in Sanford is $58,294, and 9.2% of the population lives below the poverty line. There are three post-secondary education facilities in Sanford, which helps lower the population's average age to 39.7 years old. The unemployment rate falls below the national by just 0.2% at 5.8%. Health care services, social assistance, manufacturing, and retail industries employ the most people in Sanford – while the highest paying careers are utilities, public administration, and manufacturing.

History Of Sanford

For centuries the Abenaki tribe fished the Mousam River and bathed in the Number One Pond. Hunters and gatherers scavenged the forests for animals, wild berries, and plants for their community. In 1661, William Phillips, the possessor of the sawmills in Saco, Maine, bought the land from Chief Fluellin. The sawmills owner named the settlement Phillipstown but left it uninhabited until 1739 because of the French Indian War that had been ongoing during that period. At that time, Phillipstown was part of Massachusetts, and citizens of the town petitioned the state government to incorporate Phillipstown in 1752. Governor Sir Francis Bernard accepted the appeal and signed the papers to merge Phillipstown. The name changed to Sanford happened years later in honor of Peleg Sanford – the Governor of Rhode Island from 1680 to 1683.

From 1739 to 1829, only sawmills and grain mills operated along the Mousam River in Sanford. The first factory to open was a clothing printing factory in northern Sanford at the mighty Mousam Falls. The owners named the factory and this area Springvale, and it became a part of the city of Sanford in 1829. The clothing factory sparked an industrial revolution along the Mousam. The power of the local water source attracted many businesspeople to the area to open their factories and harvest the energy of the river and waterfalls. By 2012, citizens of Sanford appealed to reincorporate as a city with a hometown mayor – in 2013, the Maine Governor granted this request.

Attractions In Sanford

Mousam Way Trails

Located in Springvale Sanford, the picturesque trails offer moderate difficulty for cyclists, hikers, and dog walkers. The 6.5-kilometer network of trails connects parks, ponds, roadways, and Sanford Middle School to the Mousam River. Sections of the course are rugged with gravel, dirt, and tree roots. However, some areas are comfortably smooth by being paved. A local volunteer company called Sanford Trails builds and maintains this trail and different pathways within Sanford.

Number One Pond

Just north of the downtown district of Sanford, the Mousam River widens prominently and is called Number One Pond. The beautiful pond within the city limits provides excellent fishing conditions, full of Largemouth Bass, Perch, and Pickerel. The Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team holds numerous performances each summer as they dance across the pond for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Sanford Country Club

In southwestern Sanford, the Sanford Country Club is an 18-hole golf course lined with pristine forests open to the public. A large, red-colored building, known as The Barn, is the clubhouse – accommodated by a bar and restaurant. It is the faultless venue for weddings, family reunions, and company outings. The golf club also offers annual memberships to residents that will have priority to the golf course.