Lewiston and Auburn are Maine’s “Twin Cities” — two communities in Androscoggin County split by the Androscoggin River, but tied together by history, industry, and a shared identity. Locals just call the area “L/A,” and the old civic motto sums up the spirit nicely: L/A, It’s Happening Here.
Auburn was incorporated in 1842 and Lewiston in 1863. Both grew rapidly through the 1800s as textile and shoe mills sprang up along the Androscoggin’s falls, drawing waves of immigrants — first Irish, then a huge influx of French-Canadian millworkers whose descendants still make up a large share of the population today. That heritage is still visible in the city’s churches, festivals, and family names, and French is still spoken in some households across the city.
When the mills declined after World War I and through the 20th century, both cities went through a long stretch of economic change — but L/A today is a mix of old mill-town character and newer growth: Bates College anchors the Lewiston side, downtown Lewiston’s old mill buildings have been reused for apartments, offices, and small businesses, and the two cities share an airport, transit system, and a genuine “we’re in this together” identity. Combined, Lewiston and Auburn are home to roughly 60,000 people, making L/A one of Maine’s larger population centers outside of Greater Portland.
This site, Lew Happens, is a community hub built for the L/A area — inspired by and connected to the Lewiston Matters Facebook group. The sections below (Weather, Police Log, Upcoming Events, Important Updates, and more) are being built out over time, so check back often.