Baldwin, Maine

Baldwin, Maine
Town
Pequawket Trail c. 1906
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Coordinates: 43°49′24″N 70°43′27″W / 43.82333°N 70.72417°W / 43.82333; -70.72417Coordinates: 43°49′24″N 70°43′27″W / 43.82333°N 70.72417°W / 43.82333; -70.72417
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Cumberland
Incorporated	1802
Area
• Total	36.35 sq mi (94.15 km2)
• Land	35.32 sq mi (91.48 km2)
• Water	1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
Elevation	679 ft (207 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,525
• Estimate (2012)	1,556
• Density	43.2/sq mi (16.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-02655
GNIS feature ID	0582338

Baldwin is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,525 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine, metropolitan statistical area.

First called Flintstown Plantation, it was granted in 1774 by the Massachusetts General Court to survivors of the Concord, Massachusetts, company commanded by Captain John Flint. It replaced a grant of about 1735 which gave them Township No. 3, because when state borders were adjusted in 1741, the town turned out to be in New Hampshire—present-day Walpole. On June 23, 1802, Flintstown was incorporated as Baldwin, named for Colonel Loammi Baldwin, for whom the Baldwin apple was named. Sebago was set off and incorporated in 1826.

The surface of the town is broken, but with soil favorable to grain and hay. Baldwin would be noted for its orchards, and a factory was established in East Baldwin for drying apples. There was also a corn factory. Brooks provided water power for various mills which produced board lumber, barrel staves and shooks. During times of drought, the Saco Water Power Company could regulate water at Great Falls to run mills down the Saco River in Saco and in Biddeford. The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad followed the Saco River valley for the length of Baldwin.