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History of Buxton
According to G.T. Ridlon, author of Saco Valley Settlements, “The land embraced within the present boundaries of (Buxton) was a grant by the General Court in 1728, to redeem a promise made to the soldiers who participated in the war with the Narragansett Indians in 1675, that if they “played the man, took the Fort, and drove the enemy out of the Narragansett Country, which was their great seat, they should have a gratuity in Land besides their wages.” The army was known as the Narragansett Army. After the war, there was an effort to settle the area, but it was not until the fall of 1733 that the grantees, met on Boston Common and organized and appointed a Joint Committee to assign townships. This Committee met and assigned the seven Narragansett Grants – beginning with Narragansett Number One, now Buxton, Maine, which was assigned to Philemon Dame and one hundred and nineteen others. The township was unsettled throughout the next several years and finally was incorporated Narragansett Township Number One into a Town by the name of Buxton on July 14th, 1772 by Governor Thomas Hutchinson.
- It took several years to establish a true settlement in the Town. The Town was dense forest and roads and tillable fields had to be established to sustain families year round. The first industry included sawmills and gristmills along the Saco River. The Salmon Falls area was developed first and the West Buxton (Moderation Falls) area became a thriving village. By the 1800’s Buxton boasted several saw mills, woolen mills, tanneries, coopers, blacksmiths, grocery stores, clothing stores, a wool-carding mill and many farms. During the 1850 – 1860’s the railroad came to Buxton.
- During the last 235 years the Town has changed considerably but has continued to retain its rural characteristics. Buxton is a sought after community to live and raise a family. We encourage everyone to visit the Town of Buxton which is a thriving community with a very rich history.
About Buxton
Buxton is bordered on the west by the Saco River, Hollis and Dayton, on the north by Standish, on the east by Gorham and Scarborough, and on the south by Saco. The outer edge of the Portland metropolitan area is less than 10 miles to the east. Once considered a “bedroom community”, Buxton has grown considerably within the last 20 years and as of the 2010 census it was reported that Buxton had a population of 8,034.
- Buxton is governed by a Board of five Selectmen that are elected to serve 3-year staggered terms. Each year a Chairman of the Board is elected by the Board.
- The Town has a full-time Police Department, Dispatch, Animal Control Officer, Public Works, municipal offices, Code Officer, Transfer Station Manager and a full-time Fire Chief. The Town also has two rescue vehicles, paramedics complimented by per-diem personnel in both fire and rescue services.
- The Municipal Office is located at 185 Portland Road across the street from the Bar Mills Fire Station. The Public Safety Department is located at 185 Portland Road in back of the Municipal Offices. Buxton is very fortunate to have a new Public Works facility located at 215 Portland Road. There are three fire stations – Bar Mills Fire Station located at 180 Portland Road, Groveville Fire Station located at 31 Turkey Lane and the Chicopee Fire Station located at 9 Gillette Road.
The Town of Buxton is part of the MSAD#6 School District which includes Hollis, Standish, Limington and Frye Island. Buxton is a lovely community offering open spaces, two libraries and several parks and recreational areas for our residents as well as several small businesses. Our residents are very community oriented and the Town has many activities geared toward children and families.
(Back to top)Buxton Hollis Historical Society
Organized and incorporated in 1970, the Buxton-Hollis Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with partial support from the towns of Buxton and Hollis, Maine. The society’s purpose is to collect, preserve and publish whatever may be related to the early and late history of the towns of Buxton and Hollis, including but not limited to books, relics and articles about early settlers, records of colonial and later wars, as well as genealogical information and maps.
Our Society’s museum, library and archival collections include a wide range of materials documenting the rich heritage of this area of southern Maine and the Saco River Valley. The N. C. Watson School Museum at Buxton Center offers third grade classes and other visitors the opportunity to experience life in a one-room school at the beginning of the twentieth century. Throughout the year, the Buxton-Hollis Historical Society provides lectures, cemetery and house tours, special exhibits, books and items of historic interest and educational activities for people of all ages.
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Main St, Route 4A, P.O. Box 34, Buxton, Maine 04093
- Phone: 207-929-1684
- Email: BHHS@buxtonhollishistorical.org
- Website: BHHS Org
- Buxton Hollis Historical Society PDF