History of Milton Township, Maine
Milton Township is a unique and quiet corner of Oxford County with a history defined not by its rise, but by its reversion to an unorganized territory. Its story reflects the changing demographics and economy of rural Maine over the past century.
From Plantation to Unorganized Territory 🏞️
The area now known as Milton Township was originally part of a larger tract of land known as Plantation Number Two. In 1842, it was officially organized as a plantation and given the name Milton Plantation. A plantation in Maine is a form of government for an area that has enough residents to require local services but not enough to incorporate as a full town. At the time of its organization, Milton was a developing community with a small but distinct population.
In 1853, the plantation's boundaries were adjusted, with a portion of its land being set off to the nearby town of Woodstock. This change marked a period of evolving local governance and settlement patterns in the region.
However, as the 20th century progressed, the population of Milton Plantation steadily declined. By 1939, the number of residents had fallen to a point where maintaining its plantation status was no longer practical. As a result, Milton Plantation officially surrendered its organization and became an unorganized territory (U.T.).
Milton Today: A Quiet, Natural Community 🏡
Today, Milton is an unorganized township, meaning it is governed by the state and not by a local municipal government. This status has preserved its quiet, rural character. The township is located in a scenic area of Oxford County, surrounded by the organized towns of Rumford, Bethel, Woodstock, and Peru.
While there are no major industries or a bustling town center, the township remains home to a small number of residents. The landscape is marked by several mountains under 2,000 feet, including Bean, Bryant, Chamberlain, Davis, and Hemingway. A short stretch of Route 232 serves as a "Main Street" through the small settlement of East Milton. Milton's history as a plantation and its current status as an unorganized territory make it a unique part of the Bethel area, a place where the past is not just remembered, but is a part of the present landscape and way of life.