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Alna, Maine
Alna Meeting House, built in 1789
Alna Meeting House, built in 1789
Official seal of Alna, Maine
Seal
Location in Lincoln County and the state of Maine.
Location in Lincoln County and the state of Maine.
Country United States
State Maine
County Lincoln
Settled 1760
Incorporated 1794
Government
 • Type Town Meeting
Area
 • Total 21.32 sq mi (55.22 km2)
 • Land 20.90 sq mi (54.13 km2)
 • Water 0.42 sq mi (1.09 km2)
Elevation
128 ft (39 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 710
 • Density 34/sq mi (13.1/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
04535
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-01010
GNIS feature ID 0582321
Website http://alna.maine.gov

Alna is a small town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. It's known for its old buildings and the historic village of Head Tide. In 2020, about 710 people lived in Alna. The town is also home to the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum, which is a popular place to visit.

History of Alna

Alna ME DSC 0009
The pulpit inside the historic Alna Meeting House

Alna was first settled around 1760. It became an official town in 1794. At first, it was called New Milford. But the people living there didn't like that name. So, in 1811, the name was changed to Alna. This name comes from a Latin word for the alder tree. Many alder trees grow along the Sheepscot River in the area.

Alna was also the location of Maine's very first fish hatchery. This hatchery started soon after the Civil War. From 1895 to 1933, a special narrow-gauge railway called the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway ran through the town. It had three stations: Head Tide, Alna Center, and Sheepscot. Today, the Sheepscot station is the main spot for a special heritage railway where you can ride old trains.

In 2024, a local shop called The Alna Store was named one of America's Best Restaurants by The New York Times. It's located at the intersection of Dock Road and Alna Road.

Geography of Alna

Alna covers about 21.32 square miles (55.22 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 20.90 square miles (54.13 square kilometers). The rest is water, about 0.42 square miles (1.09 square kilometers). The Sheepscot River flows through Alna.

Two main roads cross the town: Maine State Route 194 and Maine State Route 218. Alna shares its borders with several other towns:

Population of Alna

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 636
1810 797 25.3%
1820 978 22.7%
1830 1,175 20.1%
1840 990 −15.7%
1850 916 −7.5%
1860 805 −12.1%
1870 747 −7.2%
1880 687 −8.0%
1890 512 −25.5%
1900 444 −13.3%
1910 457 2.9%
1920 320 −30.0%
1930 294 −8.1%
1940 339 15.3%
1950 350 3.2%
1960 347 −0.9%
1970 315 −9.2%
1980 425 34.9%
1990 571 34.4%
2000 675 18.2%
2010 709 5.0%
2020 710 0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, there were 709 people living in Alna. Most of the people living in Alna were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds. About 28% of the homes had children under 18 living there. The average age of people in Alna was about 45.7 years old.

Fun Places to Visit in Alna

WW&FR 10
A train at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum

Alna has some interesting historical sites and attractions:

Famous People from Alna

Some notable people have connections to Alna:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alna (Maine) para niños

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