Sanford, Maine

The history of Sanford includes its transition to a textile manufacturing center after the Civil War. Factories at that time were built at both Springvale and Sanford villages and produced products such as cotton goods, woolen goods, carpets, shoes and lumber. In 1867, British-born Thomas Goodall arrived and established Goodall Mills, which started manufacturing saddle blankets, carriage robes and mohair plush for upholstering railroad seats. The company's textiles were known for brilliant and fast colors, and found buyers worldwide. Because of the mill, the town's population tripled to over 9,000 by 1910. In 1914, the Goodall family built Goodall Park, a 784 seat roofed stadium, which is now a treasured historic site. In 1954, Burlington Mills, then the largest textile firm, bought Sanford Mills which was later closed.

Local business owners began traveling the northeast after this closure, trying to convince new employers to move to the area. Life Magazine therefore called Sanford "the town that refused to die," in testament to the success oriented character of its residents. The Sanford economy is now made up of diversified industries, including the manufacture of aircraft parts.