Traffic was so rare on the road in Lewiston, Maine, where David Chittim and his wife bought an old farmhouse in the late 1970s, that they’d jump to look out the window every time a car passed by. The newlyweds, both 27, moved to the house because it was something they could afford and fix up themselves. But even though it was just a few miles from the city’s downtown, Chittim said they were “essentially isolated.”
“When we moved here … it was a dirt road, (and) we knew all four people who lived on it,” he said.
Lewiston had been an industrial center for decades starting in the 1800s, thanks to the textile mills that lined the Androscoggin River. But by the 1970s, the mills were largely shut down. The downtown area had a rough reputation, so the young couple rarely ventured there. Instead, they spent most of their time at home, cutting firewood for heat in the winter and enjoying nature.
Nearly 50 years later, times have changed – and traffic on Chittim’s road is just one sign of it.
“Now, our road has 50 or 60 houses on it,” said Chittim, now 74 years old.
A retired engineer, Chittim is part of one of northern New England’s most important demographics: older adults in one of the oldest regions in the country. He has also witnessed another demographic's growth that has helped bring life to his city: immigrants and refugees. Immigrants make up a small percentage of northern New England's population but have contributed substantially to its recent growth according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Around the region, immigrants and refugees are filling gaps in the workforce left as native-born populations age out or leave for opportunities elsewhere. Some communities are evolving as longtime residents and newer arrivals forge paths for future development.
About 200 miles west of Lewiston in Winooski, Vermont, textile mills once powered by the Winooski River have been closed for decades. Many families who had lived there for generations have left. However, Winooski has become known as a destination for refugees arriving in the U.S.
“There just aren't a lot of people in my generation who stayed,” said Deac Decarreau, who’s lived in Winooski for all her 65 years. “I really think that without realizing it, we’ve become increasingly dependent on refugee resettlement … for the last 15 years maybe more.”
Such change is not always easy even in places like Lewiston and Winooski which became manufacturing centers by relying on immigrant labor starting in mid-1800s.
In 2022 a report commissioned by Winooski officials concluded that while diverse many "New Americans" feel excluded from larger community life. Lewiston also faced rising tensions between some city leaders and Somali community members following waves of arrivals early this century.
Still some residents say cities have ultimately benefitted from changes; many former mills converted into restaurants offices museums among other uses illustrate this transformation.
Chittim president county historical society noted seedy adult shops marking parts downtown replaced markets stores owned African residents now enamored with city never plans leaving love activity dynamic intermixing cultures creates tension helps grow he stated
New England remains one oldest regions nation northern states having three highest median ages Maine oldest state at forty-four point eight followed closely New Hampshire Vermont both forty-three point four meanwhile about twenty-seven percent cities towns lost population between nineteen ninety twenty seventeen brief Boston Fed researcher Riley Sullivan explores role immigration combating aging declining populations
Sullivan subtle shifts census data show newcomers likely foreign-born two thousand ten twenty-one U.S Census Bureau estimates Vermont current foreign-born population approximately twenty-eight thousand two hundred thirty over eighteen percent increase since two thousand Migration Policy Institute notes immigrants northern states tend younger higher workforce participation rates compared native-born residents crucial older regions workers exiting labor force mid-late sixties absence replacements leads shortages impacting access essential services healthcare home repairs Sullivan remarked
"Immigrants occupy every sector New England service biotech life sciences," Sullivan added "Our region's growth increasingly impacted foreign-born workers."
Jess Maurer directing Maine Council Aging sees immigration not ultimate solution state's workforce issues critical addressing ageism older residents face employment discrimination over decade first-time real growth number employed sixty-five plus year-olds yet welcoming new residents whether state country essential policies aiding skill-matching needed Maurer emphasized
"What we do matters competing every other state country immigrants younger people deciding live raise families," she elaborated
Retired Bates College professor Leslie Hill observed common narrative Maine older unproductive devastating state moving Lewiston work nineteen eighties likened Detroit similarly hit hard decline industrial manufacturing however efforts promoting economic recovery ongoing welcoming immigrants refugees integral presence enables envisioning future labor force necessary attracting industries local leaders aspire including industrial technological healthcare sectors Hill noted
Historical significance immigrant contributions displayed Maine Museum Innovation Learning Labor housed former mill machinery used Irish French-Canadian Black workers centuries ago producing textiles shoes bricks reminders city's long-standing reliance immigrant labor despite pushback against African refugee influx started around two thousand one civil war Somalia nineties drove migration nearby Portland some settling Lewiston due housing school safety factors
Two thousand two then-mayor Laurier T Raymond Jr open letter Somali leaders discouraged further arrivals overwhelmed responded valiantly needing breathing room maxed-out financially physically emotionally subsequent year white supremacist group anti-immigrant demonstration counter-protest National Guard building Bates students organized supportive event welcoming message recalled Hill
Abdikadir Negeye family arrived early two thousands born Somalia childhood Kenyan refugee camps initially living Atlanta moved Maine teenager struck small safe feeling city hall initial help source drastic changes past twenty years numerous networks aiding new arrivals co-founded Maine Immigrant Refugee Services two thousand eight expecting resettle approximately two hundred individuals various countries annually significant focus finding housing adjustment assistance connecting young people career opportunities internships vital retaining youth statewide investment necessary aging demographic retain graduates Negeye stressed
Winooski similarly sustained economy waves settlers including Irish French-Canadian millworkers lifelong resident Decarreau reminisced renovated Champlain Mill grandparents' workplace working-class upbringing mothers homemakers fathers multiple jobs tight-knit community vanished textile industry younger generations IBM factory sold relocated manufacturing jobs limited siblings departed education better prospects remaining brother exception Decarreau noted rarity past children abundant within blocks forming baseball teams present fewer children majority refugee families sustaining population crucial example fifteen new families impactful low overall numbers Faridar Ko family arrival Thailand refugee camp Myanmar civil war struggle language barrier high school multilingual liaison current role beyond translation encompassing broader support Tul Niroula Bhutanese educator Nepalese camp arrival Vermont unexpected quieter place integrating through job assistance basic services navigation employment vital integration demand Tracy Dolan state refugee office regular employer inquiries healthcare manufacturing commercial driving sectors seeking hires highlighting urgency Tracy Shamberger Age Well VT aging resource center forecasts third adults sixty-plus by twenty-thirty severe health care worker shortage affecting all ages caregivers falling family members problematic solutions addressing regional trends imperative newcomers poised significant role inflection point demands innovative approaches future planning Decarreau concluded
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