Why are the villages in Northern Maine all abandoned and ghost towns?

Last week we went to a wedding in Halifax NS. We decided to take the Maine route, and driving through Northern Maine was so creepy! Everything was so quiet and we drove through these small long forgotten villages . . . just completely gone and abandoned and lifeless. There were massive Victorian mansions, just dead and falling apart. There was no gas station until the little town at the border.



Here are some pictures, there not mine but they show you what I mean:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/documenting鈥?/a>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkirlin/134鈥?/a>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkirlin/134鈥?/a>



Why did everyone leave the far northern part of Maine? Obviously they get cold weather in winter, but I'm sure they didn't leave because of that?Why are the villages in Northern Maine all abandoned and ghost towns?
The homes you took photos of are most likley homes that the folks who owned them died and they either had no families or they live far away. I find your story very suspect as well, as one of your pictures which clearly was taken in the spring because no where near enough leaves are out, and this time of year they are turning color quite nicely. The part about "going the maine route" i also find suspect because you would ahve most likley taken i-95 from kittery to houlton, the northern terminus of i-95 where it turn in to canada 95. Had you taken RT-1 you would have passed thru litteraly hundreds of small towns.none of which are 'abandoned'. I-95 would have taken you thru the citys of Portland, lewiston-auburn, Augusta,Waterville,Bangor,Old town, the towns of, Howland, Lincoln, Medway, Sherman, and finnaly houlton,which is larger than a gas station as you described. In fact one of the largest truck stops in the state is located just off the Houlton exit. But I digress, The economy in Northern Maine is very slow, Since loring airforce base closed and the potato industry took a crap there are not many jobs. The political climate in Maine is also very poor. As the paper and forest products industry shrinks more and more. Many leave the state. It is also the oldest state meaning the average age is higher than even Florida. its very highly taxed and the infrastructure is poor and declining. Hope this answered a few of your wonders.
By the way, We took the R1 because it countiues to St.John, which then joins up to Canada Highway 2. It's faster than 95 to Fredericton NB. Sorry you found it "suspect" but you did provide some good info though so thanks.

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Why are the villages in Northern Maine all abandoned and ghost towns?
Creepy and ghosts... didn't give you the first clue... Hell I wouldn't live in some of the 150 year old dorms on my College capmus because they were creepy...
There was a large mill that closed. When it closed there was no reason for the people to stay out in the middle of no where, so they moved closer to civilization. Its a great place to buy real estate...you can get a 4 bedroom house for 25000.Why are the villages in Northern Maine all abandoned and ghost towns?
The economy collasped like in Allentown when it ran out of coal
So Stephen King could have inspiration to write his horror stories. LOL.

Seriously, this often happens due to the movement of Industry away from an area.