Rangeley
Welcome to Rangeley!
Rangeley is a town in Franklin County and is the center of the Rangeley Lake Region. Falls and winters in Rangeley are beautiful, and snowmobiling is considered the best. Rangeley is rated one of the most outstanding destinations and is known as a vacation spot where one can truly escape from civilization. There are many hunting and fishing camps alongside lakes and ponds, allowing visitors to see what Rangeley has to give.
The area was initially owned by the father of Squire James Rangeley in 1796. James visited the site in 1825 and built an estate, giving land to settlers and a mansion for himself. Rangeley left in 1840, but settlers continued to come and farm and work in mills.
In 1855, Rangeley was incorporated as a town. In the late 19th century, railroads in the area were completed. Tourists from all across New England and the Eastern Seaboard set a precedent for the area as a resort and summer destination that continues to this day.
Interesting Story
The first family (the Hoar family) to move to Rangeley, Maine, was a husband and wife with their eight children.(p132 McCauley – The Names of Maine). They traveled on foot in the middle of winter for over 25 miles. The family traveled with two moose pulling all of their belongings on sleds.