HOULTON, Maine — The Shiretown has achieved prominence as one of the “25 Safest Places in Maine to Live,” according to a report from a national website.
Safessentials.com published its list last week, with Houlton coming in at No. 25 on the list. Caribou was the only other Aroostook County town to be recognized, coming in at No. 17. Eliot was deemed the safest place to live.
“When I learned from Chief Michael Gahagan of the Caribou Police Department that Houlton had been named one of the top 25 safest places in Maine to reside, it was totally unexpected, but I wasn’t surprised,” said Butch Asselin, Houlton’s police chief and interim town manager. “All of the officers on this department contribute in their own way to making Houlton a safer place to live and raise a family. Despite the ongoing issue with methamphetamine use and other illegal substances in southern Aroostook County, the department has consistently enjoyed one of the highest clearance rates for major crimes in the state of Maine.
With a population estimated at 6,123, Houlton’s citizen to police ratio is 1-to-305.
“The officers and dispatchers are very dedicated to their profession and I am very proud of them,” Asselin added. “I also have to give credit to Adopt-A-Block. This is an incredible program led by individuals from the Military Street Baptist and Wesleyan churches. I have always maintained that the work they do is a contributing factor to our lower crime rate and higher quality of life.”
Safessentials.com based its listing on a combination of recently released FBI crime data and internal research. The safety organization established its criteria using crime-to-population ratios, police response times among other items.
From the group’s press release, Houlton was described as follows:
“Whereas most of Maine’s population is settled in the lower southwest quadrant of the state, Houlton is far north, nearer the northeast corner. It is located where I-95 meets the Canadian border. Nicknamed the ‘Shiretown’ by recent inhabitants, Houlton has been populated for millennium by native peoples. It is the site where in 1927 the first transatlantic phone service linked New York and London. Houlton offers recreation all year. And to top it off, its residents enjoy some of the lowest electricity costs in New England.”
Jane Torres, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, said, “It is no surprise to me that Houlton was named the 25th safest town in Maine. I feel privileged to be part of a community filled with people who are truly concerned about their neighbors’ health and well being. Sure we have problems, as does every town, but when push comes to shove we are there for each other and that is what makes me feel safe. We really are very lucky and I feel that every day.”
“I am not at all surprised that our community is listed in the top 25 safest places to live,” added Lori Weston, economic developer for the town of Houlton. “Because of the role I play within our municipality, I am fortunate to hear from those who are considering moving here and those who are considering opening a business, that they immediately feeling the sense of ‘community’ from those they encounter. There is an ‘open door’ invitation for help, resources, networking, introduction to others and the offer to assist in anyway to help make their transition to Houlton an easy one.
“It is the routine and sincere offer from each person they meet, an immediate sense of being a part of a community that cares and that we take care of each other is a rare case and not the norm elsewhere,” she continued. “As citizens, we already know that we feel safe, that help is just a holler or phone call away. The designation is just one more positive statement about our wonderful community.”
Safessentials.com was launched in 2013 as part of a larger home safety initiative. To view the full rankings, visit the group’s website.
