What residents know firsthand: The Unity region is a vibrant, safe and friendly place to work, play and raise a family. Once known for its grist mills, lumber mills and brick foundries, this central Maine town of approximately 2,000 people has a surprising array of amenities for a place of its size – yet retains its friendly, close-knit culture. Being the service center for many surrounding towns,
downtown Unity provides a modest service/cultural/recreational center with options for all ages. Nearby are Unity College; Unity Historical Society; Unity Center for the Performing Arts; Dorothy Quimby Library at Unity College; multiple restaurants; a major grocer, banks and insurers. Other treasures include Triplett Park; the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) Fair site and research/conference center; Lake Winnecook/Unity Pond; the Field of Dreams regional recreation facility; Friends of Unity Wetlands (FUW); and Unity Barn Raisers (UBR). The regional public schools will enjoy a state-of-the-art new school serving pre-K through 12th grade students, opening in the fall of 2009. Eastern Maine and Penobscot Bay Medical Centers; Inland, Sebasticook Valley, Waldo County and Maine General Hospitals and a variety of community health centers serve the residents of the region. Many residents of the region work in Bangor, Belfast, Newport and Waterville area businesses, all within easy reach. The Unity region communities are also within 60 miles of expansive Moosehead Lake, the largest body of freshwater east of the Mississippi; two hours to Baxter State Park, home of Maine's tallest peak, Katahdin; and less than two hours to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Towns in the Unity region have populations ranging from 700 to about 2000 people and "fitting in" is easy. A common thread is a concern for, and an appreciation of the environment. A unique trend is that the number of farmers and farms is growing. One of the region's landmarks, Unity College, was created in 1966 to open the pathway to higher education to a wider variety of students. This unique college is now one of the premier environmental colleges in the country, attracting students and environmental educators from all over the country. This infusion of environmental vision helps make the Unity region a surprisingly progressive place considering its agricultural roots. The extraordinary number of conservation easements that FUW has been able to facilitate recently; the continued growth of demand for organic foods; the recent arrival of several Amish families; and the growing appeal of the MOFGA Common Ground Fair, are shining examples of its progressiveness. Two of the most important criteria folks use to select a home are safety and health and Maine is a safe place to live. The Unity region offers healthy air, water, and food but perhaps the greatest health benefit is the measured pace of life, the outdoor opportunities, and the feeling that you are part of one large community family where folks look after one another and respect one another.
