1661Infrastructure
== History ==
Sanford is in the western portion of a tract of land purchased in 1661 from Abenaki Chief Fluellin by Major William Phillips, an owner of mills in Saco.
1696History
First called Phillipstown, it was willed in 1696 by Mrs.
1724History
In 1724, Norridgewock, an Abenaki stronghold on the Kennebec River, was destroyed by a Massachusetts militia.
1739Government
Subsequently, the region became less dangerous for white settlers, and Sanford was first settled in 1739.
1768Government
Incorporated a town in 1768, it was named after Peleg Sanford.
1794History
Until 1794, Alfred was the town's North Parish.
1867Government
In 1867, British-born Thomas Goodall established the Goodall Mills at Sanford, after selling another mill in 1865 at Troy, New Hampshire which made woolen blankets contoured to ...
1880Architecture
From 1880 to 1910, the mill town's population swelled from 2,700 to over 9,000, some living in houses built by the company and sold to workers at cost.
1900History
Leavitt was admitted to the Bar in 1900.
1914Architecture
In 1914, the Goodall family built Goodall Park, a 784-seat roofed stadium, now a treasured historic site.
1917History
A bronze statue was erected by the citizens of Sanford in 1917 to the memory of Thomas Goodall.
1922Architecture
The 294,000-square-foot (27,300 m2) complex, which was built in 1922 as a textile mill, includes two five-story brick and concrete buildings and a one-story connecting structure.
1954Economy
In 1954, Burlington Mills, then the nation's largest textile firm, bought Sanford Mills.
1955Culture
In November 1955, NBC's Armstrong Circle Theatre dramatized Sanford's comeback on television in “The Town that Refused to Die”, starring Darren McGavin and Jason Robards.
1957History
The story was later featured in LIFE magazine's feature on "Community Boosters" on August 5, 1957.
1984History
The town gained national notoriety in 1984, when Scott Waterhouse, then age 18, strangled 12-year-old Gycelle Cote.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,806 people, 8,270 households, and 5,449 families residing in the CDP.
2003Economy
In 2003, Maine voters rejected a proposal to build a $650 million casino in South Sanford.
2007Disaster
In 2007, the Sanford Fire Department responded to 1,150 fire runs and 2,515 medical runs.
2009History
The town again gained national notoriety on November 9, 2009, when the Amber Alert system was first used in the state for 2-year-old Hailey Traynham, abducted by her father.
2010History
== Demographics ==
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, 20,798 people, 8,500 households, and 5,417 families resided in the city.
2012Government
On November 6, 2012, Sanford voters approved a new charter to re-incorporate Sanford as a city and replace the town meeting format with a city council/mayor/strong manager form ...
2013Government
The new charter took effect on January 1, 2013.
2014Government
In 2014, an elected-at-large mayor took office.
2016Government
Beginning in 2016, the mayoral position began being elected at-large every two years during legislative election cycles.
2017Disaster
On June 23, 2017, the largest mill fire Sanford firefighters have ever battled erupted.