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 Van Buren is located in Aroostook County on the border between Maine and Canada. Its small population of 2,600 is extremely tight-knit, with residents
having a strong sense of community. Often called the “Gateway” to the St. John Valley, Van Buren is a picturesque place, with tremendous views of the St. John River and wide open fields. Van Buren also enjoys a strong French-Acadian heritage
that is alive and well, from the ployes served in the many local restaurants
to the language spoken on the street.
Van Buren once boasted a strong economy based on timber and
agriculture. While those industries have faced many hurdles over the years,
Van Buren has been able to attract a number of new ventures, including Aegis,
a manufacturer of high-end bicycles. The town also attracts thousands of
tourists each year who enjoy four seasons of activity, from snowmobiling and
cross country skiing in the winter to hiking, fishing, and boating during the
other seasons. Just outside the downtown area is the Acadian Village, where visitors can see and experience a number of historic buildings that have been
saved from demolition over the years as well as learn about old techniques
for harvesting potatoes and wood.
 Downtown Van Buren has
a number of regional destination spots. The Ski Shop sells premium athletic
wear as well as kayaks, skis, and other sporting equipment (including a few
Aegis bikes!). Ezzy’s Music Shop continues to draw customers from across the
county and parts of Canada. ETC…provides a large inventory of unique gifts
and crafts, and a number of downtown restaurants have wonderful offerings
using local ingredients and Acadian recipes. Upcoming downtown events include
a Main Street clean-up day and the Van Buren Main Street Festival. The Town
of Van Buren is proud to be named recipient to several large grants this
year, many of which will be used entirely in the Main Street district, making
this a very exciting time of  improvement for this small Acadian
town.
Since being designated a Main Street Maine community,
downtown Van Buren’s revitalization efforts have resulted in:
•10 net new businesses
•$1.4 million in new public and
private downtown investment
•Over 1300 volunteer hours
•11 net new jobs
•For every $1 invested in the Van Buren Main Street program, an additional $73 have been invested in downtown Van
Buren
For more
information on the Van Buren Main Street, please go to their website.
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