Topsham

Chartered in 1763, Topsham is an Orange County town that occupies a broad stretch of hilly terrain between the Waits River and the high ground to the east. The Waits River valley provided the best farmland, and the village of Waits River — shared with the neighboring town of Corinth — became the local center. Topsham's granite quarries operated in the nineteenth century, adding to the farming and logging economy.

Today Topsham has a population of about 1,199. The town retains a strongly rural character, with forests, farms, and gravel roads defining the landscape. Route 25 passes through the northern part of town, but Topsham is not on the way to anywhere in particular, which has helped preserve its quiet character. The selectboard governs local affairs, and town meeting each March draws residents to weigh in on the budget and the practical matters of maintaining roads, supporting schools, and keeping the community running.