New Limerick

New Limerick is a small community located in southern Aroostook County in northeastern Maine, situated about 6 to 10 miles west of Houlton. The town sits at an elevation of 390 feet above sea level and covers a total area of 19.53 square miles, which includes 18.44 square miles of land (approximately 18.4 square miles) and 1.09 square miles of water. It shares borders with Ludlow to the north, Houlton to the east, and Linneus to the south. If you are planning a visit, this guide covers what you need to know about New Limerick Maine.

Community and Local Services

At the 2020 U.S. Census, New Limerick recorded a population of 574 residents, up from 510 in 2010. The town had 241 households and a median age of 51.4 years as of the 2010 census, compared to 223 households in 2000, when the population was 523. The area is served by ZIP code 04761.

Municipal business and voting take place at the New Limerick Town Office, located at 11 Old Station Road. Other landmarks on Old Station Road include the New Limerick Baptist Church at 3 Old Station Road and the municipal New Limerick Cemetery. Emergency fire protection coverage is provided under contract by the Houlton Fire Department.

Transportation

U.S. Route 2 runs directly through New Limerick as the primary east-west highway corridor. Drivers traveling via Interstate 95 can reach the town by taking Exit 291 in neighboring Smyrna Mills onto U.S. Route 2. Key local connector roads include Drews Lake Road and Station Road, which connect U.S. Route 2 southeastward toward Route 2A. For air travel, the closest facility is Houlton International Airport (KHUL), located about 10 nautical miles east in Houlton.

Local Economy

The manufacturing sector in New Limerick is anchored by Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions), which operates an engineered wood production facility commonly called LP Houlton at 240 Station Road. Originally commissioned in 1981, it is one of the largest industrial employers in the region. In 2022, LP completed a $150 million conversion of the plant to produce LP SmartSide Trim and Siding, adding 220 million square feet of siding capacity. Employment expanded from roughly 100 workers to about 160 operating around the clock, with plans for additional production line investments. The mill purchases wood fiber from dozens of regional loggers and landowners, tying the facility directly to Aroostook County's forestry sector.

Other businesses include Cameron's Market, organic farming operations such as Nature's Circle Farm, and recreation-related hospitality such as the Lakeside Restaurant near the local golf course.

Outdoor Recreation and Lakes

Water bodies in and around the town include Cochrane Lake, Nickerson Lake, and Meduxnekeag Lake (also known as Drews Lake). Drews Lake spans 1,057 acres across New Limerick, Linneus, and Oakfield, and is located roughly 9 miles west of downtown Houlton. It supports sport fishing for brown trout and offers a public boat launch with a hard-surface ramp in New Limerick managed under the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Nickerson Lake covers 234 acres and has a public boat launch on its southeastern end off Aspen Lane. The Nickerson Lake Trails provide hiking paths on dirt, forest floor, and rock surfaces across New Limerick and Linneus, and pets are allowed. In the winter, Nickerson Lake hosts events for the annual MooseStompers Weekend Ice Fishing Derby held in southern Aroostook County.

Golfers can visit the Houlton Community Golf Course at 32 Country Club Drive on Nickerson Lake. Established in the early 1900s, it offers a 9-hole course, a driving range, and clubhouse facilities. In the spring, paddlers gather for the Meduxnekeag River Canoe and Kayak Race, a 9.5-mile race running to Riverfront Park in Houlton that begins at Station Road in New Limerick.

Education

New Limerick belongs to Maine School Administrative District 70 (MSAD 70 / RSU 70), which also serves Amity, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Linneus, and Ludlow. Public school students attend Mill Pond School in Hodgdon for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, while secondary students attend Hodgdon Middle/High School on Hodgdon Mills Road in Hodgdon. High school students can access vocational and technical training at the Region Two School of Applied Technology in nearby Houlton. Adult learning programs and workforce training are offered through a collaborative program run with RSU 29 and MSAD 70.