Albion in central Maine is a small rural community of about 2,000 residents with a laid-back, pastoral feel. Settled in 1790, it includes the villages of Albion and South Albion, with the main village centered around a short downtown stretch that has the town office, a general store, a gas station and the Greek Revival-style Albion Christian Church. Lovejoy Pond is a key local feature, a 379-acre lake used for kayaking, swimming and bass and perch fishing, with both full-time and seasonal camps along the shoreline and access mainly from private docks and ramps rather than public launches. Daily needs are largely met by small markets and farms: Albion Corner Store in the town center has sandwiches, some groceries and fuel, while Albion Mini Mart doubles as a kitchen with made-to-order pizza and burgers. On the north side of town, Misty Brook Farm sells on-site raised organic meats, eggs, grains and dairy, and Hart to Hart Farm provides milk, meats and eggs along with family-focused programs like Farm Days and Farm Camp. Housing is mostly single-family, often down quiet back roads lined with pine and maple trees, and includes New England styles such as Cape Cods, Colonial-inspired homes, farmhouse vernacular designs, ranches, split-levels and lakefront cabins and chalets on Lovejoy Pond, with some secluded farm estate-style properties on large acreages. U.S. Route 202 runs north-south through Albion and serves as the main route to surrounding towns, including Augusta, 25 miles southwest, in a car-dependent setting with no local bus or train service.