Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.

If someone asked you to name a Maine city or town on the spot, you'd probably think of the likes of Portland, Bangor, or Augusta. It'd probably be pretty rare for someone to shout out a place like Lebanon, right?

Well, after a billion-dollar lottery ticket was sold in the town in 2023, this southern Maine location has certainly found itself in the spotlight.

But if you've never made the trip to Lebanon, you probably don't know much about it. Thankfully, we have you covered with a few things you should know.

Where is Lebanon, Maine, located?

Lebanon is located in York County in Maine. It's about an hour from Portland, Maine, and very close to the New Hampshire border.

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Google Maps
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How many people live in Lebanon, Maine?

According to the town website, the 2010 census lists Lebanon as only having 6,031 people. According to census.gov, the population estimate as of July 2021 is 6,571. For comparison, the Census Bureau estimates that over 68,000 people live in the city of Portland.

When did Lebanon, Maine, become a town?

According to the town website, it became Maine's 23rd town on June 17, 1767. Britannica states that Maine's first town, also in York County, was Kittery, established in 1647 and originally named Piscataqua Plantation.

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Google Maps
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A $1.35 billion lottery ticket winner was sold in Lebanon, Maine

According to the Maine Lottery, the winning $1.35 billion Mega Millions ticket was purchased at the Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon, Maine.

It would be one month later, on February 22, that the winner would come forward "to accept their winnings through the limited liability company LaKoma Island Investments, LLC," the Maine Lottery stated.

Maine Lottery via Facebook
Maine Lottery via Facebook
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This $1.35 billion prize is the fourth-highest lottery jackpot winnings of all time, according to the New York Times, and it is the most amount won in New England.

Lebanon, Maine, has a Guinness World Record

Ever heard of a dust devil?

According to the National Weather Service, they are "dust-filled vortices, created by strong surface heating, [and] are generally smaller and less intense than a tornado." Additionally, the weather service states that they are most common in desert regions.

So it seems pretty surprising that Lebanon is the location for the deadliest dust devil, according to Guinness World Record. Only one of two recorded incidents, the Lebanon dust devil caused a house to collapse in 2003, which unfortunately killed a person.

dust devil tornado in the plains of amboseli national park
Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Are there any famous people from Lebanon, Maine?

While there are a number of celebrities with ties to Maine, Lebanon does have its own notable person. According to the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Oren B. Cheney, the founder of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, also founded "the Lebanon Academy in Lebanon, Maine in 1850."

And technically, that billion-dollar winner is pretty famous, too, right?

Look: 50 Maine Restaurants That are Worth the Trip

Thanks to our great listeners we were able to compile a list of many of Maine's great "worht the trip" restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bakeries.

These great spots can be found across the state and waiting for you to give them a try.

How many have you been to?

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From Kittery to Islesboro, some of Hollywood's biggest names have owned homes in Maine. We explore the who and where. 

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