TURNER – During development of the new comprehensive plan, the committee and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments collected a great deal of information about Turner, its people and businesses.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Between 1990 and 2000, the population increased by 670. The growth is the largest increase of all Androscoggin County towns.

• In 2000, about one-half of the workers in Turner traveled to Auburn and Lewiston for work. In 1990, only about one-quarter did so.

• Turner labor forces increased by 130 percent between 1988 and 2001. During that same time, the total labor force in the county increased by only 25 percent.

• From 1990 to 2000, the total town expenditures increased from $2.2 to $4 million.

• Route 4 has been classified as an arterial where the access related crashes per mile rate exceeds the 1999 statewide average for arterials of the same posted speed limit. The state has refused to lower the speed limit.

• Turner covers 62 square miles, the largest land area of all county towns.

• Over the past 10 years, 500 acres of land have gone from agricultural use to residential use.

• The average sale price of a home has increased from $95,400 in 1989 to $110,900 in 2000.

• In 1999, the median household income was $46,200, greater than all surrounding communities except Greene.