Etna, a rural community in central Maine, has a number of modern day attractions, such as Etna Pond, Conant's Orchard and Camp Etna. The small town's history dates back to the early 1800s.
Dr. Benjamin Friend, Phineas Friend, James Harding, Dennis Deimett, Reuben Deimett and Calvin Sylvester, among others, first settled the town in 1807. At this time, ownership of the township belonged to General John Crosby, and the citizens of the township referred to it as Crosbytown.
The township adopted the name "Aetna" on February 15, 1820, but soon changed its name to "Etna" after Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. On February 21, 1826, part of the town broke off to form Plymouth. Similarly, on February 19, 1866, part of the town broke off and became Carmel.
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town of Etna had a population of 1,012 people. The median household income averaged $33,681. The town shared a K-8 school system with the neighboring town of Dixmont, located just south, while 9-12 grade students traveled to nearby Newport, located just north, for Nokomis Regional High School.
