The Maine communities of Madison, Norridgewock, and Smithfield all have their own unique ties to the waters on which they were founded. Madison depends on the waterfalls of the Kennebec River, the backbone of central Maine, to support its manufacturing roots. Wool mill operations began in 1881, but soon gave way to the still prosperous paper mill. Norridgewock also rests on the shores of the Kennebec, but lacking the falls it was able to remain true to its name, "quiet place in the river." The town remained so quiet in fact, that it lost its county seat to Skowhegan in 1871. Shoe manufacturing later turned Norridgewock into a booming industrial town. Smithfield lacks the river entirely, but in its place one finds North Pond. The beauty of the area has made it a natural recreation area for the other two towns.