Orleans was platted March 11, 1815, and this town square, called Congress Square, was part of that plat. Orleans Academy was built here in 1866 and was in operation by 1867. In the 1870s, the Academy was purchased, and its building became part of the public schools. The building remained in use until it was razed October 7, 1963, after which a park was built here. Orleans Town Park was rededicated June 7, 2001, as part of a downtown revitalization, and the restored bandstand nearby was built in 1926. Like the central squares of many towns and cities, Congress Square has served as the center of educational, social, political, and business activity, creating a strong sense of community throughout Orleans' history.