The town of Gilead was incorporated in 1804. The Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad from Portland to Montreal followed the south bank of the Androscoggin River and reached Gilead in 1851.
Gilead's founding in 1804 set the stage for its development. The arrival of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad in 1851 marked a significant milestone, as it brought the railway line to the town along the Androscoggin River.