Introduction
Apart from the central and northern portions of York County, the community at the southern tip of the State of Maine is also important relative to the historical context of New Somersetshire as well as of historic Yorkshire County of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Today, however, the county hosts numerous historic sites as well as art galleries representative of the culture at the beginning of the modern Yankee settlement of the State of Maine.
The Berwicks
The communities of North Berwick, Berwick, and South Berwick are located effectively immediately to the east of the Piscataqua River and the New Hampshire state line. Two notable historic houses remain functional museum sites to this day in the South Berwick community, including the Hamilton House and the Sarah Orne Jewett House. The Lady Mary Inn at Hurd Manor is a notable place to stay in the North Berwick community, and the central Berwick area is directly opposite the City of Somersworth, Strafford County, New Hampshire.
Old Orchard Beach
The Town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, is located at the northern end of the coast of York County in southern Maine, south of the City of Portland and home to the Old Orchard Pier and the historic area of the community. Largely identified as a summer resort community, Old Orchard Beach maintains a permanent population of under ten thousand yet maintains the necessary infrastructure of a significantly larger community within the Portland area.
City of Saco
Saco is a city located on the north side of the Saco River and directly west of the Town of Old Orchard Beach in York County, Maine. The primary attractions on the coast in Saco are the Goosefare Brook Observation Deck and the Camp Ellis Beach. However, more centrally located within the City of Saco are the Saco Quarry, the Point of Factory Island, the River View attraction, and the Saco Museum.
City of Biddeford
Biddeford is a city located on the south side of the Saco River, opposite the City of Saco, in York County, Maine. While the City of Saco is primarily known for serving the greater area, the City of Biddeford contains the islands of Wood Island and Stage Island on the coast, as well as the Mermaid Cove and former Fletcher’s Neck Lifesaving Station areas in the coastal village area at Biddeford Pool. The Mimi Gregoire Carpenter Studio Gallery is located at the southern end of the city, with the Biddeford Campus of the private University of New England located directly over the Saco River opposite the Camp Ellis area of Saco.
Within the downtown area of the City of Biddeford are the signature Lincoln Hotel and the Biddeford Mills Museum, as well as many of the local attractions and shops that define the area of Biddeford and surrounding communities, including Saco and elsewhere in coastal York County.
Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport
The Towns of Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport are three interlocked towns within York County and surrounding regions in the State of Maine. Arundel and Kennebunk are located directly along Route 1 and bypassed by Interstate 95, while Kennebunkport is served more locally by Route 9 along the coast and by Route 35 from the central Kennebunk area.
Within the particular town of Arundel along United States Route 1 is the Maine Classic Car Museum; however, most of the other attractions associated with Arundel are usually either in Kennebunk or in Kennebunkport, both located relatively further south. Arundel is also home to the Hemlock Campground and to the Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, with the Seashore Trolley Museum primarily located just over the line into nearby Kennebunkport.
Within the Coopers Corner area of the Town of Kennebunk are the attractions of the Maine Art Hill and Deborah Randall Fine Art, with the Grist Mill Pond crossing into the Town of Kennebunkport marked by iconic signage indicating the particular location of the town line. The Inn at English Meadows is a four-star resort hotel in the Kennebunk area, with more central locations within the town identified as home to Parson’s Beach on the coast, the Brick Store within the central village, and Gallery 149 within the West Kennebunk village area. The Beach House Inn is yet another resort hotel located along the coast, with numerous other lodging sites primarily along the Kennebunkport town line on either side.
Though the Arundel Farm Gallery may not be physically located within the Town of Arundel, the area of Kennebunkport proper is home to Wendy Webster Good Fine Art and the Homeport Pottery Artisans Gallery in the northern outlying area, as well as the Ewing House associated with the town though in nearby Biddeford.
Further south, approaching the central village area of Kennebunkport, are the notable attractions of the Goat Island Lighthouse, the Wright Gallery, and the Atlantic Hall. Technically within the central village area and the historic district are the F-8, Compliments, Landmark, Northlight, and W R Paine Galleries, as well as the Intown Trolley Company, the Bush Exhibit, the 19th-century mansion of the Kennebunkport Historical Society, the Kennebunkport Inn, the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel (at the trolley company site), the branch of Vermont’s Ben and Jerry’s, and more.
Wells and Ogunquit
The Town of Wells is located just to the south of the Town of Kennebunk and is home to the Johnson Hall Museum, located in the northern portion of the town. Further south is the Town of Ogunquit, home to the Scully Gallery and the potentially seasonal Barn Gallery and Ogunquit Museum of American Art sites. The Lobster Point Lighthouse is also located within the Town of Ogunquit, along with the Sea Bell Gallery and associated resorts and art galleries alike throughout the community area.
Southernmost Towns
The Town of York is immediately to the south of the Town of Ogunquit, with the Museum of American Art situated extremely close to the town line. The Cape Neddick Lighthouse, otherwise known as the “Nubble Lighthouse,” is located within the Town of York. Situated to the west of York are two of the oldest towns in the State of Maine, Eliot and Kittery. Of all towns located within the State of Maine, Kittery is the oldest by year of town establishment. Within the Town of Eliot is the Raitt Homestead Museum, while within the Town of Kittery are the Wood Island Life Saving Station and the Fort McClary State Historic Site. Ultimately, however, these southernmost towns within the State of Maine are highly subordinate to the larger City of Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, representing the culmination of the Seacoast region of the State to the south.
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