 Long Sands BeachPhoto by Bill Forte, YorkBeachME.com |
Welcome to our Community Info section. If you are planning a vacation, relocating, currently residing in, or have any particular interest in Southern York County, Maine, you will find the information below, along with each town's detailed page, helpful. If you have any suggestions, or would like additional information on York County, please contact us.
Not just a slogan, but a slice of truth. From the ocean to the mountains, its people to its wildlife, and its culture to its solitude, Maine is a state rich in history and natural beauty, living in the present, and embracing the future. York County, Maine’s southernmost region, boasts endless beaches, secluded coves, a thriving culture, and an incomparable lifestyle that make this area worth a visit, and worth a lifetime.
York County consists of Maine’s most southern towns. Eliot, a classic New England farming village offers tranquility and is minutes from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, best known as the home of the first President Bush, boasts lovely beaches and harbors, wildlife preserves, lively shops, historic homes, and fine restaurants. Kittery, Maine’s "gateway" town, overlooks the shores of the Piscataqua River, directly across from the city of Portsmouth, NH. Kittery Point retains the unspoiled charm of a classic Maine fishing village, with pristine oceanfront homes. Ogunquit offers a wealth of arts and entertainment choices, as well as shop-lined streets, trolley rides, oceanside dining, and inviting beaches. South Berwick, a rural community, is one of the fastest growing towns in Maine. Wells offers a majestic shoreline with sandy beaches and picturesque salt marshes. York, comprised of Cape Neddick, York Harbor, York Village, and York Beach, is a beautiful and diverse town famous for its beaches and friendly atmosphere. Each community offers a wonderful mix of real estate including historic buildings, vintage homes, modern structures and land with waterfront or water views.
York, Maine's southernmost county, is also its oldest. In fact, it is one of the oldest in the country, created in 1636 by a grant from King Charles I of England to Sir Ferdinand Gorges. It initially included part of the the Province of Lygonia, which stretched from the Kennebunk River to the Kennebec River. As defined in the charter of William and Mary in 1691, York County’s boundaries run from the New Hampshire border to the south to the Kennebec and St. Croix rivers to the east. Many important historical documents are on file at the county seat in Alfred, including land transfers from King Charles I to Lord Pepperell, the designation of Fort McLary in Kittery Point, the papers of the last survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and records on the lives of notable authors Sarah Orne Jewett, Kate Douglas Wiggin and Booth Tarkington.
