Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Old Orchard Beachis aresort towninYork County,Maine,United States. The population was 8,960 at the2020 census.It is part of thePortland−South Portland−Biddeford,MaineMetropolitan Statistical Area.

Old Orchard Beach
Town
Nickname(s): Garden by the Sea, after Thomas Rogers' town
Old Orchard Beach Location in the state of Maine
Coordinates:43°30′49″N70°23′7″W
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	York
Settled	1653
Incorporated	February 20, 1883
Area
• Total	22.53 sq mi (58.35 km2)
• Land	7.43 sq mi (19.24 km2)
• Water	15.10 sq mi (39.11 km2)
Elevation	80 ft (31 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	8,960
• Density	1,206/sq mi (465.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4(Eastern)
ZIP Code	04064
Area code	Area code 207
FIPS code	23-55085
GNISfeature ID	0582647
Website	www.oobmaine.com

Located on the inner side ofSaco Bayon theAtlantic Ocean,the town is a popularseaside resort.The downtown contains many tourist-oriented businesses, includingclamshacks and T-shirt shops. A wooden pier on the beach contains many other tourist businesses, including a variety ofsouvenirshops. The town’s seven mile (11 km) long beach extends into the towns ofScarboroughandSaco,and is lined with many beach residential properties,condominiums,motels andbed and breakfasts.

Early history

People of theAbenakination have inhabited the area since before contact.The first European visitor to the area around the mouth of the Saco and Goosefare rivers was British explorerMartin Pringin 1603.

The Old Orchard Beach area began appearing in historical records around 1653. The area was first officially settled in 1657 by Thomas Rogers who had arrived in the Goosefare Brook area in 1636,and who dubbed it "The Garden By The Sea". The town takes its name from Rogers' abandoned apple orchard. Rogers' family left the area and relocated inKittery, Maineafter an Indian attack destroyed the Rogers' homestead. The namesake orchard survived for approximately 150 years as a beacon of land to sailors in the Atlantic Ocean.The historicFree Will Baptistrevival camp atOcean Park, Maine,just down the beach from central Old Orchard, was built in 1881 byBates CollegePresidentOren B. Cheney.The mission of the Association, as declared to the State of Maine on January 24, 1881, was "to establish a place of summer resort for holding religious, educational and other meetings at Old Orchard, inSaco, Maine,in the County of York. ".The community still thrives today.

Tourist resort

In 1829 the first Public House opened. In 1837 tourists were paying a small amount to stay at a local farm while they visited the area. In 1942, trains could be taken from Boston to Portland. Over the years Old Orchard developed into a major resort. At one point, planes were able to take off from the beach, as well as, some automobiles racing on the sand. Most of the large hotels were destroyed in the fire of 1907.The oldest hotel still standing on the beachfront in Old Orchard at this time is The Ocean House Hotel & Motel, circa 1895, located at 71 West Grand Avenue.It retains its original parlors and character. In 1923, when discrimination in lodging was rampant and Black musicians were denied rooms in other local hotels, theCummings' Guest Houseopened at 110 Portland Avenue to offer lodging to Black visitors. It was operated by Rose and Edward Cummings Jr. and prominent guests includedDuke Ellington,Cab Calloway,Count Basie,andLionel Hampton.The guest house operated until 1993.

Attractions

The seaside amusement parkPalace Playlandis located in Old Orchard Beach. The amusement park dates back to 1902 and sits on four acres of beachfront property. Palace Playland is one of the last old-timey oceanside amusement parks inNew England.

Old Orchard Beach was home to the firstcarouselin the United States, and in the past there were two carousels with hand-carved horses and other animals.Noah's Ark,a kid-friendly, boat-shaped funhouse with hand-carved figures of Noah and his family, was designed to provide an exciting but not frightening experience for a 5-year-old. The entire structure would rock back and forth while guests meandered through dark passages. Colored lights would flash, loud klaxons would sound, and compressed air would shoot from the floor. On the Jack and Jill slide, two people would be placed on a large hemp mat in a wooden bucket, which would take them to the top of a 50-foot (15 m) tall tower and dump them onto a metal slide for a quick ride down.

The current 2019 version ofPalace Playlandconsists of a newly builtFerris wheel,a 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m²) arcade, and 25 rides for both children and adults. The new Ferris wheel replaces the 70-foot (21 m) tall, decades old Sunwheel with one that is environmentally sound and technologically superior.and a brand new roller coaster opening in 2018 known as the “sea viper”

Every Thursday the beach has a firework show at the pier at night. This occurs in the summer from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

The Pier

Pier at Old Orchard Beach

Three versions of the Pier were constructed by people and modified by nature. The first, 1,770 feet (540 m) long, was built of steel in 1898. When the ribbon was cut on July 2, 1898, it was a “global cultural icon,” at 1,825 feet the longest steel pier in the world, created by Berlin Iron Bridge Co. at a cost of $38,000.At its end was the Pier Casino, a ballroom with room for 5,000 dancers. Shortly after its completion a storm reduced its length by 150 feet (46 m). It was rebuilt, but 10 years later, after another storm, the pier was shortened to 700 feet (210 m) and the Casino was moved. In the interwar period, the Casino hosted such acts asGuy Lombardo,Louis Armstrong,Benny Goodman,Xavier CugatandFrank Sinatra.After the war Old Orchard became somewhat downscale, becoming known as a destination forblue-collarpartygoers. A fire in 1969 destroyed Noah's Ark, the twocarousels,the Whale's Mouth, the Mine Ride, and the Jack and Jill slide. The Casino was demolished in 1970. The current incarnation of the pier was built in 1980 after being destroyed by ablizzardin 1978.The current structure stretches 500 feet (150 m) into theAtlantic Ocean.The wooden walk way is lined with souvenir shops, carnival-style foods, and a night club at the end of the pier.

Sports

Old Orchard Beach was home to several minor league and collegiate level baseball teams. TheMaine Guidesplayed atThe Ballparkfrom 1984 to 1988 and were the AAA affiliate of thePhiladelphia Phillies.The Guides relocated in 1989 after finishing last in attendance and in wins in theInternational Leagueduring their final season in Old Orchard Beach.The Ballpark opened in 1984 and was renovated in 2009. Approximately $240,000 worth of volunteer labor and goods went into the project.Old Orchard Beach Surge, a baseball team which played in theindependentEmpire Professional Baseball League.The Surge relocated toSaranac Lake, New Yorkin 2019 and continued to play as theSaranac Lake Surge.From 2012-2014, theOld Orchard Beach Raging Tidein theNew England Collegiate Baseball Leagueplayed at the ballpark. in 2014 Owners John and Pam Gallo sold the Raging Tide franchise, which became theBristol Blues.

Geography and transportation

The beach at Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach is located on theSouthern Maine Coast.It is bounded by Saco Bay to the east, Scarborough to the northeast, and Saco on all other sides.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 22.53 square miles (58.35 km²), of which 7.43 square miles (19.24 km²) is land and 15.10 square miles (39.11 km²) is water.

During summer months,Amtrak'sDowneastertrain stops atOld Orchard Beach stationwith service to thePortland Transportation Centerand Boston'sNorth Station.

Twin cities

Old Orchard Beach is the twin city of the French seaside resort ofMimizan,as a reminder ofOiseau Canari,the pioneer aircraft crossing of the Atlantic by Assollant, Lefèvre and Lotti in 1929 to Oyambre (Cantabria, Spain).

Immigration and foreign affairs

Old Orchard Beach, during the high tourist season, sees an influx ofLithuanian,Latvian,Turkish,Serbian,BulgarianandRussianforeign exchange students looking for summer work. Many French Canadians, especially from the province ofQuebec,come for summer vacations, and it is common to hear conversations inFrench.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	887		—
1900	964		8.7%
1910	961		−0.3%
1920	1,164		21.1%
1930	1,620		39.2%
1940	2,557		57.8%
1950	4,707		84.1%
1960	4,580		−2.7%
1970	5,404		18.0%
1980	6,291		16.4%
1990	7,789		23.8%
2000	8,856		13.7%
2010	8,624		−2.6%
2020	8,960		3.9%
sources:

Ferris wheelseen from the beach in Old Orchard Beach

Leavitt House, Old Orchard Beach, Maine,c. 1870

"Takadip" Bath House in 1914, Old Orchard Beach, ME

2010 census

As of thecensusof 2010, there were 8,624 people, 4,454 households, and 2,106 families residing in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 1,160.7 inhabitants per square mile (448.1/km²). There were 6,886 housing units at an average density of 926.8 per square mile (357.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.2%White,0.0%African American,0.8%Native American,0.9%Asian,0.1% fromother races,and 0.0% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 4,454 households, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.7% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.61.

The median age in the town was 47.8 years. 14.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 35.7% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Old Orchard Beach is in House District 13 and represented in Augusta by Lori Gramlich.

In popular culture

• The Magnetic Fieldshave a song entitled "Old Orchard Beach" on their 1992 albumThe Wayward Bus.
• Maine authorJosh Pahigianhas a mystery novel entitled "Strangers on the Beach" set in Old Orchard Beach.
• Part ofStephen King's novelThinneris set at Old Orchard Beach.
• TheArchers Beachseries bySharon Lee (writer)has a setting inspired by Old Orchard Beach and Palace Playland.
• The town (including the pier) is represented in the map of the 2014 open world racing video gameThe Crewandits 2018 sequel.
• The town was the fabled home of Sidd Finch, a fake baseball player created byGeorge Plimptonin one of the most famous sports-related hoaxes of all time.

Notable people

• Laura Creavalle,Guyanese-bornCanadian/Americanprofessional bodybuilder
• David Lemoine,state legislator
• Leatrice Morin,state legislator (1973–1976)
• Jerome Plante,state legislator and town manager
• Charles Scontras,labor historian

See also

• The Ballpark
• Cummings' Guest House

External links

• Town of Old Orchard Beach
• Epodunk Town Profile
• Vintage Images of Old Orchard Beach