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Biddeford, Maine

Coordinates:43°28′27″N70°26′46″W/ 43.47417°N 70.44611°W/43.47417; -70.44611
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Not to be confused withBideford.

Biddeford
City
City Hall
City Hall
Official seal of Biddeford
Seal
Nickname:
Twin City
Motto:
"A Proud City Rising Where the Water Falls"
Biddeford is located in Maine
Biddeford
Biddeford
Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates:43°28′27″N70°26′46″W/ 43.47417°N 70.44611°W/43.47417; -70.44611
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyYork
First Landing1616
Settled1631
Incorporated(town)July 5, 1653
Incorporated (city)February 10, 1855
Government
•MayorMartin Grohman
Area
[1]
• Total59.08 sq mi (153.02 km2)
• Land30.09 sq mi (77.92 km2)
• Water29.00 sq mi (75.10 km2)
Elevation
69 ft (21 m)
Population
(2020)
• Total22,552
• Density749.61/sq mi (289.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(EST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP Codes
04005–04007
Area code207
FIPS code23-04860
GNISfeature ID0562119
Websitehttp:// Biddefordmaine.org

Biddeford(/ˈbɪdɪfərd/BID-ə-fərd) is a city inYork County, Maine,United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the2020 census.[2]The twin cities ofSacoand Biddeford include the resort communities ofBiddeford PoolandFortunes Rocks.The town is the site of theUniversity of New Englandand the annualLa Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival.First visited byEuropeansin 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States. It is home toSaint Joseph's Church,the tallest building in Maine.[3]

Biddeford is a principal population center of thePortland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan statistical area.

History[edit]

Town hallc. 1885

The first European to settle at Biddeford was physician Richard Vines in the winter of 1616–1617 at Winter Harbor, as he calledBiddeford Pool.This 1616 landing by a European antedates theMayflowerlanding in Plymouth, Massachusetts, (located 100 miles to the south) by about four years, a fact overlooked in much of New England lore.[4]In 1630, thePlymouth Companygranted the land south of theRiver Swanckadocketo Dr. Vines and John Oldham. In 1653, the town included both sides of the river, and was incorporated by theMassachusetts General Courtas Saco.[5]

Biddeford was first incorporated as the Town of Saco in 1653.[6]Roger Spencer was granted the right in 1653 to build the firstsawmill.Lumberandfishbecame the community's chief exports. In 1659, Major William Phillips ofBostonbecame a proprietor, and constructed agarrisonandmillat the falls. Settlers withdrew to Winter Harbor for safety, and their homes and mills upriver at the falls were burned. In 1693, a stone fort was built a short distance below the falls, but it was allegedly captured by Native Americans in 1703, when 11 colonists were killed and 24 taken captive toCanada.In 1688,Fort Marywas built near the entrance to Biddeford Pool.[7]The town was reorganized in 1718 as Biddeford, afterBideford,a town inDevon, England,from which some settlers had emigrated. After theFall of Quebecin 1759, hostilities with the indigenous people ceased.[5]DuringKing Philip's Warin 1675, the town, once again, was allegedly attacked by Native Americans.

In 1762, the land northeast of the river was set off as Pepperellborough, which in 1805 was renamed Saco. The first bridge to Saco was built in 1767. The river divides into two falls that drop 40 feet (12 m), providingwater powerfor mills. Factories were established to make boots and shoes. The developingmill townalso hadgranitequarriesandbrickyards,in addition to lumber andgrainmills. Majortextilemanufacturing facilities were constructed along the riverbanks, including the Laconia Company in 1845, and the Pepperell Company in 1850. Biddeford was incorporated as a city in 1855.[8]

The mills attracted waves of immigrants, including theIrish,Albanians,andFrench-CanadiansfromQuebec.At one time, thetextile millsemployed as many as 12,000 people, but as happened elsewhere, the industry entered a long period of decline. As of 2009, the last remaining textile company in the city, WestPoint Home, closed. The property occupying the mill has been sold and is being redeveloped into housing and new businesses. The lastlog drivedown the Saco River was in 1943, with the last log sawed in 1948. Biddeford's name is engraved near the top level ofThe Pilgrim Monument,inProvincetown,Massachusetts,along with the names of some of the oldest cities and towns in New England.[9]

DuringWorld War II,theBiddeford Pool Military Reservationwas established from 1942 to 1945, on what is now the Abenakee Golf Club. It had four circular concrete platforms called "Panama mounts"for155-mm guns,three of which remain today.[10]

Geography[edit]

TugboatHerseytied up at Bragdon's Wharf, Biddeford, 1912

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 59.08 square miles (153.02 km2), of which 28.99 square miles (75.08 km2) are covered by water.[11]Situated besideSaco Bayon the Gulf of Maine, Biddeford is drained by theLittle Riverand theSaco River.The city proper has very diverse geography, from inland rolling hillside, to urban settlement, to coastal sprawl.

The city is crossed byInterstate 95,U. S. Route 1,and state routes5,9,111,and208.It is bordered by the city ofSacoto the north, theAtlantic Oceanto the east, the towns ofDaytonandLymanto the west, and the towns ofKennebunkportandArundelto the south. The Little River forms a portion of the border between Biddeford and theGoose Rocksneighborhood of Kennebunkport, in Biddeford's most southerly region (Granite Point). East Point, located on the peninsula of Biddeford Pool, is the easternmost point in York County.

Timber Island, the most southerly point in the City of Biddeford, lies in Goosefare Bay at the mouth of the Little River, and is accessible at low tide from Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport. The island and most of adjacent Timber Point became part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in December 2011.

The city has almost 15 miles (24 km) of frontage along the Saco River, and an Atlantic coastline on which the seaside neighborhoods ofHills Beach,Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks andGranite Pointare located. Biddeford includesWood Island Light,alighthouselocated about a mile offshore from Biddeford Pool.

Climate[edit]

Thisclimaticregion is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to theKöppen climate classification,Biddeford has ahumid continental climate,Dfbon climate maps.[12]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17901,018—
18001,29627.3%
18101,56320.6%
18201,73811.2%
18301,99514.8%
18402,57429.0%
18506,095136.8%
18609,34953.4%
187010,28210.0%
188012,65123.0%
189014,44314.2%
190016,14511.8%
191017,0795.8%
192018,0085.4%
193017,633−2.1%
194019,79012.2%
195020,8365.3%
196019,255−7.6%
197019,9833.8%
198019,638−1.7%
199020,7105.5%
200020,9421.1%
201021,2771.6%
202022,5526.0%
2022 (est.)22,450−0.5%
sources[13]

2010 census[edit]

At the 2010census,[14]there were 21,277 people, 8,598 households and 4,972 families residing in the city. Thepopulation densitywas 707.1 inhabitants per square mile (273.0/km2). There were 10,064 housing units at an average density of 334.5 per square mile (129.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.8%White,1.0%African American,0.5%Native American,1.7%Asian,0.4% fromother races,and 1.6% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 8,598 households, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% weremarried couplesliving together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 15.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census[edit]

At the 2000census,[15]there were 20,942 people, 8,636 households and 5,259 families residing in the city. The population density was 697.8 inhabitants per square mile (269.4/km2). There were 9,631 housing units at an average density of 320.9 per square mile (123.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.65 percentWhite,0.64 percentAfrican American,0.40 percentNative American,0.99 percentAsian,0.03 percentPacific Islander,0.18 percent fromother races,and 1.12 percent from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.65 percent of the population.

There were 7,636 households, of which 28.4 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4 percent weremarried couplesliving together, 12.2 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1 percent were non-families. 29.7 percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.88.

22.1 percent of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1 percent from 18 to 24, 29.5 percent from 25 to 44, 21.8 percent from 45 to 64, and 15.5 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

Themedian household incomewas $37,164 and the median family income was $44,109. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $24,715 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $18,214. About 8.6 percent of families and 13.8 percent of the population were below thepoverty line,including 19.8 percent of those under age 18 and 10.3 percent of those age 65 or over.

Economy[edit]

The old mills of Biddeford

Biddeford is one of Maine's fastest-growing commercial centers, due to its close proximity to theSeacoast Regionof New Hampshire and to northern Massachusetts. In recent years, strip malls have developed along theState Route 111corridor. In late 2006, a 500,000-square-foot (46,000 m2) shopping center known as The Shops at Biddeford Crossing opened, with 20 stores and five restaurants.

Recent interest in revitalizing the downtown area has brought new life to the old mills. The North Dam Mill is one example of this movement offering retail stores, art studios, cultural events, and upscale housing.

Biddeford is home to large institutions includingSouthern Maine Health Careand theUniversity of New England,a fast-growing school located along the coast which includes Maine's only medical school, theUniversity of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.[16]Telecommunications companyGWI.netis headquartered in the city. The city also possesses a wide array of community facilities including public beaches, an ice arena, a full-serviceYMCA,and one school which has been recently recognized as aNational School of Excellence.

Arts and culture[edit]

Main Street

Tourism[edit]

Anchoring Biddeford's historic downtown areMcArthur Public LibraryandBiddeford's City Theater.Biddeford has a number of properties and two Historic Districts entered into theNational Register of Historic Places.[17]The newest addition is the Main Street Historic District, entered into the National Register on December 24, 2009. Other downtown National Register properties include the Biddeford-Saco Mills Historic District, Biddeford City Hall, Dudley Block and the U.S. Post Office. National Register properties outside of downtown and in the Biddeford Pool area include the John Tarr House,First Parish Meetinghouse,Fletcher's Neck Lifesaving Station and the James Montgomery Flagg House.[18]There are also many festivals and concerts held around the city.[19][20]

Sites of interest[edit]

Infrastructure[edit]

Transportation[edit]

Biddeford was the eastern terminus of the now-defunct New England InterstateRoute 11,which ended inManchester, Vermont.State Route 111, which travels through Biddeford's main commercial corridor, is now numbered in Old Route 11's place.Biddeford Municipal Airportis located two miles south of thecentral business district.TheSaco Transportation CenterAmtrak stop serves downtown Biddeford.

Local bus service in Biddeford is provided byBiddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit,connecting the city to destinations inSacoandPortland.

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedApril 8,2022.
  2. ^"Census - Geography Profile: Biddeford city, Maine".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 8,2022.
  3. ^"History".Good Shepherd Parish. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ^State Street Trust Company.Towns of New England and Old England.Boston, 1921.
  5. ^abCoolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859).A History and Description of New England.Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp.54–56.coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
  6. ^"Biddeford, York County - Maine Genealogy".mainegenealogy.net.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  7. ^Fort Mary, Biddeford Pool,Down East Magazine,Vol. 51, Issue 4, Nov. 2004, p. 76Archived2015-11-17 at theWayback Machine
  8. ^Varney, George J. (1886),Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Biddeford,Boston: Russell[permanent dead link]
  9. ^"In and About Biddeford".Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2016.RetrievedAugust 28,2018.
  10. ^"Biddeford Pool Military Reservation - FortWiki Historic U.S. and Canadian Forts".fortwiki.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  11. ^"US Gazetteer files 2010".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2012.RetrievedNovember 23,2012.
  12. ^"Biddeford, Maine Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)".Weatherbase.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  13. ^library.umaine.eduArchived2008-12-20 at theWayback Machine,retrieved October, 2008.
  14. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedNovember 23,2012.
  15. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  16. ^City of Biddeford website.http:// biddefordmaine.org/
  17. ^NPS-National Register of Historic Places.http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.doArchived2015-05-06 at theWayback Machine
  18. ^NPS-National Register of Historic Places.http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natregsearchresult.do?briefnav=trueArchived2011-10-16 at theWayback Machine
  19. ^Hatt, Coley (July 14, 2022)."Singer Eli Lev performs at Flourish Music Cafe in Biddeford".Press Herald.RetrievedSeptember 7,2023.
  20. ^"2023 River Jam & Fringe Fest".heartofbiddeford.org.RetrievedSeptember 7,2023.
  21. ^Brother Cajetan Baumann, OFMArchived2011-05-27 at theWayback Machine,St. Bonaventure University,(Accessed 10 February 2011)
  22. ^"A Conversation With UMass President Robert Caret".Radio Boston.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  23. ^NA, NA (December 25, 2015).Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers.Springer. p. 456.ISBN978-1-349-81366-7.
  24. ^"District 32 Sen. Susan Deschambault - Maine State Legislature".legislature.maine.gov.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  25. ^"Brian Dumoulin".Official Site of the Pittsburgh PenguinsAndover Phillips Academy.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  26. ^Office, Clerk's."Maine House of Representatives: Ryan M. Fecteau".legislature.maine.gov.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  27. ^"Milo Is Building an Indie Rap Empire".vulture.November 15, 2017.RetrievedJune 23,2019.
  28. ^"FRENCH, John Robert, (1819-1890)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedDecember 18,2013.
  29. ^"Former Maine teacher 'Ms Rachel' posts educational videos for the masses".newscentermaine.April 10, 2023.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
  30. ^"Ms. Rachel",Wikipedia,November 10, 2023,retrievedNovember 11,2023
  31. ^"Haiku Writer Cor Van Den Heuval".performance.millikin.edu.RetrievedMay 4,2017.
  32. ^"HILL, Mark Langdon, (1772-1842)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  33. ^"Linda Kasabian biography".Bio.True Story.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  34. ^"Louis B. Lausier (1879-1962)".Biddeford History & Heritage Project.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^"MACDONALD, Moses, (1815-1869)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  36. ^"Representative Marc Malon, II".legislature.maine.gov.RetrievedJanuary 19,2024.
  37. ^"MELLEN, Prentiss, (1764-1840)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  38. ^"Thomas Bird Mosher, 1852-1923".Maine State Library.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  39. ^"General Wallace H. Nutting"(PDF).Mission: Readiness.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  40. ^"The Bernard Osher Foundation - Biographies".osherfoundation.org.RetrievedApril 2,2018.
  41. ^"Freddy Parent Stats".Baseball Almanac.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  42. ^"New Hampshire Governor Henry Brewer Quinby".National Governors Association.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  43. ^"SOMES, Daniel Eton, (1815-1888)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  44. ^"Charles A ShawBiddeford History & Heritage Project".RetrievedDecember 14,2013.[dead link]
  45. ^"Art and Influence".RetrievedMarch 23,2016.
  46. ^abMcArthur Public Library-Biographical Index.http:// mcarthurpubliclibrary.org/index.php?id=20#s
  47. ^McArthur Public Library-Biographical Index.http://biddeford.mainememory.net/slideshow/546/display%3Fuse_mmn=&prev_object_id=1659&prev_object=page.html[permanent dead link]
  48. ^"Joanne Twomey Maine.gov".RetrievedDecember 14,2013.[permanent dead link]
  49. ^"Joan Wasser survives as Joan As Police Woman".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.
  50. ^"Amos Whitney (1832-1920)".Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation.RetrievedDecember 14,2013.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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