Kittery, Maine | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: Gateway to Maine | |
  Kittery  Kittery | |
| Coordinates:43°5′35″N70°43′41″W / 43.09306°N 70.72806°W /43.09306; -70.72806 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| County | York |
| Settled | 1623 |
| Incorporated | 1647 |
| Government | |
| • Assessor | Bruce Kerns |
| Area | |
• Total | 75.30 sq mi (195.03 km2) |
| • Land | 17.78 sq mi (46.05 km2) |
| • Water | 57.52 sq mi (148.98 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,070 |
| • Density | 566/sq mi (218.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 03904 (Kittery) 03905 (Kittery Point) |
| Area code | 207 |
| FIPS code | 23-37270 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0582544 |
| Website | www |
Kittery is a town inYork County, Maine, United States, and the oldest incorporated town inMaine.[2] Home to thePortsmouth Naval Shipyard onSeavey's Island, Kittery includesBadger's Island, the seaside district ofKittery Point, thevillage of Kittery, and part of theIsles of Shoals. The southernmost town in the state, it is a tourist destination known for its manyoutlet stores.
Kittery is part of thePortland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. The town's population was 10,070 at the2020 census.[3]
English settlement around the natural harbor of thePiscataqua River estuary began about 1623.[4] By 1632 the community was protected byFort William and Mary on today's New Hampshire side of the river; in 1689 defensive works that later becameFort McClary inKittery Point were added on today's Maine side to the north.
Kittery was incorporated in 1647,[4] staking a claim as the "oldest incorporated town in Maine."[5] It was named after the birthplace of a founder, Alexander Shapleigh, from his manor of Kittery Court atKingswear inDevon,England. Shapleigh arrived in 1635 aboard the shipBenediction, which he co-owned with another prominent settler, Captain Francis Champernowne,[6] a cousin ofSir Ferdinando Gorges, lord proprietor of Maine.[7] Together with the Pepperrell family, they establishedfisheries offshore at theIsles of Shoals, where fish were caught, salted, and exported toEurope. Other pioneers were hunters, trappers, and workers of the region's abundanttimber. The settlement at the mouth of thePiscataqua River was protected byFort McClary.[8]
Thomas Spencer, Esquire, immigrant fromGloucestershire, England, was also settler of Kittery, with his wife Patience Chadbourne. Their story is included inThe Maine Spencers: a history and genealogy, with mention of many associated families.
Kittery originally extended from theAtlantic Ocean inland up theSalmon Falls River, including the present-day towns ofEliot,South Berwick,Berwick, andNorth Berwick. Located oppositePortsmouth,New Hampshire, the town developed into a center for trade and shipbuilding. In 1652, after the death of Gorges, Maine became part of theMassachusetts Bay Colony.
Francis Small was a pioneer resident of Kittery, and operated a trading post near the confluence of theOssipee River andSaco River. Here major Indian trails converged—the Sokokis Trail (nowRoute 5), the Ossipee Trail (nowRoute 25), and the Pequawket Trail (nowRoute 113). The site supported the lucrativefur trade with Indians, but had the risks of living isolated in thewilderness.[9] Small became the largest property owner in the history of Maine, and was known as "the great landowner".[10][11]
In 1663,John Josselyn wrote: "Towns there are, are not many in this province. Kittery, situated not far from Passacataway (Portsmouth), is the most populous."[12]
In late 1694 or early 1695 the enslaved womanRachel of Kittery, Maine was murdered by her enslaver, Nathaniel Keen in Kittery. During the colonial era in Kittery Parish, which included present-day Kittery, Eliot, Berwick and South Berwick, as many as 500 enslaved people were brought to Kittery Parish.[13] TheMaine Historical Society callsSir William Pepperrell (1696 – 1759) of Kittery "Maine's most prolific and infamous slave owner."[14]
In 1705, duringQueen Anne's War, tribes of theWabanaki Confederacy raided the town, killing six residents and taking five prisoners.[15]
During theRevolution, the first vessels of theU.S. Navy were constructed onBadger's Island, including theUSSRanger (1777) commanded byJohn Paul Jones. ThePortsmouth Naval Shipyard, the nation's first federal navy yard, was established in 1800 on Fernald's Island. It connects to the mainland by two bridges. During the Civil War, the facility rebuilt theUSSConstitution, and built theCivil WarUSSKearsarge.Seavey's Island was annexed and became site of the now defunctPortsmouth Naval Prison.[16]
In 1905, theTreaty of Portsmouth, which formally ended theRusso-Japanese War, was signed at the shipyard.
From 1946 and 1977, when racial discrimination in public accommodations was common, Clayton and Hazel Sinclair operated theRock Rest summer guest house in Kittery Point providing lodging to Black vacation travelers.[17] The property was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2008.[18] Rock Rest was featured in the 2020 documentaryDriving While Black, that aired on PBS.[19]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 75.30 sq mi (195.03 km2), of which 57.52 sq mi (148.98 km2) are covered by water.[1] Situated beside theGulf of Maine andAtlantic Ocean, Kittery is drained bySpruce Creek, Spinney Creek, Chauncey Creek, and thePiscataqua River.
Kittery is Maine's southernmost town. The town is crossed byInterstate 95,U.S. Route 1,Maine State Route 101,Maine State Route 103, andMaine State Route 236.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 3,259 | — | |
| 1800 | 3,114 | −4.4% | |
| 1810 | 2,019 | −35.2% | |
| 1820 | 1,886 | −6.6% | |
| 1830 | 2,202 | 16.8% | |
| 1840 | 2,435 | 10.6% | |
| 1850 | 2,706 | 11.1% | |
| 1860 | 2,974 | 9.9% | |
| 1870 | 3,333 | 12.1% | |
| 1880 | 3,230 | −3.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,864 | −11.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,872 | 0.3% | |
| 1910 | 3,533 | 23.0% | |
| 1920 | 4,763 | 34.8% | |
| 1930 | 4,400 | −7.6% | |
| 1940 | 5,374 | 22.1% | |
| 1950 | 8,380 | 55.9% | |
| 1960 | 10,689 | 27.6% | |
| 1970 | 11,028 | 3.2% | |
| 1980 | 9,314 | −15.5% | |
| 1990 | 9,372 | 0.6% | |
| 2000 | 9,543 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 9,490 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 10,070 | 6.1% | |
| [20][21][22] | |||
As of thecensus[23] of 2010, there were 9,490 people, 4,302 households, and 2,488 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 533.7 inhabitants per square mile (206.1/km2). There were 4,942 housing units at an average density of 278.0 per square mile (107.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.1%White, 0.01%African American, 0.1%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.5% fromother races, and 1.5% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 4,302 households, of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% weremarried couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. Of all households, 32.8% were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the town was 43.2 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
As of thecensus[24] of 2000, there were 9,543 people, 4,078 households, and 2,528 families living in the town. The population density was 535.5 inhabitants per square mile (206.8/km2). There were 4,375 housing units at an average density of 245.5 per square mile (94.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.98%White, 1.78%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.65%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.45% fromother races, and 0.94% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 4,078 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% weremarried couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,200, and the median income for a family was $53,343. Males had a median income of $37,096 versus $29,850 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $24,153. About 5.7% of families and 7.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
The Kittery economy is driven by thePortsmouth Naval Shipyard. In 2021, 438 shipyard workers lived in Kittery and were paid a combined $37,784,774. The shipyard's total economic effect on the region in 2022 was $1,457,952,317[25] and in 2021 was $1,322,611,898.[26] In 2022, 7,251 people were employed at the shipyard.[27]
The Kittery Outlets is an outdoor shopping area located on Route 1 next to Interstate 95 with over 100 retailers, including national brands and local shops.[28] The town in 2024 approved the removal of one of the shopping plazas, The Outlets at Kittery, to be replaced with apartment housing, a hotel, and a restaurant.[29]
Kittery Foreside is a popular, walkable neighborhood adjacent to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard that has many commercial businesses, including boutique shops, restaurants, and cafes. It also features historic homes, large shade trees, and a number of arts and culture organizations.[30]
TheWeathervane Restaurant chain was founded in Kittery in 1969.[31] In 2023, thePortland Press Herald reported that Kittery has the highest per capita number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and food businesses in Maine.[32]
In Kittery, coastal property, shoreland infrastructure, and thePortsmouth Naval Shipyard are all vulnerable to rising seas caused by the changing climate. Most vulnerable are low-lying roads, the bridges to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, other bridges, businesses, a church, a fire station, and the working waterfront. To respond to these threats, the town formed a Climate Change Adaptation Committee.[33]
.jpg)
The Kittery Art Association was formed in 1958. It manages the KAA Gallery at 2 Walker Street in Kittery Foreside, as a cultural center and exhibition gallery.[34] The Kittery Art Association purchased the gallery building in 2022 from the town library, where the property was known as the Taylor Building, for $558,700. The Kittery Art Association used to be located at 8 Coleman Avenue in Kittery Point.[35]
TheRice Public Library was built in 1889 at 8 Wentworth Street. The library reopened in 2022 after a $6.1 million renovation.[35]
The nonprofit The Dance Hall is located in the former Grange Hall in Kittery Foreside. It hosts performances and classes in dance and music.[30]
Sites of interest include:
Kittery includes many parks, beaches, and recreational spaces. The largest isFort Foster, a former federal military installation from the 19th century until the 1950s.[37]
Other parks include
Beaches include:[39]
Kittery is home toRobert William Traip Academy (9–12), a formerly private, preparatory school which became public and town-run in 1967. Kittery is also home to Horace Mitchell Primary School (K–3) and Shapleigh School (4–8).
The movieThinner (1996), based on the 1984Stephen Kingnovel, was filmed in Kittery.[citation needed]
The Saturday morning cartoonDinoSquad is based in Kittery/Kittery Point.[citation needed]
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
Places adjacent to Kittery, Maine | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofYork County, Maine,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities and villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
