York County, Maine | |
|---|---|
 York County Courthouse in Alfred | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMaine | |
| Coordinates:43°26′45″N70°39′48″W / 43.445782°N 70.663216°W /43.445782; -70.663216 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| Founded | 1636 |
| Named after | York,England[1] |
| Seat | Alfred |
| Largest city | Biddeford |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,270 sq mi (3,300 km2) |
| • Land | 991 sq mi (2,570 km2) |
| • Water | 279 sq mi (720 km2) 22% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 211,972 |
• Estimate (2024) | 220,143 |
| • Density | 214/sq mi (82.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | yorkcountymaine |
York County is both the southernmost and the westernmostcounty in theU.S. state ofMaine, along the state ofNew Hampshire's eastern border. It is divided fromStrafford County, New Hampshire, by theSalmon Falls River and the connected tidal estuary, thePiscataqua River. York County was permanently established in 1636. Several of Maine's earliest colonial settlements are found in the county, which is the state's oldest and one of the oldest in the United States. As of the2020 census, its population was 211,972,[2] making it Maine's second-most populous county. Itscounty seat isAlfred.[3] York County is part of thePortland–South Portland, MaineMetropolitan Statistical Area.
The first patent establishing the Province of Maine was granted on August 10, 1622, toFerdinando Gorges andJohn Mason by thePlymouth Council for New England, which itself had been granted a royal patent byJames I to the coast ofNorth America between the40th and the48th parallels "from sea to sea". This first patent encompassed the coast between theMerrimack andKennebec rivers, as well as an irregular parcel of land between the headwaters of the two rivers. In 1629, Gorges and Mason agreed to split the patent at thePiscataqua River, with Mason retaining the land south of the river as theProvince of New Hampshire.
Gorges named his more northerly piece of territoryNew Somersetshire. This venture failed, however, because of lack of funds and colonial settlement. Also failed was a venture by Capt.Christopher Levett, an agent for Gorges and a member of the Council for New England. With the King's blessing, Levett embarked on a scheme to found a colony on the site of present-dayPortland. Levett was granted 6,000 acres (24 km2) of land, the first Englishman to own the soil of Portland. There he proposed to found a settlement namedYork after the city of his birth in England. Ultimately, the project was abandoned, the men Levett left behind disappeared, and Levett died aboard ship on his return to England from theMassachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. One part of Levett's scheme did survive: the name of York, which now adorns the county.
The now-decommissionedFort Levett onCushing Island inCasco Bay is named for Capt. Levett.
Gorges obtained a renewed patent for the area between thePiscataqua andKennebec Rivers, in the form of a royal charter fromCharles I of England. The area was roughly the same as that covered in the 1622 patent after the 1629 split with Mason. The second colony also foundered for lack of money and settlers, although it survived the death of Gorges in 1647.
In the 1650s the nearbyMassachusetts Bay Colony asserted territorial claims over what is now southern Maine, and by 1658 had completely absorbed what is now southwestern Maine intoYork County, Massachusetts.
The first known and recorded offer for a purchase of land in York County is in 1668, when Francis Small traded goods with theNewichewannock tribe of this area. Their Chief Wesumbe, also known as Captain Sandy, was friendly with Small and warned him of a plot against his life. A group of renegade tribesmen planned on murdering Small instead of paying him with the furs that were owed to him. Small escaped after watching his house in what is now Cornish, Maine, burn to the ground. Small returned and rebuilt. The Chief made up the loss by selling Small all the lands bounded by the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers, the Saco River, and the New Hampshire border. Known now as the five Ossipee towns, the tract included all of Limington, Limerick, Cornish (formerly named Francisborough), Newfield and Parsonsfield.
The large size of the county led to its division in 1760, withCumberland andLincoln counties carved out of its eastern portions. When Massachusetts adopted its state government in 1780, it created theDistrict of Maine to manage its eastern territories. In 1805 the northern portion of York County was separated to form part ofOxford County. When Maine achieved statehood in 1820 all of the counties of the District of Maine becamecounties of Maine.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,270 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 991 square miles (2,570 km2) is land and 279 square miles (720 km2) (22%) is water.[4]
| Mountain Name | Elevation (feet) | Community |
|---|---|---|
| Clark Mountain | 1,320 | Cornish |
| Wiggin Mountain | 1,300 | Parsonsfield |
| Sawyer Mountain, main summit | 1,200 | Limington |
| Sawyer Mountain, north summit | 1,200 | Limerick |
| Province Mountain | 1,176 | Newfield |
| Fort Ridge, main summit | 1,114 | Shapleigh |
| Ossipee Hill | 1,058 | Waterboro |
| Hussey Hill | 1,051 | Acton |
| Fort Ridge, south slope | 1,000 | Alfred |
| Prospect Hill | 880 | Lebanon |
| Bauneg Beg Hill | 866 | North Berwick |
| Mount Agamenticus | 692 | York |
| Mount Hope | 680 | Sanford |
| Whitehouse Hill | 581 | Hollis |
| Grant Hill | 502 | Lyman |
| No name (hill) | 385 | Buxton |
| Welch Hill | 370 | South Berwick |
| No name (hill) | 360 | Wells |
| Clark Hill | 360 | Dayton |
| Third Hill | 360 | Eliot |
| No name (hill) | 300 | Biddeford |
| No name (hill) | 240 | Arundel |
| No name (hill) | 230 | Saco |
| No name (hill) | 223 | Kennebunk |
| 6 unnamed locations | 200 | Kennebunkport |
| 5 unnamed locations | 160 | Ogunquit |
| Cutts Ridge | 140 | Kittery |
| No name (hill) | 138 | Old Orchard Beach |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 29,078 | — | |
| 1800 | 37,896 | 30.3% | |
| 1810 | 41,877 | 10.5% | |
| 1820 | 46,283 | 10.5% | |
| 1830 | 51,722 | 11.8% | |
| 1840 | 54,034 | 4.5% | |
| 1850 | 60,098 | 11.2% | |
| 1860 | 62,107 | 3.3% | |
| 1870 | 60,174 | −3.1% | |
| 1880 | 62,257 | 3.5% | |
| 1890 | 62,829 | 0.9% | |
| 1900 | 64,885 | 3.3% | |
| 1910 | 68,526 | 5.6% | |
| 1920 | 70,696 | 3.2% | |
| 1930 | 72,934 | 3.2% | |
| 1940 | 82,550 | 13.2% | |
| 1950 | 93,541 | 13.3% | |
| 1960 | 99,402 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 111,576 | 12.2% | |
| 1980 | 139,666 | 25.2% | |
| 1990 | 164,587 | 17.8% | |
| 2000 | 186,742 | 13.5% | |
| 2010 | 197,131 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 211,972 | 7.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 220,143 | [5] | 3.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010–2019[10] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 211,972. Of the residents, 18.2% were under the age of 18 and 21.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males. 48.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 52.0% lived in rural areas.[11][12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% White, 1.0%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[13]
There were 88,924 households in the county, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 112,198 housing units, of which 20.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.0% were owner-occupied and 26.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.[12]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 181,286 | 188,422 | 194,044 | 97.07% | 95.58% | 91.54% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 752 | 1,036 | 2,009 | 0.40% | 0.52% | 0.94% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 434 | 540 | 566 | 0.23% | 0.27% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,361 | 2,088 | 2,502 | 0.72% | 1.05% | 1.18% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 51 | 32 | 58 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 104 | 104 | 681 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.32% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,453 | 2,431 | 8,015 | 0.77% | 1.23% | 3.78% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,301 | 2,478 | 4,097 | 0.69% | 1.25% | 1.93% |
| Total | 186,742 | 197,131 | 211,972 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 197,131 people, 81,009 households, and 53,136 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 199.0 inhabitants per square mile (76.8/km2). There were 105,773 housing units at an average density of 106.8 per square mile (41.2/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% wereEnglish, 19.3% wereIrish, 9.8% wereFrench Canadian, 8.1% wereGerman, 7.9% wereItalian, 5.8% wereAmerican, and 5.6% wereScottish.[19]
Of the 81,009 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.4% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 43.0 years.[17]
The median income for a household in the county was $55,008 and the median income for a family was $65,077. Males had a median income of $47,117 versus $34,001 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,137. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[20]
At the 2000census,[21] there were 186,742 people, 74,563 households and 50,851 families living in the county. The population density was 188 inhabitants per square mile (73/km2). There were 94,234 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.56%White, 0.42%Black orAfrican American, 0.24%Native American, 0.73%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.17% fromother races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. The most cited ethnicities wereEnglish (17.9%),French (14.5%),French Canadian (13.9%),Irish (12.5%),United States or American (9.6%) andItalian (5.1%). 90.84% of the population spokeEnglish and 6.92% spokeFrench as their first language.[22]
There were 74,563 households, of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% weremarried couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
Age distribution was 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males. The median age was 38 years.
The median household income was $43,630, and the median family income was $51,419. Males had a median income of $36,317 versus $26,016 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $21,225. About 5.90% of families and 8.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Historically, York County was one of the more Democratic counties in Maine, a solid Republican state for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. York backed DemocratWoodrow Wilson in both1912 and1916, and voted for the Democratic nominee in each election from1936 to1948, even as the state as a whole backed the Republican in each of those elections. It was also one of only two counties in Maine to back DemocratJohn F. Kennedy in1960 (Androscoggin was the other). Since1952, it has voted for the statewide winner in each presidential election, except for1960 and1976 when DemocratJimmy Carter won York County while the state as a whole voted for RepublicanGerald Ford. Although home to theBush family compound, it only supported theBush family in one of its four presidential runs (that ofGeorge H. W. Bush in1988). DemocratJoe Biden became the first candidate from any party to break 70,000 votes in the county, doing so in2020.
At the same time, it has voted for Republican SenatorSusan Collins in all of her reelection campaigns, most recently in2020.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 7,700 | 51.23% | 7,090 | 47.18% | 239 | 1.59% |
| 1884 | 7,127 | 51.01% | 5,939 | 42.51% | 906 | 6.48% |
| 1888 | 7,255 | 55.20% | 5,576 | 42.43% | 311 | 2.37% |
| 1892 | 6,387 | 53.20% | 5,237 | 43.62% | 382 | 3.18% |
| 1896 | 7,532 | 66.44% | 3,456 | 30.49% | 348 | 3.07% |
| 1900 | 6,949 | 61.52% | 4,046 | 35.82% | 300 | 2.66% |
| 1904 | 7,096 | 68.41% | 2,866 | 27.63% | 411 | 3.96% |
| 1908 | 6,700 | 59.64% | 4,090 | 36.40% | 445 | 3.96% |
| 1912 | 3,960 | 30.25% | 5,121 | 39.12% | 4,008 | 30.62% |
| 1916 | 6,375 | 47.45% | 6,854 | 51.02% | 206 | 1.53% |
| 1920 | 13,536 | 65.77% | 6,852 | 33.29% | 192 | 0.93% |
| 1924 | 16,244 | 68.17% | 6,004 | 25.20% | 1,580 | 6.63% |
| 1928 | 18,671 | 64.78% | 10,030 | 34.80% | 119 | 0.41% |
| 1932 | 17,301 | 53.53% | 14,760 | 45.67% | 258 | 0.80% |
| 1936 | 17,827 | 48.09% | 18,017 | 48.60% | 1,226 | 3.31% |
| 1940 | 16,547 | 42.59% | 22,276 | 57.33% | 32 | 0.08% |
| 1944 | 18,122 | 45.82% | 21,386 | 54.08% | 39 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 17,819 | 46.00% | 20,554 | 53.06% | 364 | 0.94% |
| 1952 | 27,045 | 56.74% | 20,524 | 43.06% | 95 | 0.20% |
| 1956 | 29,256 | 62.03% | 17,910 | 37.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 25,763 | 49.60% | 26,171 | 50.39% | 3 | 0.01% |
| 1964 | 13,339 | 28.10% | 34,083 | 71.80% | 45 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 18,931 | 38.91% | 28,817 | 59.23% | 904 | 1.86% |
| 1972 | 30,452 | 57.53% | 22,464 | 42.44% | 20 | 0.04% |
| 1976 | 27,380 | 44.95% | 31,996 | 52.52% | 1,540 | 2.53% |
| 1980 | 31,412 | 46.31% | 28,279 | 41.69% | 8,146 | 12.01% |
| 1984 | 43,554 | 60.43% | 28,241 | 39.19% | 275 | 0.38% |
| 1988 | 46,334 | 59.98% | 30,262 | 39.17% | 653 | 0.85% |
| 1992 | 32,241 | 34.09% | 35,507 | 37.55% | 26,815 | 28.36% |
| 1996 | 26,594 | 32.05% | 42,317 | 51.00% | 14,068 | 16.95% |
| 2000 | 42,304 | 44.74% | 46,618 | 49.31% | 5,628 | 5.95% |
| 2004 | 49,526 | 45.01% | 58,702 | 53.35% | 1,805 | 1.64% |
| 2008 | 42,389 | 38.83% | 64,799 | 59.36% | 1,973 | 1.81% |
| 2012 | 43,900 | 40.63% | 61,551 | 56.96% | 2,606 | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 50,403 | 44.11% | 55,844 | 48.87% | 8,027 | 7.02% |
| 2020 | 54,817 | 42.28% | 71,189 | 54.90% | 3,653 | 2.82% |
| 2024 | 58,194 | 43.81% | 72,114 | 54.29% | 2,530 | 1.90% |
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[24] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 54,897 | 36.44% | |||
| Unenrolled | 47,915 | 31.81% | |||
| Republican | 41,260 | 27.39% | |||
| Green Independent | 4,736 | 3.14% | |||
| No Labels | 1,166 | 0.77% | |||
| Libertarian | 656 | 0.44% | |||
| Total | 150,630 | 100% | |||
| Biddeford (21,277) | Sanford (20,798) | Saco (18,482) | York (12,529) | Kennebunk (10,798) | Wells (9,589) | Kittery (9,490) |
| Old Orchard Beach (8,624) | Buxton (8,034) | Waterboro (7,693) | Berwick (7,246) | South Berwick (7,220) | Eliot (6,204) | Lebanon (6,031) |
| North Berwick (4,576) | Lyman (4,344) | Hollis (4,281) | Arundel (4,022) | Limington (3,713) | Kennebunkport (3,474) | Alfred (3,019) |
| Limerick (2,892) | Shapleigh (2,668) | Acton (2,447) | Dayton (1,965) | Parsonsfield (1,898) | Newfield (1,522) | Cornish (1,403) |
| Ogunquit (892) |
School districts are:[25]
Places adjacent to York County, Maine | |
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Municipalities and communities ofYork County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
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| Unincorporated communities and villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
Augusta (capital) | |
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