Biddeford Pool is a large tidal pool, located off Saco Bay south of the mouth of the Saco River on the south coast of Maine . It is approximately 6 miles southeast of downtown Biddeford , to which it is connected via State Route 208 . The town of Kennebunkport is 3 miles southwest, connected via State Route 9 .
29-405: Biddeford Pool is the site of Maine's first recorded permanent settlement, then called Winter Harbor (not to be confused with present-day Winter Harbor, Maine ). In the winter of 1616-1617, Richard Vines , a physician, resided here as part of the colonization efforts of Sir Ferdinando Gorges , lord proprietor of Maine. An early village developed on the north side. In 1688, Fort Mary was built near
58-674: A "down-easter." Within Maine, the phrase may refer specifically to the state's easternmost regions, also called Downeast Maine . The Downeast Maine National Heritage Area was established in the National Heritage Area Act in 2022. The National Heritage Area will help preserve more historic and cultural sites in Hancock and Washington counties. The origin of the phrase "Downeast" is typically traced to nautical terminology referring to direction, rather than location. In
87-517: A parade, and other events. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 69.12 square miles (179.02 km ), of which 14.36 square miles (37.19 km ) is land and 54.76 square miles (141.83 km ) is water. Winter Harbor was raided various times by French and natives during Queen Anne's War . A United States Navy radio communications station operated here during World War II . As of
116-755: A yacht club, nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and footpaths. The Winter Harbor Yacht Club purchased and renovated all nine original Winter Harbor 21 sailboats. Designed and launched in 1907, they are thought to be the oldest one-design sailboat fleet in the United States. Many of the buildings on the neck were designed by Lindley Johnson , though the first few were designed by Wilson Eyre . The homes on Grindstone Neck are called "cottages", though many of them have upwards of 7–12 bedrooms. 44°23′43″N 68°04′59″W / 44.39528°N 68.08306°W / 44.39528; -68.08306 Downeast Maine " Down East " or " Downeast "
145-399: Is a term for parts of eastern coastal New England and Canada , particularly the U.S. state of Maine and Canada's Maritime Provinces , an area that closely corresponds to the historical French territory of Acadia . The phrase apparently derives from sailing terminology: sailors from western ports sailed downwind toward the east to reach the area. A person from this area may be called
174-503: Is adjacent to the town, and has played an important role in the community’s economic and social development. The Municipality includes the village proper of Winter Harbor, the summer colony of Grindstone Neck , and the hamlets of Gerrishville and Summer Harbor. An iconic, Downeast fishing village , Winter Harbor is home to an active, multigenerational fishing fleet, and is the namesake of the Winter Harbor model boat . In addition,
203-654: Is similar to the boundaries of the historical French colony of Acadia ; Collier regarded this as a cultural legacy of the former colony. According to Maine author John Gould , Downeast is "a never-never land always east of where you are". The term is relational, with Boston being the traditional referent for determining what is "Downeast". As such, sailors going from one port in Maine to another nearby may have said they were going "down Maine" or "east'ard", reserving "Downeast" for farther points. Within New England , "Downeast" often refers specifically to Maine , especially
232-497: Is surrounded by tall grass salt marshes that are home to a variety of birds and other wildlife. East Point Sanctuary, maintained by the Maine Audubon Society, is considered to be one of the premier birding spots on the northeast coast. Mile Stretch Road, a sandy strip of beach which connects the neighborhood of Biddeford Pool to the mainland, is a notable tombolo . Points of interest around Biddeford Pool include
261-512: Is the deep mouth, where a gut is located which is naturally dredged by tidal current. It is locally known as "The Gut." Consequently, this is the area where most boats are moored. Wood Island Light is located about a mile offshore to the northeast. Biddeford Pool is bounded by the mainland to the south and west, by Hills Beach to the north, and by East Point to the east. The area is a popular summer destination for visitors from as far south as Florida and as far west as California . The pool
290-479: The census of 2010, there were 516 people, 255 households, and 145 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.9 inhabitants per square mile (13.9/km ). There were 519 housing units at an average density of 36.1 per square mile (13.9/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White , 0.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 0.6% Asian , 1.4% from other races , and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of
319-655: The Biddeford coastal neighborhoods of Hills Beach , Fortune's Rocks, and Granite Point; and the Kennebunkport coastal area of Goose Rocks. 43°26′43″N 70°21′31″W / 43.44528°N 70.35861°W / 43.44528; -70.35861 Winter Harbor, Maine Winter Harbor is a town on the Schoodic Peninsula in Hancock County , Maine , United States. The population
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#1732772424466348-497: The French, and British colonists arrived only after French control ended in 1763. Initially attracted by the availability of land for farming, the early British settlers soon turned to fishing to survive; fishing remains a significant economic driver. Largely due to its inhospitable climate and remoteness, Downeast Maine remained one of the state's least developed areas throughout the 20th century. In more recent years, Downeast Maine and
377-628: The Greater Portland area have emerged as an important center for the creative economy , which is also bringing gentrification . In Canada, "Down East", often written as two words, refers to the Maritime Provinces : New Brunswick , Nova Scotia , and Prince Edward Island . Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec are sometimes included. The term gave its name to Down East fiddling , which developed in
406-419: The age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% households had a female with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under
435-460: The age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 28,571, and the median income for a family was $ 32,750. Males had a median income of $ 24,063 versus $ 17,448 for females. The per capita income for
464-460: The coastal areas. The phrase has widespread use in the state; Maine's largest monthly magazine is titled Down East . Amtrak named its passenger train service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine the Downeaster . The term "Downeast" provided the name for a prominent type of sailing ship developed in Maine in the later 19th century, the Downeaster . Downeasters were a modification of
493-478: The community is or was a summer residence of several notable figures, such as Frederick Hauck , Fitzgerald Eugene Dixon , among others. Winter Harbor hosts the annual Winter Harbor Lobster Festival each August, which celebrates the community’s history, culture, and economic activity. The festival draws crowds from across the Peninsula and wider Downeast Acadia Region, and includes activities, markets, boat races,
522-422: The earlier clipper , with new lines and rigging enabling it to carry substantially more cargo. Primarily used to transport wheat and other goods from California to European markets, Downeasters were characteristically built in Maine, and their captains often came from the state. A significant part of Maine's maritime legacy, they were among the last prominent sailing ships built before steamships came to dominate
551-576: The easternmost section of the state along the Canada–US border . This area, also known as "Downeast Maine" or "Downeast Maine", lies on the coast roughly between the Penobscot River and the border, including rural Hancock and Washington counties and the towns of Deer Isle , Bar Harbor , Machias , Jonesport , and Eastport . This was among the last parts of the state settled by Europeans. Due to its thankless climate it saw little settlement by
580-556: The fact that Boston is around fifty miles to the south of Maine. The term can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the earliest known use in print to 1825. The phrase "down-easter", meaning a person from "Downeast", appeared in print in 1828. The phrase "Downeast" is used in several ways. Most broadly, it refers to areas from northeastern New England into Canada 's Maritime Provinces . Sargent F. Collier wrote that Downeast extended from Maine into Canada as far as Chaleur Bay . This area
609-402: The industry. While steamships may have supplanted sailing ships in some contexts, this prominence just before the decline led Maine boatbuilders to remain in demand for sailing yachts and motor yachts; a common modern design influenced by coastal Maine's ubiquitous lobster boats is made by several manufacturers under names resembling 'Downeaster'. In Maine, "Downeast" may refer more narrowly to
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#1732772424466638-708: The pool's entrance. The former Fletcher's Neck Lifesaving Station , closed in 1971 and on the National Register of Historic Places , still stands at Ocean Avenue and Fourth Street. During World War II the Biddeford Pool Military Reservation was established from 1941 to 1945, on what is now the Abenakee Golf Club. It had four circular concrete platforms called " Panama mounts " for 155 mm guns , three of which remain today. From December 1941 to 12 February 1943 it
667-439: The population. There were 255 households, of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
696-469: The town was $ 15,438. About 5.5% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over. The summer colony of Grindstone Neck lies on a peninsula southwest of the village. In 1889 a group formed “The Gouldsboro Land Improvement Company” with the idea of creating a summer colony much like that of Bar Harbor. Residents of this community share in an association which includes
725-450: The town. The population density was 68.8 inhabitants per square mile (26.6/km ). There were 558 housing units at an average density of 38.8 per square mile (15.0/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 89.98% White , 2.02% African American , 0.20% Native American , 0.71% Asian , and 7.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.64% of the population. There were 402 households, out of which 38.8% had children under
754-409: The warm months most suitable for sailing, the prevailing winds along the coast of New England and Canada blow from the southwest, meaning ships sail downwind to go east. As such, the northeastern stretches were said to be "Downeast" in relation to major western cities such as Boston . Correspondingly, sailors spoke of going "up to Boston" from Downeast ports, a phrase still common in Maine, despite
783-426: Was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.59. The median age in the town was 51.1 years. 18% of residents were under the age of 18; 3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 33.3% were from 45 to 64; and 25.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 988 people, 402 households, and 278 families residing in
812-556: Was 461 at the 2020 census . The town is located just outside the Schoodic Peninsula portion of Acadia National Park and is due east of the town of Bar Harbor and Ellsworth . Winter Harbor was once the location of a US Naval Station, NSGA-WH , which closed in the mid-2000s, and is now home to the Schoodic Institute’s Education and Research Center. The Schoodic Point District of Acadia National Park
841-567: Was garrisoned by Battery F of the 240th Coast Artillery of the Maine National Guard ; this unit was then relieved by Battery E of the 22nd Coast Artillery , which departed in October 1943; it is unclear what unit was at the site after that time. The small harbor hosts both vacationers and lobstermen . Its water level fluctuates from a large navigable body during high tide to mostly mudflats during low tide. The only exception
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