52-640: The J. G. Deering House , also known as the Dyer Library/Saco Museum , is an historic house at 371 Main Street in Saco, Maine . Completed in 1870, it is a fine local example of Italianate style. Built for Joseph Godfrey Deering, it was given by his heirs to the city for use as a library. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Deering House is located on
104-499: A small wind turbine was erected near the water treatment plant at the foot of Front street. Another larger wind turbine was erected on the top of York Hill in December 2007, and was expected to generate power for the new train station for Amtrak's Downeaster , although this was torn down in 2018 as the wind turbine never came close to generating the amount of energy promised. Saco also has two growing business parks. According to
156-484: A deed that extended 4 miles (6.4 km) along the sea, by 8 miles (13 km) inland. Settled in 1631 as part of Winter Harbor (as Biddeford Pool was first known). The government of Maine, under Ferdinando Gorges , was based in the town from 1636 to 1653. It would be reorganized in 1653 by the Massachusetts General Court as Saco, which would be renamed Biddeford in 1718. The settlement
208-609: A regiment of Devon Trained Band Horse . With the end of the Anglo-Spanish War in 1604, there was a renewed interest in colonization projects from various ports, including Bristol , with which he was closely associated. Gorges' interest in colonization was said to have been stimulated when Captain George Weymouth presented him with three captured American Indians , who later learnt English and told him about their country. According to Gorges one of these captives
260-675: A wide variety of landforms, including beaches, fields, forests, bogs, and urban areas. The beachfront Camp Ellis section of the city has been eroding since the Army Corps of Engineers built a jetty in the 1860s at the mouth of the Saco River that stopped sediment from feeding the Camp Ellis beaches. This has been exacerbated by rising sea levels and climate change in Maine . This is an archive of documents related to erosion issues in
312-668: A younger son of his sister Eleanor Russell, on condition that he should adopt the name and arms of Gorges. Ferdinando was a descendant of this Theobald Russell "Gorges". The Gorges family arrived in England with the Norman Conquest . The male line of the Gorges family died out in 1331 on the death of Ralph de Gorges, 2nd Baron Gorges (d.1331), of Knighton, Isle of Wight . They were said to have lived in Somersetshire from
364-629: Is part of the Portland – South Portland – Biddeford , Maine metropolitan statistical area . Saco's twin-city is Biddeford . This was territory of the Abenaki tribe whose fortified village was located up the Sokokis Trail at Pequawket (now Fryeburg ). There was a settlement at the mouth of the Saco river, with homes and permanent cultivation, at the time of contact with Europeans in
416-473: Is very brief. Although his grandson eventually accepted a paltry sum after many years of trying to secure the good name of his grandfather, he proceeded to acquire some validity of his grandfather's claims by the Puritans. This sale finally extinguished the interests of the Gorges family in those American lands which Sir Ferdinando had labored to develop as a proprietary province owing to a close relationship to
468-454: The 2020 census . It is home to Ferry Beach State Park , Funtown Splashtown USA , Thornton Academy , as well as Saco Valley Shopping Center. General Dynamics Armament Systems (also known by its former name, Saco Defense), a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics . Saco sees much tourism during summer months due to its amusement parks, Camp Ellis Beach and Pier, Ferry Beach State Park, and proximity to Old Orchard Beach. Saco
520-507: The Georgian , Federal , Greek Revival and Victorian styles. Many buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In 1844, Laurel Hill Cemetery was established on 25-acre (10 ha) of land. Still in operation, it is one of the earliest examples of the Rural cemetery movement. Saco has taken steps to make the city more environmentally friendly. In early 2007
572-708: The Kennebec River organizing raids on English settlements. The region became less dangerous, especially after the French defeat in 1745 at the Battle of Louisburg . The French and Indian Wars finally ended with the 1763 Treaty of Paris . In 1762, the northeastern bank of Biddeford separated as the District of Pepperrellborough, named for Sir William Pepperrell , hero of the Battle of Louisburg and late proprietor of
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#1732779800260624-599: The Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Gorges's son was Robert Gorges , Governor-General of New England from 1623 to 1624. But Robert Gorges was seen with some suspicion by American colonists, who were sceptical of Gorges' almost feudal idea of governance and settlement, and ultimately Gorges returned to England. In the 1630s Ferdinando Gorges attempted to revive the moribund claims of the Plymouth Company. In concert with colonists banished from
676-621: The Merrimack and Kennebec rivers. "Ye Province of Maine" had its birth in this charter, dated 10 August 1622, in the reign of England's King James I . A reconfirmed and enhanced 1639 charter from England's King Charles I , gave Sir Ferdinando Gorges increased powers over this new province and stated that it "shall forever hereafter, be called and named the PROVINCE OR COUNTIE OF MAINE, and not by any other name or names whatsoever..." In 1629, he and Mason divided
728-462: The Treaty of Portsmouth . The community was rebuilt and in 1718 incorporated as Biddeford. Peace would not last, however, and the town was again attacked in 1723 during Dummer's War , when it contained 14 garrisons . In August and September 1723, there were Indian raids on Saco, Maine and Dover, New Hampshire . But in 1724, a Massachusetts militia destroyed Norridgewock , an Abenaki stronghold on
780-621: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 52.76 square miles (136.65 km ), of which 38.46 square miles (99.61 km ) is land and 14.30 square miles (37.04 km ) is water. Situated beside Saco Bay on the Gulf of Maine , Saco is drained by the Saco River . Saco borders the city of Biddeford , as well as the towns of Scarborough , Buxton , Dayton and Old Orchard Beach . Saco contains
832-712: The 800 soldiers sent from Flushing by Sir William Russell to aid the Earl of Leicester 's attempt to relieve the Siege of Sluis laid by the Spanish Governor General of the Netherlands , whose revolt against the Spanish Habsburg rule England had pledged to aid. Gorges fought under the command of Lord Willoughby , whose family he developed a close connection with. It is unknown whether he
884-531: The Camp Ellis section of Saco. As of the census of 2010, there were 18,482 people, 7,623 households, and 4,925 families residing in the city. The population density was 480.6 inhabitants per square mile (185.6/km ). There were 8,508 housing units at an average density of 221.2 per square mile (85.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White , 0.7% African American , 0.2% Native American , 1.7% Asian , 0.3% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of
936-667: The Court in his youth, he could not have been impervious to two great cultural currents of the time: the growing resistance to the absolute power of the monarchy, particularly in ecclesiastical matter, sometimes subsumed under the concept of " Puritanism ", and the beginnings of English exploration and exploitation of the Western Hemisphere, the latter especially owing to his distant family connections with Humphrey Gilbert and his half-brother Walter Raleigh . No documentary evidence records Gorges's activities before 1587 (when he
988-634: The Fort at Plymouth, which he held for many years. During the Spanish Armada of 1597 Gorges was able to raise the alarm that enabled the defence of the country, but autumn storms made sure that the Spanish fleet was dispersed. In 1601, he became involved in the Essex Conspiracy and later testified against its leader, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex . In 1633 he was Colonel of
1040-601: The Massachusetts Bay Colony, he formally questioned the issuance of its royal charter in 1632, and forwarded complaints and charges made by the disaffected colonists to the Privy Council of Charles I. His efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. He married four times: Sir Ferdinando Gorges died on 24 May 1647, at his wife's home in Long Ashton (then known as Ashton-Phillips), and is buried in
1092-457: The Smyth crypt, All Saint's Church, Long Ashton, without markings due to the circumstances of the time. His eldest son, John, inherited his Province of Maine, of which Robert, his younger son, had been for such a short time Governor. In May 1677 his grandson Ferdinando Gorges finally sold all his rights to Maine for £1,250, to the state of Massachusetts. The epilogue to Sir Ferdinando Gorges' story
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#17327798002601144-740: The Tri-City Area (Saco, Biddeford , and Old Orchard Beach ). The Portland International Jetport is about 14 miles (23 km) north of Saco. The ShuttleBus and Zoom Bus provide local transportation. Since 1960, the City of Saco has owned and operated the Saco Municipal Landfill . The site consists of four distinct disposal areas, the fourth of which is a recently closed landfill that accepted household waste and tannery sludge containing chromium and other heavy metals, as well as volatile organic compounds . In February 1990
1196-694: The arrival of the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad in 1842, Factory Island developed into a major textile manufacturing center, with extensive brick mills dominating the Saco and Biddeford waterfronts. Other businesses included foundries , belting and harnessmaking, and machine shops . But the New England textile industry faded in the 20th century, and the York Manufacturing Company would close in 1958. The prosperous mill town era, however, left behind much fine architecture in
1248-403: The average family size was 2.93. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males. The median income for a household in the city
1300-424: The city. The population density was 437.2 inhabitants per square mile (168.8/km ). There were 7,424 housing units at an average density of 193.0 per square mile (74.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 97.91% White , 0.32% African American , 0.15% Native American , 0.51% Asian , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 0.10% from other races , and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of
1352-682: The colony, with Mason's portion south of the Piscataqua River becoming the Province of New Hampshire . Gorges and his nephew established Maine's first court system. Capt. Christopher Levett , early English explorer of the New England coast, was an agent for Gorges, as well as a member for the Plymouth Council for New England. Levett's attempt to establish a colony in Maine ultimately failed, and he died aboard ship returning to England after meeting with Governor John Winthrop in
1404-467: The community produced 21,000,000 feet (6,400,000 m) of sawn lumber, some of which was used for shipbuilding . On Factory Island, the Saco Iron Works began operation in 1811. The Saco Manufacturing Company established a cotton mill in 1826, and a canal was dug through rock to provide water power . The mill burned in 1830, but was replaced in 1831 by the York Manufacturing Company. With
1456-423: The death of Edward Gorges, Cecily married John Vivian of Brydges. Ferdinando's only sibling was his older brother Edward, who was baptised at Wraxall on 5 September 1564. Edward entered Hart Hall, Oxford , in 1582. Very little documentation exists regarding his early life and education. He was brought up at Nailsea Court at Kenn near Wraxall. Although as far as is known Ferdinando had no direct connection with
1508-532: The early 1600s. In July 1607, 500 warriors led by sakmow ( Grand Chief ) of the Mi'kmaq First Nations Henri Membertou attacked the village at present-day Saco, killing 20 of their braves, including two of their leaders, Onmechin and Marchin, leading to conflict that lasted until 1615. In 1630 the Plymouth Company granted Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonython a charter to establish a town at Saco, with
1560-420: The entrance are paired round-arch windows, with a half-round window in the gable above. The entrance is flanked by three-side bays, with single sash windows above. A two-story ell extends to the rear, and is further extended by a single-story ell which joins the house to a period carriage house. To the north of the house stands the 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story brick complex of the former York Institute. The house
1612-483: The heir of the family estate in Wraxal when his father died in 1558 when he was 21. Notwithstanding the family tradition in royal offices, neither Edward nor his father Edmund took part in public affairs (the early deaths of both of them may have been a partial explanation). Ferdinando's mother was Cecily Lygon, a daughter of William Lygon of Madresfield , Worcestershire (1512-1567), (whose ancestors' connection with
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1664-462: The house to the city in 1955 for use as a library. The Dyer Library built the ell connecting the house to the carriage house. The library merged with the adjacent York Institute in 1976 to form the organization now known as Dyer Library/Saco Museum. Saco, Maine Saco ( / ˈ s ɑː k oʊ / SAH -koh ) is a city in York County, Maine , United States. The population was 20,381 at
1716-409: The population. There were 6,801 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and
1768-440: The population. There were 7,623 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
1820-572: The site was placed on the National Priorities List . From 1992 to 1994, EPA studied the groundwater contamination. in September 1996, EPA started capping the landfill. In 2000, institutional controls were established, which restrict site uses. Ferdinando Gorges Sir Ferdinando Gorges ( c. 1565-1568 – 24 May 1647) was a naval and military commander and governor of the important port of Plymouth in England. He
1872-452: The south side of United States Route 1 , a short way north of Saco's central business district. It is a 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story brick strucuture, with limestone and wooden trim elements. It has a side-gable roof with a denticulated and bracketed cornice, with a front-facing gable above the centered entrance. The main facade is three bays wide, with the entrance sheltered by a wide single-story flat-roof porch supported by square columns. Above
1924-554: The throne could be traced back to King Richard II ), by his wife Eleanor Denys, a daughter of Sir William Denys (d.1533) of Dyrham , High Sheriff of Gloucestershire , whose family was the heir of the Russells of Dyrham, a descendant of which family in a direct male line was Ferdinando Gorges. Among their descendants were the Earls Beauchamp . Ferdinando Gorges was named after his mother's brother, Ferdinando Lygon. After
1976-456: The time of King Henry I and held their estates in Wraxall since the time of King Edward II . The Gorges were recipients of many royal appointments and privileges since Edward's time. Ferdinando's great-great-grandfather married the eldest daughter of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk , from which connection they claim royal descent. Ferdinando's father Edward Gorges, as first born, became
2028-504: The time of his father's death on 29 August 1568. Edward Gorges, however, evidently realizing that his illness was fatal, prepared his will on 10 August 1568, (and proved on 17 September of the same year) in which Edward bequeathed to Ferdinando a 23-ounce gold watch and devised to him the manor of Birdcombe, Wraxall, for a term of 24 years. The terms of the testamentary gifts led an earlier memorialist to conclude that Ferdinando had been born sometime between 1565 and 1567. Ferdinando Gorges
2080-546: The town. Amos Chase was one of the pioneers of Pepperrellborough. He was chosen as a selectman at the first town meeting, and served as the first deacon of the Congregational Church. Dea. Chase was one of the area's largest taxpayers, and was prominent in civic affairs during the American Revolution , serving on the town's Committee of Correspondence and Committee of Inspection. The district
2132-726: Was $ 45,105, and the median income for a family was $ 52,724. Males had a median income of $ 35,446 versus $ 25,585 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,444. About 7.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over. Saco is divided into 7 voting wards, represented by: Ward 1 Councilor Marshall Archer, Ward 2 Councilor Joshua Parks, Ward 3 Councilor Joseph Gunn, Ward 4 Councilor Michael Burman, Ward 5 Councilor Phillip Hatch, Ward 6 Councilor Tricia Huot, and Ward 7 Councilor Nathan Johnston. On November 7, 2023, Saco Elected former city councilor Jodi MacPhail as its first female Mayor. Mayor MacPhail
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2184-439: Was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,822 people, 6,801 households, and 4,590 families residing in
2236-531: Was Tisquantum or "Squanto" of the Patuxet, but this claim has been disputed by historians. In 1607, as a shareholder in the Plymouth Company , he helped fund the failed Popham Colony , in present-day Phippsburg, Maine . In 1622, Gorges received a land patent, along with John Mason , from the crown's Plymouth Council for New England for the Province of Maine, the original boundaries of which were between
2288-466: Was around 20), but because in that year he is referred to as a captain, it is probable that he took up the profession of arms several years before then, perhaps in his mid-teens (not uncommon in England at the time). It is likely that he was engaged in active duty shortly after the outbreak of the Anglo-Spanish War in 1585. In 1587, he was one of the "several eminent chieftains" commanding
2340-488: Was attacked by Indians in 1675 during King Philip's War . Settlers moved to the mouth of the river, and the houses and mills they left behind were burned. Saco lay in contested territory between New England and New France , which recruited the Indians as allies. In 1689 during King William's War , it was again attacked, with some residents taken captive. Hostilities intensified from 1702 until 1709, then ceased in 1713 with
2392-575: Was born between 1565 and 1568, probably in Clerkenwell , in Middlesex where the family maintained their London town house , but possibly at the family's manor of Wraxall , in Somerset . He was the second son of Edward Gorges of Wraxall, by his wife Cicely Lygon. The circumstances of his father's death aged 31 suggested to Baxter (Gorges's first biographer) that Ferdinando was born at about
2444-502: Was built in 1869–70 by Joseph Godfrey Deering, who began in business as a grocer, but got involved in the lumber industry, creating one of Maine's largest lumber companies. This house was supposedly the first in York County to have running water and indoor toilets. Deering's heirs undertook a series of extensions and alterations to the property, hiring architects John Calvin Stevens and Joseph Stickney to design them. Deering heirs gave
2496-614: Was by blood in the male line a member of the Russell family of Kingston Russell , Dorset and of Dyrham in Gloucestershire, an early member of which was Sir John Russell (died c. 1224) of Kingston Russell, a household knight of King John (1199–1216), and of the young King Henry III (1216–1272), to whom he also acted as steward. However, the last male of the ancient Anglo-Norman Gorges family , about to die childless, bequeathed his estates, including Wraxall, to Theobald Russell,
2548-399: Was captured during that engagement or later, but by September 1588 he was listed as among the prisoners at Lisle, for his name is among those English prisoners who friends in England petitioned to have Spanish prisoner exchanged for. In 1589 Gorges was wounded at the siege of Paris . He was knighted at the siege of Rouen in 1591. He was rewarded for his services by the post of Governor of
2600-451: Was incorporated as the Town of Pepperellborough in 1775. Inhabitants found the name to be cumbersome, so in 1805 it was renamed Saco. It would be incorporated as a city in 1867. Saco became a center for lumbering , with log drives down the river from Little Falls Plantation (now Dayton , Lyman , Hollis and part of Limington ). At Saco Falls, the timber was cut by 17 sawmills . In 1827,
2652-707: Was involved in Essex's Rebellion against the Queen, but escaped punishment by testifying against the main conspirators. His early involvement in English trade with and settlement of North America as well as his efforts in founding the Province of Maine in 1622 earned him the title of the "Father of English Colonization in North America ," even though Gorges himself never set foot in the New World . Ferdinando Gorges
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#17327798002602704-459: Was sworn in at a historic inauguration ceremony held on December 4, 2023, at Saco City Hall. Voter registration The Saco Transportation Center provides transportation between Portland and Boston via the Downeaster passenger train. Saco is accessible from Interstate 95 , U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 195 . State routes 5 , 9 , 112 , and 117 also serve the city. Taxis serve
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