According to legend, Ogunquit was named by the Abenaki tribe, because the word means “beautiful place by the sea”. Ogunquit is a small, bustling resort town located along the southeastern seaboard of York County between York, and Wells. Both the town and Perkins Cove retain the charm of a bygone era when artists and fishermen made their living here.
The town of Ogunquit is actually little more than a village, but this tourist hot spot and jewel of Maine's southern coast actually has quite a rich history. The first sawmill here was established in 1686, and shipbuilding developed along the tidal Ogunquit River. Local shipwrights built schooners, brigs and dories. In what was then called Fish Cove, fishing was a major livelihood, but the cove was unprotected from Atlantic storms. Fishermen had to haul their boats ashore each night. Resolving to create a safe anchorage, they dug a channel across the land to connect Fish Cove with the Josias River. The resulting tidewater basin is today’s Perkin’s Cove. Today, Perkin’s Cove offers a wonderful mix of fine waterfront dining establishments and intimate and unique shops and boutiques.
With ninety percent of its shoreline open for the public to enjoy, leisure and recreation activities abound on the beautiful white sand beach. You can walk the Marginal Way, a scenic trail that meanders along the rocky coastline from Perkins Cove to Ogunquit Beach, or stroll among quaint buildings, coves, and pedestrian bridges. Ogunquit’s sandy beach stretches for 3 ½ miles, forming a natural barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ogunquit river.
Ogunquit’s ties to the arts date back 150 years. Prominent artists spent their summers along its rocky coast and enjoyed its beauty, while famous 20th century actors and actresses made it a point to perform in summer stock at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Perched on a cliff overlooking Narrow Cove and the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by landscaped sculpture gardens, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art houses a collection of over 2,000 works of American art. Included in the collection are works by such internationally known artists as Robert Henri, Marsden Hartley, John Marin, Rockwell Kent and Mark Tobey. It is the only museum in Maine devoted exclusively to the exhibition, preservation, and interpretation of American art. The Barn Gallery near Perkins Cove was created by the members of the Ogunquit Art Association. Formed in 1928 by a group of artists and friends that met in the studio of painter Charles Woodbury, the OAA built the Barn Gallery in 1959 to showcase member works. During the summer of 1933, in a renovated garage in the town square, what was to become one of the country’s finest theatres opened its doors for the first time. Today the Ogunquit Playhouse continues to carry on its legacy as “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre.”
Ogunquit was named America's Best Coastal Small Town in USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice 2016 and it is no wonder. Those fortunate enough to live, work, or play here agree that this “beautiful place by the sea” is a remarkable combination of natural and man-made beauty.
Town Statistics
Population: Approximately 1,000 in winter / 20,000 in summer
Land area: 4 square miles
County: York
County Seat: Alfred
Tax rate: $8.00/ thousand for 2020-2021
% of Value: 100%
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Office/Department |
Phone Number |
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207-646-9546 |
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|
207-646-9326 |
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Fire Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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Fire Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-646-5112 |
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Harbormaster |
207-646-2136 |
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207-646-9024 |
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Police Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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Police Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-646-9361 |
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Public Works |
207-646-2062 |
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Parks and Recreation Dept. |
207-646-3032 |
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Sewer District |
207-646-2028 |
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Water District (KKW) |
207-985-3385 |
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207-646-5140 |
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Transfer Station |
207-646-0478 |
Public School Information
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Office |
Phone Number |
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207-646-8331 |
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207-646-4565 |
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Name of School |
Grades Covered |
Phone Number |
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K-4 |
207-646-5953 |
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Wells Junior High School (Middle School) |
5-8 |
207-439-2572 |
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9-12 |
207-646-7011 |
Private/Parochial Schools
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Name of School |
Grades Covered |
Phone Number |
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Berwick Academy, South Berwick, ME |
pre-K-12 |
207-384-2164 |
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Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH |
9-12 |
603-772-4311 |
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St. Thomas Aquinas H. S., Dover, NH |
9-12 |
603-742-3206 |
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Portsmouth Christian Academy, Dover, NH |
Pre-K to 12 |
603-742-3617 |
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St. Patrick School, Portsmouth, NH |
Pre-K to 8 |
603-436-0793 |
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Saint Mary Academy, Dover, NH |
K to 8 |
603-742-3299 |
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The School Around Us, Kennebunk, ME |
K-8 |
207-967-3143 |
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The New School, Kennebunk, ME |
9-12 |
207-985-3745 |
Other Contact Information
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Office, Dept., etc. |
Phone Number |
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207-464-2939 |
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|
207-646-5511 |
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207-646-0296 |
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207-646-4909 |
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207-646-4775 |
Area Hospitals
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Hospital |
Phone Numbers |
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York Hospital (York, ME) |
207-363-4321, 877-363-4321 |
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Wells Regional Medical Community (Wells, ME) |
207-646-5211, 877-363-4321 |
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South Berwick Medical Services (South Berwick, ME) |
207-384-8130 |
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital (Portsmouth, NH) |
603-436-5110, 800-685-8282 |
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Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (Dover, NH) |
603-742-5252 |
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Exeter Hospital (Exeter, NH) |
603-778-7311, 800-439-3837 |
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Southern Maine Medical Center (Biddeford, ME) |
207-283-7000 |
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Maine Medical Center (Portland, ME) |
207-871-0111 |
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Goodall Hospital (Sanford, ME) |
207-324-4310 |