The Town of Wells, “referred to as the Friendliest Town in Maine,” was named by its early settlers for the cathedral city of Wells in Somerset, England, and is at the center of coastal southern Maine, north of Ogunquit and just south of Kennebunk. From pastoral Drake’s Island to beautiful Moody Beach, the majestic Maine shoreline sweeps in a crescent, bordering the Atlantic with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and picturesque salt marshes. Behind the dunes, a tidal river flows through the green and gold marshes.
Wells was founded in 1643, and became the third established town in Maine. The Abenaki Indians called the area Webhannet, meaning “at the clear stream,” a reference to the Webhannet River. The town developed as a farming community, producing hay and vegetables. Other industries included shipbuilding and fisheries. In the 19th century, with the arrival of the railroad, the town’s beautiful beaches attracted tourists. Many inns and hotels were built along the seashore and it has since transformed into the ultimate vacation destination. Tourism remains important to the economy today, and you can still arrive in Wells by train: the Amtrack Downeaster stops at the Wells Transportation Center on its way north to Portland or south to Boston.
Residents and visitors alike can find many things to do in Wells, from beaches, shopping along Route 1, to nature trails and dining at casual clam shacks & diners to gourmet restaurants. Ocean View Cemetery on Post Road contains a well-designed Civil War monument and plot honoring its service members. Visitors can walk to Founder's Park just off of Post Road onto Sanford Road, which includes a light walking trail, picnic area, and the first settlement home.
With 7 miles of beach for you to explore, Wells is a beach lover's dream. Drakes Island Beach is a long sandy beach that tends to be uncrowded. Wells' Crescent Beach is great for tide pooling, and private Moody Beach is a 15 minute walk from Ogunquit Beach. Wells Harbor is home to boats from lobster fishermen to pleasure yachts and fishing charters.
Within Wells Harbor you can canoe or kayak up the Webhannet River, paddleboard around the calm waters, or venture out to see the Wells breakwater. Wells Harbor is also home to Wells Harbor Park where concerts in the Gazebo are free in summertime, and special events like craft fairs, Chilifest and Harborfest take place every year.
Wells is also a nature lover’s paradise. Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farms and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offer walking trails for nature study, hiking, and photography.
Wells is also home to Maine farms and weekly farmer’s markets. You can pick your own strawberries or apples in season at Spiller Farm or Chase Farms. Reny’s, a department store that bills itself as “a Maine Adventure” has a location in the Wells Shopping Plaza. The plaza is also home to the Wells Flagship Cinema, showing first-run movies.
The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District is among the best districts in the state; thanks to the high school’s strong athletic program, teams regularly compete at regional and state championships.
Wells combines the charm of coastal Maine with the joys of a tight-knit year-round community.
Town Statistics
Population: Approximately 10,000
Land area: 62 square miles
County: York
County Seat: Alfred
Tax rate: $10.48 / thousand for 2020-2021
% of Value: 96%
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Office/Department |
Phone Number |
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207-646-2882 |
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207-646-5187 |
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Fire Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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Fire Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-646-7912 |
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Police Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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Police Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-646-9354 |
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207-646-3014 |
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207-646-5826 |
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207-646-5906 |
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207-646-6081 |
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207-646-8647 |
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Water District (KKW) |
207-985-3385 |
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207-646-8181 |
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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5-8 |
207-646-5142 |
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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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207-646-4775 |
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207-646-2451 |
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207-646-1555 |
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 |