York is a popular seacoast community in southern Maine, situated where the York River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The town of York is comprised of York Village, York Beach, York Harbor, and Cape Neddick and is home to four beautiful beaches. It is just 7 miles north of bustling, historic, downtown Portsmouth, NH and is easily accessible from Boston and Portland via Interstate 95 and U.S. Route One. The proximity of the Yorks to the cultural centers of Boston, Portland, and New York City continue to make it one of the most sought-after places to live in southern Maine.
First settled by Europeans in 1624, York was originally called Agamenticus, the Abenaki term for the York River. Incorporated as a town in 1652, York is the second oldest town in Maine. As one of the earliest English settlements in the country, York became the seat of government for the Province of Maine and thrived as a center of maritime commerce. As provincial capital, York prospered. Numerous wharves and warehouses serviced trade with the West Indies. Agricultural products and lumber were shipped in exchange for sugar, molasses and other commodities. One notable merchant was John Hancock, whose warehouse on the banks of the York River is now a museum. The Museums of Old York maintain numerous historic buildings including Jefferds’ Tavern, the Old Gaol (America’s oldest jail), and the Emerson-Wilcox House. Lobstering, fishing, boatbuilding and farming were the foundations of the economy until the late 1800s when the southern Maine coast began to attract summer visitors in large numbers.
Present day York is a beautiful mix of old and new. York Village retains the look and feel of an 18th century village. York Harbor’s stately mansions offer many distinctive examples of the 19th Gilded Age architecture, particularly the “shingle-style cottages” that once dotted the Maine coast from York to Bar Harbor. The Harbor Beach, with its gentle surf, the Cliff Walk, the Wiggly Bridge, and Fishermen’s Walk showcase York’s beautiful harbor and majestic ocean.
The York Beach area includes Long Sands, Short Sands and Cape Neddick beaches – plenty of space to enjoy a day of sunbathing and swimming with the whole family. It is also home to the Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. Sohier Park, overlooking the Nubble, offers benches for relaxing, reading, and enjoying the views of the island lighthouse as well as Boon Island. Mount Agamenticus, another of York’s treasures, offers a unique trail system and rich natural resources for year round pleasure.
York’s schools are among the best in the state, consistently ranked in the top 10 percent by the Maine Department of Education. High school students are accepted to top colleges, thanks to rigorous advanced placement courses. The town’s stellar recreation department offers a wide variety of programs for children and adults. Shoppers will enjoy stopping by the company store of specialty foods purveyor Stonewall Kitchen, which is headquartered in York. And during the summer, stop by the bustling farmer’s market, offered by the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.
York continues to captivate visitors with the beauty, culture and history of the area. It has become a most desirable community for tourists, commuter families and retirees as well.
Town Statistics
Population: Approximately 13,000-14,000
Land area: 56.4 square miles
County: York
County Seat: Alfred
Tax rate: $11.10 / thousand for 2020-2021
% of Value: 100%
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Office/Department |
Phone Number |
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207-363-1003 |
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207-363-1002 |
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Fire Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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York Village Fire Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-363-1015 |
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York Beach Fire Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-363-1014 |
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Harbor Master |
207-363-1010 |
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Police Dept. (emergency) |
9-1-1 |
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Police Dept. (non-emergency) |
207-363-1031 |
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207-363-2818 |
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207-363-1011 |
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207-363-1040 |
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207-363-1005 |
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800-847-5303 |
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Water District |
207-363-2265 |
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Sewer District |
207-363-4232 |
Public School Information
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Office |
Phone Number |
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207-363-3403 |
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|
207-363-7922 |
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Name of School |
Grades Covered |
Phone Number |
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K-1 |
207-363-4870 |
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2-4 |
207-363-1800 |
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5-8 |
207-363-4214 |
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9-12 |
207-363-3621 |
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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207-363-4422 |
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|
207-363-4974 |
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* (serving Kittery, Eliot, So. Berwick, York, York Beach, York Harbor and Cape Neddick) |
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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 |