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Berwick, Maine

Coordinates: 43°16′2″N 70°51′42″W / 43.26722°N 70.86167°W / 43.26722; -70.86167
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(Redirected from Berwick (town), ME)
For other uses, see Berwick, Maine (disambiguation).

Berwick
Town
Sullivan Square in 1907
Sullivan Square in 1907
Nickname: 
The Berwicks
Motto: 
Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow
Berwick is located in Maine
Berwick
Berwick
Location within the state of Maine
Coordinates: 43°16′2″N 70°51′42″W / 43.26722°N 70.86167°W / 43.26722; -70.86167
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyYork
Incorporated1713
Government
 • TypeTown Manager Plan[1]
 • ChairNoah Cobb
 • Vice-ChairLinda Corliss
 • SelectmenThomas Wright
Mike Laterreur
Lisa Chase
Area
[2]
 • Total
37.86 sq mi (98.06 km2)
 • Land37.52 sq mi (97.18 km2)
 • Water0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2)
Elevation
338 ft (103 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,950
 • Density212/sq mi (81.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
03901
Area code207
FIPS Code23-23031
Websitewww.berwickmaine.org

Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States, situated in the southern part of the state beside the Salmon Falls River.

Today's South Berwick was set off from Berwick in 1814, while North Berwick was partitioned from the town in 1831.

The population was 7,950 at the 2020 census.[3] It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.

History

[edit]

The area comprising modern Berwick, South Berwick, North Berwick, and the banks of the Salmon Falls River was originally known by its native Abenaki inhabitants as Newichawannock, meaning "river of many falls" or "land of great falls."[4][5]

Originally part of Kittery, the area later comprised by Berwick was settled about 1631 by Ambrose Gibbens and called Kittery Commons or Kittery North Parish. Gibbens would eventually found a trading post to sell arms and ammunition to fellow white settlers.[4]

The dense forests of Southern Maine provided large pine for shipbuilding, and the first sawmill in English America was built in the area that is now South Berwick on the Great Works Falls. It was colloquially known as Gibbens' Mill after the first settler of the Berwick area, and as many as 18 sawmills were eventually built in the area.[4] Logging was a principal early industry. The first lumber exported from the American colonies was clapboards and barrel staves loaded aboard Pied Cowe at South Berwick in 1634.[6]

Kittery North Parish was later called Unity after the ship that transported Scots prisoners of war from the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 to the colonies. These Scots had been force-marched to Durham Cathedral in Durham, England, then tried for treason for supporting Charles II rather than Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector.[7] Many settled near Berwick in an area near the northern Eliot-York border, which came to be known—and still is—as Scotland Bridge.[8] Landing in Massachusetts, the royalist soldiers were sold as indentured servants, many of whom went to work at the Great Works mills until they were able to pay for their own freedom.[4]

The raid by Indians in 1675 was the first of several during what was known as King Philip's War. In 1690–1691 during King William's War, the village was burned and abandoned in the Raid on Salmon Falls. During these raids, approximately 30 white settlers were killed and over 50 were captured.[4] It was resettled in 1703 and renamed Newichawannock for a short time before again being renamed Berwick after Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. Neighboring Kittery requested that Berwick and its many mills be split into multiple independent municipalities before incorporation, but it was regardless incorporated by the Great and General Court on June 9, 1713, as the ninth town in what is now Maine.[9]

The first schoolhouse in the state was built here in 1719.[citation needed]

The town was raided numerous times during Father Rale's War.[citation needed]

Berwick was once considerably larger in size. In 1749, the people of Berwick voted to divide the town into a northern and southern parish, known as Blackberry Hill and Old Fields, respectively.[9] Distinct communities began to form around these parishes, and in 1814, South Berwick was granted a request to be set off, followed by North Berwick in 1831.[9]

The introduction of the railroad in the mid 19th-century limited the town's reliance on its rivers as it continued to produce lumber. Beginning in the 19th century, Berwick had a symbiotic economic relationship with Somersworth, New Hampshire, the mill town to which it is connected by bridge.[10] Additional industry eventually came to Berwick, such as Nute's Shoe Factory in the late 19th-century[9] and Prime Tanning in the early 20th-century.[11] Prime Tanning grew to be an international producer of leather products but merged with a Chinese company in 2008 after declaring bankruptcy. Later that year it shuttered its headquarters in Berwick.[12] In 2021, the town announced the construction of a new mixed-use development, named The Edge at Berwick, on the former property of Prime Tanning.[13]

  • Berwick as seen from Somersworth, NH c. 1912
    Berwick as seen from Somersworth, NH c. 1912
  • Looking up the Salmon Falls River in 1915
    Looking up the Salmon Falls River in 1915
  • Rochester Street from the river in 1921
    Rochester Street from the river in 1921
  • Old Sullivan High School about 1920
    Old Sullivan High School about 1920

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.86 square miles (98.06 km2), of which 37.52 square miles (97.18 km2) is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2) is water.[2] Berwick is drained by the Little River and Salmon Falls River. Diamond Hill, at an elevation of 490 feet (149.4 m) above sea level, is the town's highest point. The lowest elevation, which is approximately 70 feet (21.3 m) above sea level, is on the Salmon River as it crosses the southernmost town border with South Berwick.

The town is served by state routes 9 and 236.

Climate

[edit]

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Berwick has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[14]

Demographics

[edit]
See also: Berwick (CDP), Maine
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17903,894—
18003,891−0.1%
18104,45514.5%
18202,736−38.6%
18303,16815.8%
18401,698−46.4%
18502,12124.9%
18602,1551.6%
18702,2916.3%
18802,77421.1%
18902,294−17.3%
19002,280−0.6%
19102,098−8.0%
19202,057−2.0%
19301,961−4.7%
19401,9710.5%
19502,1669.9%
19602,73826.4%
19703,13614.5%
19804,14932.3%
19905,99544.5%
20006,3536.0%
20107,24614.1%
20207,9509.7%
[15][16][17]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 6,353 people, 2,319 households, and 1,723 families residing in the town. The population density was 171.1 inhabitants per square mile (66.1/km2). There were 2,414 housing units at an average density of 65.0 per square mile (25.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.31% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 2,319 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,629, and the median income for a family was $53,776. Males had a median income of $36,329 versus $24,911 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,988. About 6.9% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 7,246 people, 2,749 households, and 2,029 families residing in the town. The population density was 193.1 inhabitants per square mile (74.6/km2). There were 2,934 housing units at an average density of 78.2 per square mile (30.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 2,749 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.2% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the town was 39.1 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

Notable people

[edit]

Schools

[edit]

Berwick Maine is part of MSAD60/RSU 60.

There are three schools in Berwick:

  • Vivian E. Hussey School (K–3)
  • Eric L. Knowlton School (4–5)
  • Noble Middle School (6–7)

Students in grades 8–12 from Berwick attend Noble High School in the neighboring town of North Berwick.

Downtown revitalization

[edit]

The Town of Berwick was awarded several Brownfield grants in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to help with a downtown revitalization effort.[19] On October 31, 2019, Great Falls Construction purchased the property[20] and over the years has developed the site into The Edge at Berwick Maine.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Town Manager". Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Berwick town, York County, Maine". Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Jessie (2014). Images of America - Berwick. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 9781467122252.
  5. ^ Hudson, Marshall (November 1, 2017). "A History Lesson on the Newichawannock Canal". New Hampshire Magazine. Yankee Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Northern: The Way I Remember" (PDF). John E. Mcleod. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  7. ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England, General and Local. Boston: Austin J. Coolidge. pp. 53–54.
  8. ^ Scottish Prisoners of 1650 - Old Berwick Historical Society
  9. ^ a b c d Taylor, Jessie (2014) p. 8
  10. ^ Varney, George J. (1886), Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Berwick, Boston: Russell
  11. ^ "Prime cuts | Berwick-based Prime Tanning merges with a major Chinese leather company". Mainebiz. New England Business Media. April 21, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Currie, Judi (November 20, 2016). "Prime Tanning memories stay as factory razed". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Edge at Berwick Maine". The Town of Berwick, Maine. Berwick, Maine. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Climate Summary for Berwick, Maine
  15. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Washington, DC: US Bureau of the Census. Archived from the original (TXT) on April 20, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau Homepage". United States® Census Bureau. Retrieved December 22, 2023.[not specific enough to verify]
  19. ^ EPA (December 29, 2015). "Maine Brownfield Funding History".
  20. ^ "New owner pledges to transform former tannery site in Berwick". November 4, 2019.
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