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1893 Map of Biddeford

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Biddeford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The industrial centers of Biddeford and Saco dominate the northern landscape of this late nineteenth-century survey, where the Saco River meets the sea. Coastal life is intricately detailed along the jagged shoreline of Fletcher Neck and the protected waters of Biddeford Pool, marked by critical navigational aids like Wood Island Light. The region’s development is tied closely to the arrival of the Boston and Maine Railroad Western Division, which spurred the growth of seasonal destinations such as Ocean Park and Bay View.

Further south, the seafaring tradition of Kennebunkport and the clustered islands near Cape Porpoise are clearly defined. Here, Goat Island Light guards the harbor entrance amidst a scattering of landforms like Trott Island and Vaughn Island. The inland terrain reveals a network of small watercourses, including Goosefare Bk and Smith Brook, alongside family-named heights such as Oak Ridge, illustrating the balance between the emerging tourist economy and the older agricultural and maritime roots of York County.