1893 Map of Biddeford

About this map

The Saco River serves as the industrial and geographic anchor of this coastal region, where the urban center of Biddeford is defined by a complex network of streets and the dual lines of the Boston and Maine Railroad Eastern Division and the Western Division. At the mouth of the river, Camp Ellis and the sands of Ferry Beach give way to a rugged coastline dotted with maritime safeguards, including the Wood Island Light and Goat Island Light. Further south, the map details the intricate inlets and islands surrounding Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise. This landscape reflects a late nineteenth-century transition where traditional seafaring and rail-driven commerce met the early development of coastal retreats like Bay View and Biddeford Pool. The map documents numerous smaller landmarks, from the farms of Oak Ridge to the tidal reaches of Fletcher Neck and Goose Fair Bay.