Biddeford (pronounced BID-if-erd) is a city in York County, Maine, in the United States. It's a busy center for business in York County. In 2020, about 22,552 people lived there.

Biddeford is often called a "Twin City" along with its neighbor, Saco. It's also home to the University of New England and hosts the yearly La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. Europeans first visited Biddeford in 1616, making it one of the oldest European settlement sites in the U.S. It even has Saint Joseph's Church, which is the tallest building in Maine! Biddeford is an important part of the larger Portland-South Portland-Biddeford region.

A Look Back in Time: Biddeford's History
Where is Biddeford?
- Nearby Areas and Natural Features
- Biddeford's Climate
Who Lives in Biddeford?
What Does Biddeford Do? (Economy)
Fun Things to See and Do (Arts and Culture)
- Exploring Biddeford's Heritage
- Places to Visit
Getting Around Biddeford (Transportation)
Famous People from Biddeford
See also

A Look Back in Time: Biddeford's History

Biddeford Town Hall around 1885

Early European Visitors and Settlers

The first European to stay in Biddeford was a doctor named Richard Vines. He spent the winter of 1616–1617 at a place he called Winter Harbor, which is now Biddeford Pool. This visit happened about four years before the famous Mayflower landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts!

In 1630, Dr. Vines and John Oldham were given land south of the Saco River. By 1653, the area on both sides of the river became a town called Saco.

Growing as a Town

In 1653, Saco was officially made a town. Roger Spencer was allowed to build the first sawmill that year. Soon, lumber and fish became the main things the community sold to others.

Later, in 1659, Major William Phillips built a fort and a watermill near the river's waterfalls. During times of conflict, settlers sometimes had to move to safer areas, and their homes and mills were burned. In 1693, a stone fort was built. In 1703, some colonists were killed, and others were taken captive. In 1688, Fort Mary was built near Biddeford Pool.

The town was renamed Biddeford in 1718. It was named after Bideford, a town in England, where some of the early settlers came from. After 1759, conflicts with local Native American groups ended.

From Town to City: The Mill Era

In 1762, the land northeast of the river became a separate town called Pepperellborough, which later became Saco in 1805. The first bridge connecting Biddeford to Saco was built in 1767.

The Saco River has two waterfalls that drop about 40 feet. This powerful water power was perfect for building mills. Factories were set up to make things like boots and shoes. Biddeford grew into a busy mill town with granite quarries and brick factories, along with lumber and grain mills.

Big textile factories, like the Laconia Company (1845) and the Pepperell Company (1850), were built along the river. Because of all this growth, Biddeford officially became a city in 1855.

New People and New Beginnings

The mills brought many new people to Biddeford, including families from Ireland, Albania, and Quebec, Canada. At one point, the textile mills employed as many as 12,000 people! However, over time, the textile industry began to decline. The last textile company in Biddeford closed in 2009.

Today, the old mill buildings are being redeveloped into new homes and businesses, bringing new life to the city. The last time logs were floated down the Saco River was in 1943. Biddeford's name is even carved into The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts, honoring its place among New England's oldest towns.

During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, a military base called the Biddeford Pool Military Reservation was set up. It had special platforms for large guns, and three of them are still there today.

Where is Biddeford?

The tugboat Hersey at Bragdon's Wharf in Biddeford, 1912

Biddeford covers about 59 square miles, with a good portion of that being water. It sits next to Saco Bay on the Gulf of Maine. The Little River and the Saco River flow through the city.

Biddeford has a very interesting mix of landscapes. You can find rolling hills inland, busy city areas, and beautiful coastal spots.

Nearby Areas and Natural Features

The city is connected by major roads like Interstate 95 and U. S. Route 1. It shares a border with Saco to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. To the west are the towns of Dayton and Lyman, and to the south are Kennebunkport and Arundel.

Biddeford has nearly 15 miles of shoreline along the Saco River. It also has an Atlantic coastline with popular seaside neighborhoods like Hills Beach, Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks, and Granite Point. Just about a mile offshore from Biddeford Pool, you can find Wood Island Light, a historic lighthouse.

Biddeford's Climate

Biddeford has a climate with big changes between seasons. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold. This type of climate is called a humid continental climate.

Who Lives in Biddeford?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	1,018	—
1800	1,296	27.3%
1810	1,563	20.6%
1820	1,738	11.2%
1830	1,995	14.8%
1840	2,574	29.0%
1850	6,095	136.8%
1860	9,349	53.4%
1870	10,282	10.0%
1880	12,651	23.0%
1890	14,443	14.2%
1900	16,145	11.8%
1910	17,079	5.8%
1920	18,008	5.4%
1930	17,633	−2.1%
1940	19,790	12.2%
1950	20,836	5.3%
1960	19,255	−7.6%
1970	19,983	3.8%
1980	19,638	−1.7%
1990	20,710	5.5%
2000	20,942	1.1%
2010	21,277	1.6%
2020	22,552	6.0%
2022 (est.)	22,450	5.5%
sources

In 2010, there were 21,277 people living in Biddeford. Most residents (about 94.8%) were White. There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Biddeford was about 38 years old. About 18.7% of residents were under 18, and 15.3% were 65 or older.

What Does Biddeford Do? (Economy)

The old mills of Biddeford

Biddeford is one of Maine's fastest-growing business areas. This is partly because it's close to New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. In recent years, new shopping centers have opened, like The Shops at Biddeford Crossing, which has many stores and restaurants.

There's also a lot of effort to make the downtown area lively again. The North Dam Mill, for example, is an old mill building that now has shops, art studios, cultural events, and modern apartments.

Biddeford is home to important places like MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford (a hospital) and the University of New England. The university is growing fast and has Maine's only medical school. A telecommunications company called GWI.net also has its main office here. The city offers many community facilities, including public beaches, an ice arena, and a YMCA.

Fun Things to See and Do (Arts and Culture)

Main Street in Biddeford

Exploring Biddeford's Heritage

In downtown Biddeford, you'll find the historic McArthur Public Library and Biddeford's City Theater. Many of Biddeford's buildings and areas are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are important historical sites. This includes the Main Street Historic District, the Biddeford-Saco Mills Historic District, and the Biddeford City Hall.

Outside of downtown, near Biddeford Pool, you can visit places like the John Tarr House and the First Parish Meetinghouse. The city also hosts many festivals and concerts throughout the year.

Places to Visit

Biddeford Historical Society
First Parish Meetinghouse
McArthur Public Library
Franco-American Genealogical Society of York County
City Theater for the Performing Arts
Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center
Biddeford History and Heritage Project//Maine Memory Network
Biddeford Mills Museum

Getting Around Biddeford (Transportation)

Biddeford used to be the end point of an old road called New England Interstate Route 11. Today, State Route 111 runs through Biddeford's main business areas. The Biddeford Municipal Airport is located just two miles south of the city center. You can also take an Amtrak train to the Saco Transportation Center, which serves downtown Biddeford.

For getting around locally, the Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit provides bus service, connecting the city to places in Saco and Portland.

Famous People from Biddeford

Many notable people have connections to Biddeford, including:

Roger Cook, a landscape contractor and TV personality.
Brian Dumoulin, an NHL Hockey Player.
Ryan Fecteau, who served as the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
Rachel Griffin-Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, a popular American YouTuber and educator.
Freddy Parent, a professional baseball player.
Wallace H. Nutting, a Four-star general and former mayor of Biddeford.
Bernard Osher, a successful businessman and giver of gifts to charity.
Joan Wasser, a talented singer and songwriter.

Biddeford, Maine facts for kids

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