Eliot, Maine Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Eliot
Town
Welcome to Historic Eliot sign on ME Rt. 103 in South Eliot
Eliot Location in Maine
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	York
Incorporated	1810
Government
• Type	Town Meeting
Area
• Total	21.32 sq mi (55.22 km²)
• Land	19.78 sq mi (51.23 km²)
• Water	1.54 sq mi (3.99 km²)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,717
• Density	340/sq mi (131.1/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	03903
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-22955
GNIS feature ID	0582464

Eliot is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1623. Eliot used to be part of Kittery, which is to its east.

Eliot is one of the southernmost towns in Maine. It sits along the Piscataqua River. Across the river are Portsmouth and Newington, New Hampshire. In 2020, about 6,717 people lived in Eliot. It is part of the larger metropolitan area in Maine.

Eliot is home to interesting places like Ambush Rock, Green Acre, and the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum.

History of Eliot
- How Eliot Was Founded
- Scotland Bridge History
Eliot's Geography
Eliot's Population
Places to Visit in Eliot
Schools in Eliot (SAD35)
Famous People From Eliot
Gallery
See also

History of Eliot

How Eliot Was Founded

The area we know as Eliot today was once called the Middle Parish of Kittery, Maine. Kittery became an official town in 1647. It is known as "the oldest incorporated town in Maine."

However, people settled along the Piscataqua River in what is now Eliot much earlier. This was because the area was good for harbors, timber, and building ships. This is why Eliot claims it was "settled" in 1623, almost 25 years before Kittery became official.

In 1659, a local court decided Kittery should have two meeting houses. But the townspeople disagreed. In 1660, they decided to divide the town into three parts. Each part would pay for its own minister.

The Upper Parish later became the town of Berwick in 1713. The Middle Parish, which is now Eliot, was left without a meeting house. Its residents had to go to church in Dover, New Hampshire or Portsmouth.

Before Eliot became its own town in 1810, there were disagreements among the parishes. In 1791, the Middle Parish's minister died. Many people did not like the new minister chosen. They chose a different one in 1792.

Some people who supported the first minister were upset. They asked to join the Upper Parish in 1796, and they were allowed to. The Middle Parish felt that the other two parishes were working against them.

The town was likely named after Reverend John Eliot from Boston. He was a friend of General Andrew P. Fernald. General Fernald was important in helping Eliot become a separate town.

Scotland Bridge History

A part of northern Eliot, near York, is known as Scotland Bridge. This name came from Scottish prisoners of war. These prisoners were captured during the English Civil War at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.

They were forced to march to Durham, England. There, they were tried for treason because they supported King Charles II. Many of these Scottish prisoners were then sent to America and resettled in this area. The name "Scotland Bridge" is still used today.

Eliot's Geography

Eliot covers about 21.32 square miles (55.22 square kilometers) in total. About 19.78 square miles (51.23 square kilometers) is land. The rest, about 1.54 square miles (3.99 square kilometers), is water.

Sturgeon Creek and the Piscataqua River flow through Eliot. Several state roads serve the town. These include Route 91, Route 101, Route 103, and Route 236. Eliot is located northwest of Interstate 95. It is also close to the New Hampshire border.

Eliot's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1810	1,650	—
1820	1,679	1.8%
1830	1,845	9.9%
1840	1,889	2.4%
1850	1,803	−4.6%
1860	1,767	−2.0%
1870	1,769	0.1%
1880	1,640	−7.3%
1890	1,463	−10.8%
1900	1,458	−0.3%
1910	1,530	4.9%
1920	1,530	0.0%
1930	1,462	−4.4%
1940	1,932	32.1%
1950	2,509	29.9%
1960	3,133	24.9%
1970	3,497	11.6%
1980	4,948	41.5%
1990	5,329	7.7%
2000	5,954	11.7%
2010	6,204	4.2%
2020	6,717	8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2022, the average household income in Eliot was about $93,231. The average family income was about $106,210. About 6.47% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 7.1% of those under 18 years old.

In 2010, there were 6,204 people living in Eliot. The average age in town was 45.4 years. About 22.1% of residents were under 18 years old. About 14.6% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.8%) and females (51.2%).

Places to Visit in Eliot

Green Acre
Raitt Homestead Farm Museum
Ambush Rock
Frost Garrison and House, Frost’s Hill
Paul Family Farm, 106 Depot Road
Fogg House
Punkintown
Sandy Hill Farm

Schools in Eliot (SAD35)

Eliot is part of School Administrative District 35 (SAD35). This district also includes South Berwick and Rollinsford.

Eliot Elementary School
Central School
Great Works School
Marshwood Middle School
Marshwood High School
Seacoast Waldorf School (private)

Famous People From Eliot

Shem Drowne, a coppersmith and America's first known weathervane maker.
Hannah Tobey Farmer, a generous person, writer, and social reformer. She was the wife of Moses G. Farmer.
Moses Gerrish Farmer, an inventor.
Sarah Jane Farmer, who started the Greenacre Conferences. She was the daughter of Moses G. Farmer.
Charles Frost, a leader in the Colonial military.
John Fremont Hill, a state congressman and US senator. He was also the 45th governor of Maine from 1901 to 1905.

Gallery

William Fogg Library
Green Acre
Sanctuary Arts studio
Frost House
Eliot Elementary School
Eliot Town Hall
Paul Family Farm
Sunset over the Piscataqua River on the Long Reach, Eliot on right, September 2014