North Berwick, Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Berwick
Town
Market Street c. 1910
Nickname(s):  The Berwicks
Motto(s):  "The Power To Choose"
North Berwick, Maine Location in Maine
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	York
Incorporated	March 22, 1831
Government
• Type	Board of selectmen
Area
• Total	38.16 sq mi (98.83 km2)
• Land	38.02 sq mi (98.47 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation	282 ft (86 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,978
• Density	131/sq mi (50.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	03906
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-50325
GNIS feature ID	0582628
Website	Official Website: http://www.townofnorthberwick.org/

North Berwick is a small town in York County, Maine, in the United States. It was created from the nearby town of Berwick in 1831. Before that, South Berwick had also become its own town in 1814.

In 2020, about 4,978 people lived in North Berwick. The town is part of a larger area that includes Portland, South Portland, and Biddeford.

History of North Berwick

North Berwick was first part of a place called Kittery Commons. The first known settler was John Morrell in 1693. He was a Quaker and built a log cabin on Wells Street. Later, in 1713, this area became part of Berwick. Berwick was named after a town in England called Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Great Works River had a spot called Doughty Falls. This waterfall provided water power for early factories. These included a sawmill (for cutting wood), a gristmill (for grinding grain), and a carding mill (for preparing wool). After the American Revolution, the small town with its mills grew quickly. On March 22, 1831, it officially became its own town, called North Berwick.

Railroads and Industry

A big change happened in 1842 when the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad arrived. Later, the Boston & Maine Railroad joined it in 1873. North Berwick became an important railroad center. This meant goods made in the town could be shipped out easily.

Many different things were made and shipped from North Berwick. These included lumber, shingles, clapboards (for houses), wooden boxes, and firewood. They also shipped bricks, carriages, caskets, clocks, and even shoe polish. Fun items like toboggans and sleds were also made here.

Farmers also shipped their goods. They sent barrels of apples and blocks of ice cut from frozen ponds. Granite from local quarries and tins of corn from a canning factory also left by train. But the two most important businesses in the 1800s were making woolen products and farm implements.

Woolen Mill and Jumanji

In 1834, a company called Lang, Hill & Company started making woolen blankets. Their factory was next to the Great Works River. This company later became the North Berwick Company. By 1850, "Friend" William Hill was a main owner. He had learned how to build machines in New Hampshire.

A fire destroyed the wooden mill in 1861. But it was quickly rebuilt with bricks in 1862. This new factory made blankets for soldiers during the American Civil War. It had 40 looms, which are machines for weaving cloth. They made 1,500 yards of flannel fabric every day, plus blankets. The North Berwick Company closed in 1955.

The old brick mill building is famous for another reason. It was used as the Parrish Shoes factory in the 1995 movie Jumanji. Today, the building has been updated and is now used as homes.

• 

  Cleverock Farm in 1907

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  Hurd Manor c. 1910

• 

  J. E. Lord House in 1910

Geography

North Berwick covers about 38.16 square miles (98.83 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water. The town is watered by the Great Works River and its smaller branch, the Negutaquet River.

The highest point in North Berwick is Bauneg Beg Hill. It stands about 866 feet (264 meters) above sea level.

Population Information

High School in 1910, now Town Offices

People in North Berwick

In 2010, there were 4,576 people living in North Berwick. These people lived in 1,773 households. About 32.7% of these households had children under 18 living there. Most households (59.2%) were married couples living together.

The average age of people in North Berwick was 42.3 years. About 22.7% of the residents were under 18 years old.

Economy and Businesses

North Berwick has a history of clever inventions and strong businesses. In 1835, a local farmer named William Hussey created a cast iron plow. This led to the start of the Hussey Plow Company. This company made tools for farms.

Over time, it became the Hussey Manufacturing Company. They made many different things, like sewer grates, manhole covers, and even ski jumps! Today, it is known as the Hussey Seating Company. They make seats for places like auditoriums and bleachers for stadiums. In 2003, it was recognized as Maine's oldest family-owned business.

Another major employer in North Berwick is a Pratt & Whitney factory. This factory makes and repairs parts for aircraft engines. It was built in 1979 and is very large. It covers about 875,000 square feet (81,300 square meters). This makes it the biggest factory building under one roof in Maine.

Fun and Recreation

North Berwick is home to Bauneg Beg Pond. This pond is a popular spot for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Schools in North Berwick

North Berwick is part of the MSAD60/RSU 60 school district. The town has three schools:

• Noble High School
• North Berwick Primary School
• Mary R. Hurd School

Middle school students from North Berwick go to Noble Middle School. This school is located in the nearby town of Berwick.

Famous People from North Berwick

Some notable people have come from North Berwick:

• James N. Buffum: A politician from Massachusetts.
• Paul Chadbourne: An educator and naturalist who led several colleges.
• Mark Eves: A former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
• Ichabod Goodwin: The 27th governor of New Hampshire.
• Daniel Johnson Morrell: A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

See also

In Spanish: North Berwick (Maine) para niños