York County, Massachusetts facts for kids
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1650 | 1,000 | — |
| 1760 | 20,000 | +1900.0% |
| Source: 1650 & 1760 | ||
Yorkshire County, Massachusetts was an old county in what is now the state of Maine. It was a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for a long time.
Contents
What Was Yorkshire County?
Yorkshire County was created in 1652. This happened when the Massachusetts Bay Colony decided to claim land in the southern part of the Province of Maine. This area stretched from the Piscataqua River to the Presumpscot River in Casco Bay.
How Big Was It?
Over time, Yorkshire County grew very large. It eventually covered almost all of what we now call Maine. However, some parts of the land were also claimed by different groups.
- The middle parts of the land were claimed by the Abenaki people. They were Native American tribes who lived there.
- The land east of Penobscot Bay was claimed by the French. They called their territory Acadia.
In 1668, the Massachusetts Bay Colony changed the name of Yorkshire County to York County, Massachusetts.
Other Claims to the Land
The land east of the Kennebec River had a different history. From 1665, it was sometimes controlled by Cornwall County, Province of New York.
Later, this area became part of the Dominion of New England from 1687 to 1689. This was a large English colony that included many smaller ones.
By 1760, many Abenaki people had moved north towards the Saint Lawrence River. Also, New France (the French territory in North America) was defeated in the French and Indian War. This meant that Massachusetts had more control over the area.
Dividing the Large County
Because Yorkshire County was so big, it was divided in 1760. Two new counties were created from its eastern parts:
Becoming Part of Maine
When the state of Massachusetts adopted its new constitution in 1780, it created the District of Maine. This district was set up to manage its eastern lands.
In 1805, the northern part of York County was separated again. It became part of Oxford County.
Maine Becomes a State
Finally, in 1820, Maine became its own state. At that time, all the counties that were part of the District of Maine became the counties of Maine. This included the remaining part of what was once Yorkshire County.
