North Yarmouth

North Yarmouth was incorporated out of the ancient territory of Westcustigo (Indian term for mouth of the river), on June 17, 1683. The Royal (then Royall) River, was named for William Royall, Yarmouth’s first documented European settler nearly fifty years earlier.

The town was one of the recipients of a copy of the Declaration of Independence, dated July 17, 1776. It was lost and then found over 200 years later and eventually returned back to the town.

Abandoned several times due to war and conflicts, in 1670 the region became incorporated as North Yarmouth, (Maine Province’s eigth town), but was abandoned again due to conflicts in 1689. In 1722 a “Committee for the Resettlement of North Yarmouth,” but its first town meeting wasn’t held until 11 years later on May 14, 1733.

Harpswell, Freeport (including present-day Pownal), and Cumberland separated from North Yarmouth in 1789, 1798, and 1820 respectively. The separation of the town into North Yarmouth and Yarmouth occurred in 1849.

Maritime activities were important from the beginning of the final settlement, and by 1818 shipbuilding was well-established along both sides of the harbor. Peaking in the 1870′s, the last large sailing vessel was built in 1890.

With the construction of U.S. Route One rapid population growth began. In 1950, there were 2699 people in town. The town has grown from 4854 residents in 1970 to 8360 according to the 2000 census.

Source: Yarmouth’s Official website

Town Information
North Yarmouth