Biddeford, a city in York County, was incorporated as a town on November 17, 1718 and as a city in 1855. It was originally part of the town of Saco, its twin city. Some historians suggest that other early settlers had emigrated from Biddeford in Devonshire, England giving the area its name. Although Saco (including Biddeford) was destroyed during Queen Anne's War, the Massachusetts General Court authorized its resettlement, which began in 1714. By 1762 the population had reached 1,000. While lumbering was the major industry until the early nineteenth century, textile manufacturing dominated for 100 years from mid-century. First Irish, then French Canadians came to work in the mills. The French arrived after 1870 and by 1910 elected the first mayor from the French community. Biddeford is York County's largest city and a major industrial and commercial center. Biddeford Pool, known in the 17th century as Winter Harbor, is both a village and a water body in the city. The village is at the eastern most point of land which virtually surrounds the Pool, just south of Wood Island. Biddeford hosts two nature preserves managed by the Maine Audubon Society. The East Point Sanctuary at Biddeford Pool is a thirty-acre sanctuary offering beautiful ocean views and is considered one of the best spots for birding in southern Maine. A wide variety of waterfowl visit the point and harbor seals can be seen fishing off shore. Wood and Stage Islands are both important nesting areas for waterfowl. A wooden boardwalk leads to an abandoned Coast Guard Lighthouse on Wood Island. From Maine: An Encyclopedia (www.themaineencyclopedia.com)

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Julie Smith of Biddeford, ME
Oct 18, 2006 12:29 PMBiddeford is ideally situated on the pristine Saco River, within minutes of both the ocean and rolling farmland, 25 minutes of Portland and 1.5 hours of Boston, and is poised for impressive redevelopment and discovery. Portland's artists as well as other creative types from across the country have already discovered Biddeford's downtown with its currently inexpensive rents, and the soon-to-open Biddeford Crossing shopping complex will attract shoppers from rapidly growing nearby localities such as Waterboro and Lyman. Major redevelopment of Saco Island (located between downtown Saco and Biddeford) has been proposed, and UNE is considering the possibility of opening its new school of pharmacy in downtown Biddeford. All signs point to continued growth and future prosperity if the city's elected leaders would simply get out of the way. Unfortunately, I am relocating and will miss Biddeford dearly.

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