Saco: River Town Between the Mills and the Beach
Saco sits on the north bank of the Saco River, directly across from Biddeford. The two cities share a history rooted in water-powered manufacturing, though Saco's industrial footprint was always smaller than its neighbor's. The York Manufacturing Company, established in 1831, produced cotton textiles here for well over a century. The Saco River itself runs more than 130 miles from its origin in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, through the foothills and coastal plain before reaching the ocean.
Funtown Splashtown USA, a family amusement and water park along Route 1, has operated since 1960 and is one of the few remaining amusement parks in northern New England. Saco's Main Street runs parallel to the river and holds a mix of shops, a public library, and the Saco Museum, which documents local and regional history. Ferry Beach State Park, south of the city center, includes a rare stand of tupelo trees at the northern edge of their range along with a sandy beach on the ocean.
Camp Ellis, a small seaside community at the point where the Saco River meets the Atlantic, has dealt with severe erosion for decades. A jetty constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 19th century redirected wave patterns and has gradually consumed homes and roads along the shoreline. Residents have sought federal and state help for years, with limited results. Saco's overall population is about 19,000.
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Saco sits on the north bank of the Saco River, directly across from Biddeford. The two cities share a history rooted in water-powered manufacturing, though Saco's industrial footprint was always smaller than its neighbor's. The York Manufacturing Company, established in 1831, produced cotton textiles here for well over a century. The Saco River itself runs more than 130 miles from its origin in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, through the foothills and coastal plain before reaching the ocean.
Funtown Splashtown USA, a family amusement and water park along Route 1, has operated since 1960 and is one of the few remaining amusement parks in northern New England. Saco's Main Street runs parallel to the river and holds a mix of shops, a public library, and the Saco Museum, which documents local and regional history. Ferry Beach State Park, south of the city center, includes a rare stand of tupelo trees at the northern edge of their range along with a sandy beach on the ocean.
Camp Ellis, a small seaside community at the point where the Saco River meets the Atlantic, has dealt with severe erosion for decades. A jetty constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 19th century redirected wave patterns and has gradually consumed homes and roads along the shoreline. Residents have sought federal and state help for years, with limited results. Saco's overall population is about 19,000.
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