Town of Scarborough

Scarborough is a town in Cumberland County, settled in 1630 and incorporated on July 14, 1658 from the towns of Black Point and Blue Point, and nearby islands.

It is the birthplace of Maine's first governor and advocate for statehood, William King.

Winslow Homer lived and painted in Prout's Neck, a somewhat isolated peninsula that now is home to a bird sanctuary donated by the artist's brother, Charles. Homer's work is often featured at the Portland Museum of Art.

The town's fine beaches and the Scarborough Downs race track and off-track betting facility are attractions for many.

Scarborough Marsh, operated by the Maine Audubon Society, offers guided canoe trips, canoe rentals, bird walks and a museum and visitor center at Maine’s largest salt marsh. The nearby Scarborough River provides recreational boating opportunities and open space.

A suburb of Portland, the rapidly growing community now ranks as tenth most populous in Maine according to the 2000 U.S. Census, up from 13th place in 1990, having grown almost 36 percent in ten years.

From Maine: An Encyclopedia (www.themaineencyclopedia.com)