:Westbrook, Maine

Originally known as Saccarappa after Saccarappa Falls on the Presumpscot River, it was a part of Falmouth until February 14, 1814, when it was set off and incorporated as Stroudwater. It soon changed its name to Westbrook after Colonel Thomas Westbrook, a commander during Father Rale's War and King's mast agent who was an early settler and mill operator.{{Cite web |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bLc-AAAAYAAJ

|title=Westbrook|work= A Gazetteer of the State of Maine |first= George| last= Varney| publisher=B. B. Russell|location= Boston, Massachusetts|year= 1886 |page= 582|access-date=August 22, 2010}} In 1871, the town of Westbrook amicably split into two municipalities; the current Westbrook and Deering, which was then annexed by Portland in 1898.{{cite book|last1=Barry|first1=William David|last2=Anderson|first2=Patricia McGraw|editor=Susan L. Ransom|others=Margaret W. Soule|title=Deering: A Social and Architectural History|year=2010|publisher=Greater Portland Landmarks|location=Portland, Maine|isbn=978-0-939761-14-2}} In 1891, Westbrook was incorporated as a city.{{Cite web |title=Westbrook |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mewestbr/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=The US GenWeb Project}}

Saccarappa Falls and Congin Falls provided water power for early mills within the city. In 1829, a sawmill was built at the former which made the mill town noted for its lumber. Other industries followed, manufacturing grain bags, machinery and water wheels, carriage and harness, boots, shoes and moccasins, tinware, leather board, bricks, wooden boxes, box shook, meal and flour. The Portland Manufacturing Company built a cotton textile mill at Saccarappa Falls for making "sheetings, stripes and ducks." A paper mill was built at Cumberland Mills, once an Indian planting ground known as Ammoncongin. By 1859, it produced 1,000 tons of paper annually. In 1867, the factory's name would change to the S. D. Warren Paper Mill.{{Cite book | last = Coolidge | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n391 353]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = A History and Description of New England Coolidge Mansfield. }}

The Cumberland and Oxford Canal opened in 1832, connecting Portland to Harrison by way of Westbrook and Sebago Lake. It was the primary commercial shipping route for goods until 1871, when it was rendered obsolete by the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad. Remnants of the canal can still be seen throughout the city, including Beaver Pond, along Stroudwater Street near the Maine Turnpike overpass, and in the woods between Westbrook High School and Oxford-Cumberland Canal Elementary School. In 1885, the city opened Woodlawn Cemetery, the largest cemetery and newest burial grounds in the municipality.

File:Old Warren House, Westbrook, ME.jpg|Old Warren House {{circa|1912}}

File:Bridge Street, Westbrook, ME.jpg|Bridge Street {{circa|1912}}

File:View of Cumberland Mills, Westbrook, ME.jpg|Cumberland Mills {{circa|1907}}

Westbrook is located at {{Coord|43|41|7|N|70|21|26|W|type:city}} (43.685348, −70.357116).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|17.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|17.12|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.21|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-23}}

File:Westbrook_and_Presumpscot_River_Jan_08.jpg

Westbrook is drained primarily by two rivers. The Presumpscot River flows through the center of the city, with two prominent falls (the aforementioned Saccarappa Falls and Congin Falls). The smaller Stroudwater River flows through the southwestern part of the city. The city also contains part of Highland Lake.

Westbrook is served by Interstate 95, U.S. Route 302 and State Routes 22 and 25. State Route 25 has a business route, Route 25 business, which is concurrent with Main Street. It is bordered by Portland to the east, South Portland and Scarborough to the south, Gorham and Windham to the west, and Falmouth to the north.

In January 2019, a naturally-occurring ice disk measuring about 100 yards across formed on the Presumpscot River.{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Julia |title=Giant ice disk forms in Maine river, enthralling residents |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/giant-ice-disk-forms-in-maine-river-enthralling-residents |access-date=19 January 2019 |agency=PBS |publisher=PBS NewsHour |date=18 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/14/alien-looking-disk-of-ice-on-presumpscot-river-has-westbrook-buzzing/|title=Videos: Spinning in the Presumpscot, this alien-looking ice disk has Westbrook all abuzz|last=Writer|first=Dennis HoeyStaff|date=2019-01-15|website=Press Herald|access-date=2019-01-17}} The unusual formation briefly drew international social media and press attention, and boosted tourism to Westbrook.{{cite news |title=Ice disk mania draws crowds, boosts business in Westbrook |url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/ice-disk-mania-draws-crowds-to-westbrook/25929213 |access-date=19 January 2019 |publisher=WMTW News |date=17 January 2019 |quote=Westbrook's now internationally-famous ice disk is drawing crowds to the area and boosting local business}}

{{US Census population

| 1820 = 2502

| 1830 = 3238

| 1840 = 4116

| 1850 = 4852

| 1860 = 5113

| 1870 = 6583

| 1880 = 3981

| 1890 = 6632

| 1900 = 7283

| 1910 = 8281

| 1920 = 9453

| 1930 = 10807

| 1940 = 11087

| 1950 = 12284

| 1960 = 13820

| 1970 = 14444

| 1980 = 14976

| 1990 = 16121

| 2000 = 16142

| 2010 = 17494

| 2020 = 20400

| estyear = 2022

| estimate = 20645

| footnote = {{cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/me190090.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201085358/http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/me190090.txt |archive-date=2016-02-01 |website=www.census.gov}}{{Cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml|title=American FactFinder|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=wayback.archive-it.org|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150109091741/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=University of Virginia Library|website=mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|access-date=March 18, 2023|archive-date=December 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230002746/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-23}} of 2010, there were 17,494 people, 7,568 households, and 4,456 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1021.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,989 housing units at an average density of {{convert|466.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 2.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 7,568 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 16,142 people, 6,863 households, and 4,261 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|956.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,089 housing units at an average density of {{convert|420.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.69% White, 0.88% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 6,863 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,873, and the median income for a family was $47,120. Males had a median income of $32,412 versus $25,769 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,501. About 6.7% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Now primarily a suburb of the larger city of Portland, Westbrook itself has a growing business base and developing core downtown district. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a major multi-national corporation, is headquartered in Westbrook.{{cite news|last=Bridgers|first=Leslie|title=Idexx gets OK for $30 million building|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/idexx-gets-ok-for-_30-million-building_2011-09-07.html|access-date=September 26, 2011|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=September 7, 2011}} In addition to the downtown area, many of the city's businesses are located within two industrial parks (the Col. Westbrook Industrial Park and Five Star Industrial Park), as well as in the area surrounding Maine Turnpike Exit 48.

The city is home to Sappi Ltd.'s Westbrook Paper Mill and R&D Center.{{cite web|url=http://www.warrenreleasepapers.sappi.com/about/history-of-warren-release|title=150+ Years of Paper Making Excellence|year=2010|work=Warrenreleasepapers.sappi.com|publisher=Sappi Ltd.|access-date=November 8, 2011}} The mill, formerly the S. D. Warren Paper Mill, was once the city's largest employer and taxpayer, employing over 3,000 people and representing over 50% of the city's tax base. However, foreign competition and the age of the mill have drastically reduced its workforce and production. Today the mill has found a niche in the marketplace, becoming one of the nation's top manufacturers of release papers and employing about 300 people. Idexx Laboratories has since surpassed the mill as the city's largest taxpayer. Westbrook was also the home of the first Sebago-Moc shoe factory.

Westbrook is home to the TV station WMTW, southern Maine's ABC affiliate. The station has its studios off County Road.

The faith-based Mercy Hospital of Portland operates Mercy Westbrook,{{cite web|url=http://www.mercyhospital.org/content/MercyWestbrook.htm|title=Mercy Westbrook|work=Mercyhospital.org|publisher=Mercy Hospital|access-date=November 8, 2011}} a small community hospital with a minor emergency room and inpatient treatment facilities. Spring Harbor Hospital, southern Maine's only private psychiatric treatment and recovery center, is also located within the city.

{{Further|The Freaky Bean Coffee Company}}

File:Bridge Street School, Westbrook, ME.jpg

Westbrook's public schools are part of the Westbrook School Department.

• Westbrook High School – Blue Blazes
• Westbrook Middle School, (grades 5–8) (formerly Fred C. Wescott Junior High School) – Falcons
• Congin Elementary School, (grades K–4) – Cougars
• Canal School Elementary School, (grades K–4) – Coyotes
• Saccarappa Elementary School, (grades K–4) – Shining Stars

Westbrook High School's meal programs became one of Maine's first certified halal school meals programs in the State in April 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=Halal meal initiative aims to boost school lunch participation for Muslim students in Maine |url=https://www.mainepublic.org/education-news/2024-05-10/halal-meal-initiative-aims-to-boost-school-lunch-participation-for-muslim-students-in-maine |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Maine Public |language=en}} The meals are certified by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America.{{Cite web |title=Halal for All |url=https://ifanca.org/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=IFANCA |language=en-US}}

The Wescott Junior High School building is now the Westbrook Community Center, with Westbrook Middle School occupying a newly constructed and subsequently expanded facility on a different site down the road from Westbrook High School. Other former schools in the city include Prides Corner Elementary School, which was closed in 2012 and subsequently demolished, with apartments and houses built on the property.

{{see also|List of mayors of Westbrook, Maine}}

File:Westbrook, Maine City Hall.jpg

The Westbrook City Council consists of five councilors each representing one of the five city wards and two at-large councilors. The current mayor is Michael Foley. Colleen Hilton was mayor of Westbrook from November 2009 – 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.westbrookmaine.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B36B52ECD-8F04-4063-890C-2BDB414BF669%7D|title=Mayor's Office – Westbrook|access-date=23 March 2013|archive-date=March 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329201202/http://www.westbrookmaine.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B36B52ECD-8F04-4063-890C-2BDB414BF669%7D|url-status=dead}}

Voter registration

• Walker Memorial Library
• Warren Memorial Library (closed in 2009)

Similar to neighboring Portland and South Portland, Westbrook contains several distinct neighborhoods that are generally recognized by residents but have no legal or political significance. Unlike Portland, however, there is no official signage recognizing these neighborhoods. Some of the notable neighborhoods include:

• Birdland
• Cumberland Mills
• Deer Hill
• Frenchtown
• The Hamlet
• Prides Corner
• Old Millbrook
• Westbrook Pointe
• Woodland
• Colonial Village
• Highland Lake

File:Riverbank Park and sign, Westbrook, Maine.jpg

File:Civil War Memorial in Riverbank Park, Westbrook, Maine.jpg

File:Warren Memorial Fountain by Bashka Paeff Westbrook, Maine.jpg created this 1920 sculpture honoring John Warren owner of the Cumberland Paper Mills.]]

In addition to the sports complexes located at Westbrook High School and other schools, the city offers several public recreational areas and facilities, including:

• Bicentennial Park & Skate Park
• Riverbank Park
• Westbrook River Walk – along Presumpscot River in downtown area
• Cornelia Warren Memorial Trail – along Presumpscot River between Ash St. and Cumberland St.
• Westbrook River Trail – along Presumpscot River north and east of the Sappi paper mill
• Rocky Hill – network of trails behind Wescott Community Centre
• Warren Little League Complex
• Lincoln Street skating rink – ice hockey in colder months, roller hockey in warmer months
• East Bridge Street skating rink – winter use only
• Stroudwater Street skating rink – winter use only
• East Bridge Street ballfields
• Warren League Grounds
• Warren Pool – outdoor public pool, summer use only
• Davan Pool – indoor pool, open year-round

• Acorn Productions Performing Arts Center
• Westbrook Historical Society & Museum
• Warren Memorial Fountain

File:Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.jpg]]

• Benjamin Paul Akers, sculptor
• John Cumberland, professional baseball player
• Philip E. Curran, banker and state legislator
• Robert W. Duplessie, state legislator
• Kevin Eastman,{{cite news|last=Mcdermott|first=Deborah|title='Ninja Turtles' artist shares 'mind-blowing' story|url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20121208-NEWS-212080317|access-date=February 24, 2013|newspaper=Seacoast Online|date=December 8, 2012|archive-date=December 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213121422/http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20121208-NEWS-212080317|url-status=dead}} cartoonist, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• James Deering Fessenden, Civil War general
• Artt Frank, musician
• Ginger Fraser, American football player and coach
• Scott Garland (a.k.a. Scotty 2 Hotty), professional wrestler
• George Gore, professional baseball player
• Al Hawkes, musician
• Nancy A. Henry, poet
• Curtis Jonathan Hussey (a.k.a. Fandango), professional wrestler
• Edmund Needham Morrill, U.S. Congressman and governor of Kansas
• Eliza Happy Morton, author and educator
• Ann Peoples, state legislator
• Sheri Piers, distance runner
• Alexander Speirs, state legislator
• Avadis Tevanian, venture capitalist
• Ronald Usher, state legislator
• Rudy Vallée, musician, band leader, actor and entertainer
• Thomas Westbrook, namesake of Westbrook
• Sean Lally, Chief of Police

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.westbrookmaine.com/ City of Westbrook, Maine]
• [http://www.walker.lib.me.us/ Walker Memorial Library]
• [http://www.westbrookchamber.nu/ Westbrook Chamber of Commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614174219/http://www.westbrookchamber.nu/ |date=June 14, 2006 }}

{{Cumberland County, Maine}}

{{MELargestCities}}

{{Maine}}

{{Presumpscot River}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Populated places established in 1814

Category:Portland metropolitan area, Maine

Category:Cities in Maine

Category:Company towns in Maine

Category:Cities in Cumberland County, Maine

Category:Pulp and paper industry in Maine