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Scarborough, Maine Area Guide

Scarborough is located in Cumberland County in southern Maine, approximately 7 miles south of Portland. It is just a short drive to Portland and the Maine Mall with easy access to the Maine Turnpike and Portland Jetport. Scarborough is a diverse community with a commitment to the quality of life and the environment.

Scarborough offers beautiful sandy beaches and the rocky coastline made famous by a local artist, Winslow Homer. The largest saltwater marsh in Maine is located within Scarborough’s boundaries along with Rachel Carson Wildlife lands.

Scarborough is a suburban community that offers open spaces, parks and recreational activities for the area’s residents and visitors. Scarborough is a progressive community that uses careful long-term planning to make this an ideal place to locate your home or business in Maine.

History

Scarborough was incorporated in the mid 1600’s. The settlement of Scarborough was one of the earliest made on the New England coast. John Jocelyn was a writer, botanist and English nobleman, and he came to Scarborough in 1663 to visit his brother Henry Jocelyn, who had settled on Prout’s Neck. His visit lasted eight years. He wrote that the province of Maine had plenty of magistrates, husbandmen and planters, but very few skilled craftsmen.

In the early 1600’s, John Stratton built his trading post upon the island off Scarborough’s shore, which still bears his name. This island also saw many of the other first settlers. In the 1630’s, the first settlement of Black Point was the 1500-acre Cammock’s land grant; by 1650 there were 50 homes. This grant is now known as Prout’s Neck.

Parks and Recreation

The Scarborough community is dedicated to providing a safe and open environment for all residents and visitors to enjoy. There are many recreational activities for people of all ages to participate in, just check out some ideas below!

Memorial Park at Oak Hill
Memorial Park is located directly behind the Municipal Building at Oak Hill. The park includes both active and passive recreation opportunities for your enjoyment. The facilities at the park include athletic fields, trails, a gazebo and a pond with a fountain during the warmer months.

Ice Rink
The ice rink is located on Rt. 114 behind Wentworth Intermediate School. For information on the ice conditions during the season call the "Ice Line" at 883-7645.

Scarborough River Wildlife Sanctuary
The Scarborough River Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the Pine Point Road and overlooks the Scarborough Marsh. There is a small graveled parking area and 52-acres for passive recreation activities with 1.5 miles of walking trails for your enjoyment. Visit the sanctuary to see nature and a wonderful assortment of wildlife adjacent to the marsh.

Scarborough Trails
When you tour this great town of Scarborough by foot or bicycle, we hope you enjoy the scenery, the rocky coast, the beaches, the park system and most of all the wonderful trail system that we are creating for your enjoyment.

Area Events

Elk Farm
View a large herd of Elk just five minutes from the beach!