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AHistory
History · Newcastle

Newcastle dates to 1753, and 21% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 92% of U.S. towns. What drives it

6 places in town are on the National Register, among them the Perkins Homestead, a National Historic Landmark. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1893 on, and the census since 1790.

1753founded
6on the National Register
21%homes built before 1940
5old photos & papers
4famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Newcastle’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Newcastle began

When was Newcastle founded?

1753

Newcastle dates its founding to 1753 (Wikidata). It appears in the first U.S. census, 1790.

First census: 896 in 17902020 census: 1,848273 years

How historic is Newcastle?

A

More historic than 92% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1794.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Newcastle’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Newcastle is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Newcastle’s overall grade.
Founding era1753, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 194021.3% of homes (±5.2) · typical ME town 19.1% · U.S. 8.4%B+National Register6 listings, 31.4 per 10,000 residents · typical ME town 15.9 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 92%
NewerOlder

Maine towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Maine town has 15.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Newcastle’s 31.4 sits above most of its state (67% of Maine towns have fewer) while its 6 listings outnumber those of 72% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1753.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.2 points).

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Newcastle’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Shrank, then grewLost half of its people between 1850 and 1930, then more than doubled.On the map since 18935 editions of the USGS map, 1893 to 2000. Watch Newcastle change.Lost villages3 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Newcastle, and 2 old place names are still on the map.A National Historic Landmark6 places on the National Register, including Perkins Homestead, a National Historic Landmark.
★ What stands out · People over time

Newcastle, census by census

05001,0001,5002,000180018501900195020002,012 in 1850Low: 914

Lost half of its people between 1850 and 1930, then more than doubled.

24 censuses, 1790–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Newcastle’s Wikipedia page.

On the map

Newcastle on the map, 1893 to 2000

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Newcastle. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Newcastle on the 1893 USGS mapNewcastle on the 1944 USGS mapNewcastle on the 1957 USGS mapNewcastle on the 1970 USGS mapNewcastle on the 2000 USGS map1893Wiscasset sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Newcastle.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Newcastle’s post office has been open since 1794. Three other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Newcastle
1794–today
Sheepscott
1810–1966
Lincoln
1815–1819
North New Castle
1857–1946
17901910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
North NewcastleSheepscot
5cemeteries and burying grounds inside Newcastle
GliddenLincolnPine KnollSaint PatricksSheepscot

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

The story

How Newcastle came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Newcastle.

Read it all →

Originally known as Sheepscot Plantation, Newcastle was among the earliest European settlements in Maine, first established in the 1630s by fishermen and approximately 50 families. Settled in the early 1630s, Newcastle was the first town to be incorporated within the colonial territory of Sagadahoc. The settlement was part of the broader English colonization efforts along the Maine coast during the early 17th century, following the failed Popham Colony of 1607-1608.

ChaptersEarly settlement and European contactColonial conflicts and abandonmentResettlement and incorporation19th century development20th century and modern eraHistoric preservation

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Newcastle, 1753 to 2014

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1753
    FoundingNewcastle is established
  3. 1794Post officeThe Newcastle post office opens
  4. 1795Born hereEdward Kavanagh is born here
  5. 19th century
  6. 1810Post officeThe Sheepscott post office opens
  7. 1815Post officeThe Lincoln post office opens
  8. 1817Born hereE. Wilder Farley is born here
  9. 1817Born hereEdwin Flye is born here
  10. 1819Post officeThe Lincoln post office closes
  11. 1825Born hereJotham Bradbury Sewall is born here
  12. 1850CensusPopulation peaks at 2,012
  13. 1878In the archiveBirds eye view of the villages of New Castle & Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., Maine, 1878
  14. 1893On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  15. 20th century
  16. 1912In the archiveCard00202 fr
  17. 1920In the archiveAlong the Shore
  18. 1930In the archiveDamariscotta and Newcastle, Maine (67575)
  19. 1966Post officeThe Sheepscott post office closes
  20. 21st century
  21. 2014LandmarkPerkins Homestead named a National Historic Landmark
By decade

Newcastle, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1870s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1870s1 item
Birds eye view of the villages of New Castle & Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., Maine, 18781878Birds eye view of the villages of New Castle & Damari…
1910s–1930s4 items
Card00202 fr1912Card00202 frPostcardAlong the Shorec. 1920Along the ShorePostcardDamariscotta and Newcastle, Maine (67575)c. 1930Damariscotta and Newcastle, Maine (67575)PostcardShell Heaps, Damariscotta River, Newcastle, Maine (67574)c. 1930Shell Heaps, Damariscotta River, Newcastle, Maine (67…Postcard
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today18 recent
NewcastleME SheepscotHD GrangeHall2018NewcastleME SheepscotHD GrangeHallNewcastleME SheepscotChurch2018NewcastleME SheepscotChurchNewcastleME DodgePoint DamariscottaRiver2018NewcastleME DodgePoint DamariscottaRiverNewcastleME DodgePoint BrickBeach2018NewcastleME DodgePoint BrickBeachAlnaME SheepscotHD Map2018AlnaME SheepscotHD MapMapMarsh in early fall near Newcastle, Maine2017Marsh in early fall near Newcastle, MaineMarsh in early fall near Newcastle, Maine2017Marsh in early fall near Newcastle, MaineMarsh abutting Sherman Lake near Newcastle, Maine2017Marsh abutting Sherman Lake near Newcastle, MaineFall leaf display near Newcastle, Maine2017Fall leaf display near Newcastle, MaineFall scene near Newcastle, Maine2017Fall scene near Newcastle, MaineHarbor2017HarborSproul's Furniture, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-022013Sproul's Furniture, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-02Sproul's Furniture, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-012013Sproul's Furniture, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-01Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-032013Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 2013…Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-022013Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 2013…Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-012013Second Congregational Church, Newcastle, Maine - 2013…Newcastle Publick House, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-022013Newcastle Publick House, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-…Newcastle Publick House, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-012013Newcastle Publick House, Newcastle, Maine - 20130919-…
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Birds eye view of the villages of New Castle & Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., Maine, 1878
Retake this viewBirds eye view of the villages of New Castle & Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., Maine, 1878, 1878

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Newcastle’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

6 historic places in Newcastle

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. One is a National Historic Landmark, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
6
National Historic Landmark
1
Perkins Homestead
historic buildings protected
6
each building in a district counts
first listed
1973
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Catholic ChurchGov. Edward Kavanagh HouseGlidden-Austin BlockSt. Andrew's ChurchSecond Congregational ChurchPerkins Homestead★
Buildings★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Federal2
Colonial1
Greek Revival1
Medieval Gothic Style1
Gothic Revival1
★ Landmark
Perkins HomesteadPlace
St. Patrick's Catholic ChurchColonial
Gov. Edward Kavanagh HouseFederal
Glidden-Austin BlockGreek Revival
St. Andrew's ChurchMedieval Gothic Style
Second Congregational ChurchGothic Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

4 famous people were born in Newcastle

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Edward KavanaghGovernor of Maine · b. 1795
E
E. Wilder FarleyAmerican politician · b. 1817
Edwin FlyeUnion Army officer and American politician · b. 1817
J
Jotham Bradbury SewallAmerican classical philologist · b. 1825
Help out

Finish Newcastle’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewBirds eye view of the villages of New C…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Alna7 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townDamariscotta6 historic placesANobleboro1 historic placeA−Wiscasset6 historic placesASouth Bristol4 historic placesA−Edgecomb4 historic placesA+Bristol6 historic placesA+Jefferson3 historic placesA−

Questions about Newcastle’s history

What year was Newcastle founded?

In 1753, according to Wikidata. Newcastle’s post office opened in 1794, and the first U.S. census counted 896 people here in 1790.

How does Newcastle rank for history?

Newcastle is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Newcastle?

6 listings: 5 buildings, among them the St. Patrick's Catholic Church (listed 1973, the first).

How old are the homes in Newcastle?

21% of Newcastle’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.2 points), against a typical 19% for a Maine town; the median home was built in 1984.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (17), the Library of Congress (6), the National Register of Historic Places (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.