Rockport dates to 1769, and 30% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #5 of 143 in Maine. What drives it
9 places in town are on the National Register, among them five historic districts with 124 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1904 on, and the census since 1900.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1840.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Rockport’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Rockport is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #5 of 143 in Maine. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Rockport’s overall grade.
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 Rockport’s 351 sits above most of its state (98% of Maine towns have fewer) while its 129 historic buildings outnumber those of 91% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1769.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±8.2 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 Rockport’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The coastal land that would eventually be incorporated as Rockport was a vast, resource-rich territory. Prior to permanent European settlement, the region was sparsely populated by various nomadic Native American groups, chiefly known as the Wabanaki, who utilized the natural resources of the coast and forest through a traditional hunting and gathering existence. This favorable environment was soon recognized by European pioneers as an ideal location for a successful settlement.
Passages that mention Rockport, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Camden and Rockport, Maine1907 · page 13Read the page →
Read the text
What has for many years been known as the Camden lime, is of as good quality as any in the state, and the ' Jacobs lime " has always been famous in the market. This latter is taken from the quarries Ijdng between Camden and Rockport villages, although the most of the deposit is within the hmits of the town of Rockport. There is also a large and rich deposit of this calcareous rock, and extensive quarries worked, near Simonton's Comer, in the interior of the town of Rockport.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Camden and Rockport, Maine1907 · page 312Read the page →
Read the text
None, 00." ^ On May 27, another meeting was held at which it was voted to " Reconsider the vote of the annual meeting m March last, jvhereby the Town voted to build a bridge at Rockport " and expend the money, or any part thereof (which was raised in 1855 for re-building bridge at Rockport) in repairs on said Bridge as it now is." This action did not meet the approval of all the citizens, so another meeting was called on June 7, at
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Rockport, 1769 to 2020
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In 1769, according to Wikidata. Rockport’s post office opened in 1840, and the census of 1900 counted 2,314 people here.
How does Rockport rank for history?
Rockport is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #5 of 143 in Maine. 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 Rockport?
9 listings: 3 buildings, among them the Conway House (listed 1969, the first), 5 historic districts with 124 contributing buildings, and 1 structure. 129 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Rockport?
30% of Rockport’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±8.2 points), against a typical 19% for a Maine town; the median home was built in 1978.
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 (5), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
c. 1872
c. 1872
c. 1872
c. 1872