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Sparhawk Mill 2018Photo: NewTestLeper79 · CC BY-SA 4.0
AHistory
History · Yarmouth

Yarmouth dates to 1636, and 17% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 87% of U.S. towns · #56 of 143 in Maine. What drives it

11 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 12 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1850.

1636founded
11on the National Register
17%homes built before 1940
12old photos & papers
6famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Yarmouth’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Yarmouth began

When was Yarmouth founded?

1636

Yarmouth dates its founding to 1636 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 2,144 in 18502020 census: 8,990390 years

How historic is Yarmouth?

A

More historic than 87% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1852.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Yarmouth’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Yarmouth is more historic than 87% of U.S. towns, #56 of 143 in Maine. 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 Yarmouth’s overall grade.
Founding era1636, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 194017.1% of homes (±3.9) · typical ME town 19.1% · U.S. 8.4%BNational Register11 listings, 12 historic buildings, 13.3 per 10,000 residents · typical ME town 15.9 · U.S. 2.4B
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 87%
NewerOlder
Maine towns of 2,500+ (143)Ahead of 61%

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 Yarmouth’s 13.3 sits near the middle of its state (50% of Maine towns have fewer) while its 12 historic buildings outnumber those of 77% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1636.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.9 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 Yarmouth’s past

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

Older than the countryEstablished in 1636, 140 years before the Declaration of Independence.Lost villages3 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Yarmouth, and 7 old place names are still on the map.On the map since 18924 editions of the USGS map, 1892 to 1970. Watch Yarmouth change.Landmarks on the Register11 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · Timeline

Yarmouth, 1636 to 1958

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

  1. 17th century
  2. 1636
    FoundingYarmouth is established
  3. 18th century
  4. 1773In the archiveLetter from North Yarmouth to the Boston Committee of Correspondence, c. January 18, 1773…
  5. 1785BuiltCushing and Hannah Prince House is built
  6. 19th century
  7. 1800BuiltMitchell House is built
  8. 1814BuiltNorth Yarmouth Academy is built
  9. 1852Post officeThe Yarmouth post office opens
  10. 1866Born hereHoratio Dresser is born here
  11. 1871In the archiveTrademark registration by James P. Baxter for Yarmouth brand Sugar Corn, 1871 Jul. 18, fr…
  12. 1882In the archiveTrademark registration by J. P. Baxter for Yarmouth Portland Packing Co brand Canned Corn…
  13. 1882Post officeThe Yarmouthville post office opens
  14. 1885Post officeThe Cousins Island post office opens
  15. 1892On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  16. 1894BuiltCousins Island Chapel is built
  17. 1895Born hereCarl McKinley is born here
  18. 20th century
  19. 1900In the archiveCamp Hammond
  20. 1928Post officeThe Yarmouthville post office closes
  21. 1943In the archiveYarmouth, (vicinity), Maine. Firehouse
  22. 1958Post officeThe Cousins Island post office closes
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Yarmouth’s post office has been open since 1852. Three other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Yarmouth
1852–today
Yarmouthville
1882–1928
Cousins Island
1885–1958
Little John Island
1910–1958
18501940today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Cousins IslandLittlejohn IslandLower VillageRoyal JunctionSodomUpper VillageYarmouth Junction
Gone or out of use
Camp Hammondlocale
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Yarmouth
DavisLedgePioneerRiverside

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

On the map

Yarmouth on the map, 1892 to 1970

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

Yarmouth on the 1892 USGS mapYarmouth on the 1941 USGS mapYarmouth on the 1957 USGS mapYarmouth on the 1970 USGS map1892Freeport 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 Yarmouth.

The story

How Yarmouth came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Yarmouth.

Read it all →

North Yarmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony (as it then was), was settled in 1636, although Native Americans had already been living in the area, calling it Westcustogo. Englishman William Royall (c. 1595–1676), for whom the Royal River is named, emigrated to Salem in 1629. After serving seven years in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Company, he was provided with a land grant in North Yarmouth. He purchased a farm there in 1636, becoming one of the first European settlers of the town, along with John Cousins.

ChaptersNational Register of Historic Places

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Yarmouth in 1877

Passages that mention Yarmouth, cut from the printed page as they were published.

On this property he built a house, which served as a tavern for the young settlement, and, in the absence of other claims, may be considered the first hostelrie in North Yarmouth. In the Proprietors' Records he is always called "inn-holder," and it was at his house that the committee on the re-sett…
Old times1877 · page 827Read the page →
Read the text

On this property he built a house, which served as a tavern for the young settlement, and, in the absence of other claims, may be considered the first hostelrie in North Yarmouth. In the Proprietors' Records he is always called "inn-holder," and it was at his house that the committee on the re-settlement of the town (appointed 27 June 1722) always held their sessions when in North Yarmouth.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
In persuance of a Warrant to me Directed, from WiUiam Martin, Esq% agreeable to an Act of the General Court, Passed the Twentieth Day of June, 1797, for Incorporating a number of the Inhabitants of North Yarmouth and Freeport into a Distinct and Seperate Religious Society. I hereby notify and Warn …
Old times1877 · page 810Read the page →
Read the text

In persuance of a Warrant to me Directed, from WiUiam Martin, Esq% agreeable to an Act of the General Court, Passed the Twentieth Day of June, 1797, for Incorporating a number of the Inhabitants of North Yarmouth and Freeport into a Distinct and Seperate Religious Society. I hereby notify and Warn all the Members of said Society, qualified to vote in Parish affairs, to meet at the Baptist Meeting-house, in North-yarraouth, on Monday, the fourth Day of September next, at 2 o'clock, afternoon,

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.

By decade

Yarmouth, decade by decade

6 decades in the archive, from the 1770s to the 1980s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1770s1 item
Letter from North Yarmouth to the Boston Committee of Correspondence, c. January 18, 1773, from the New York Public Lib…1773Letter from North Yarmouth to the Boston Committee of…Document
1870s–1900s5 items
Trademark registration by James P. Baxter for Yarmouth brand Sugar Corn, 1871 Jul. 18, from the Library of Congress - m…1871Trademark registration by James P. Baxter for Yarmout…Trademark registration by J. P. Baxter for Yarmouth Portland Packing Co brand Canned Corn, 1882 Mar. 28, from the Libra…1882Trademark registration by J. P. Baxter for Yarmouth P…Camp Hammond1900Camp HammondForest Paper Company 21900Forest Paper Company 2Forest Paper Company1900Forest Paper Company
1910s–1930snothing 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
1940s1 item
Yarmouth, (vicinity), Maine. Firehouse1943Yarmouth, (vicinity), Maine. Firehouse
1950s–1970snothing 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
1980s3 items
1983-07-XX USA Maine Yarmouth 770 U.S. Rte 119831983-07-XX USA Maine Yarmouth 770 U.S. Rte 11983-07-XX USA Maine Yarmouth Portland Street19831983-07-XX USA Maine Yarmouth Portland Street1983-08-XX USA Maine Yarmouth US Route 1 c19831983-08-XX USA Maine Yarmouth US Route 1 c
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
Date unknown2 to date
The Yarmouth register, 1904Date?The Yarmouth register, 1904BookYarmouth personages, an introduction. An attempt to revive the memory of individuals whose names were once household wo…Date?Yarmouth personages, an introduction. An attempt to r…Book
Today32 recent
Grist Mill and bridge2024Grist Mill and bridgeThe Garrison 20212021The Garrison 2021Hill Cemetery2021Hill CemeteryRailway trestle2020Railway trestleEast Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 32020East Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 3East Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 22020East Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 2East Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 12020East Main Street Bridge, Yarmouth 1RR Park bridge2019RR Park bridgeYarmouth Upper Village2018Yarmouth Upper VillageThird Falls2018Third FallsSparhawk Mill 2 20182018Sparhawk Mill 2 2018Pioneers Burial Ground marker2018Pioneers Burial Ground markerOld Hose No. 22018Old Hose No. 2West Side Trail 12017West Side Trail 1Weathervane support2015Weathervane supportWeathervane support 22015Weathervane support 2Tractors2015TractorsRoad Grader2015Road GraderMaccar Truck2015Maccar TruckMaccar Truck2015Maccar TruckDoodle Bug2015Doodle BugCracks2015CracksBuffalo Springfield Steam Roller2015Buffalo Springfield Steam RollerBeth Condon Butterfly Garden2015Beth Condon Butterfly Garden"Like The Down Of A Thistle"2015"Like The Down Of A Thistle"Historic Yarmouth information board2015Historic Yarmouth information boardMuddy Rudder Weather Vane2014Muddy Rudder Weather VaneHeron Weather Vane2014Heron Weather VanePioneer Cemetery2012Pioneer CemeteryHerbie T-shirt2010Herbie T-shirtFrank Knight Forest2009Frank Knight Forest'Herbie'2008'Herbie'
Every building

Yarmouth, building by building, 1903–1911

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Yarmouth fire insurance map, 1903, sheet 11903Sheet 1 of 4
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

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.

Trademark registration by James P. Baxter for Yarmouth brand Sugar Corn, 1871 Jul. 18, from the Library of Congress - m…
Retake this viewTrademark registration by James P. Baxter for Yarmouth brand Sugar Corn, 1871 Jul. 18, from the Library of Congress - m…, 1871

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

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

11 historic places in Yarmouth

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
11
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
12
each building in a district counts
first listed
1974
Capt. Reuben Merrill House
Capt. Reuben Merrill HouseNorth Yarmouth Academy, built 1814Mitchell House, built 1800North Yarmouth and Freeport Baptist MeetinghouseCamp HammondCapt. S. C. Blanchard HouseGrand Trunk Railroad StationCentral Parish ChurchFirst Parish Congregational ChurchCousins Island Chapel, built 1894Cushing and Hannah Prince House, built 1785
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Italianate4
Greek Revival3
Federal3
Gothic2
Shingle Style2
Colonial1
Capt. Reuben Merrill HouseItalianate
North Yarmouth AcademyGreek Revival · Built 1814
Mitchell HouseFederal · Built 1800
North Yarmouth and Freeport Baptist MeetinghouseGothic
Camp HammondShingle Style
Capt. S. C. Blanchard HouseItalianate
Grand Trunk Railroad StationBuilding
Central Parish ChurchItalianate
All 11 listings
First Parish Congregational ChurchBuilding · listed 1995Cousins Island ChapelBuilding · listed 1997Cushing and Hannah Prince HouseBuilding · listed 1999

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

People over time

Yarmouth, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00018501900195020008,990

Grew from 2,144 people in 1850 to 8,990 in 2020, 4 times over.

18 censuses, 1850–2020.

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

Famous people

6 famous people were born in Yarmouth

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

See all →
S
Sophia LaukliAmerican cross-country skier · b. 2000
Oliver WahlstromAmerican ice hockey player · b. 2000
Horatio DresserAmerican author and New Thought proponent · b. 1866
C
Carl McKinleyAmerican composer · b. 1895
Samuel B. NewtonAmerican football player and coach · b. 1868
G
Gordon B. CrossAmerican professor · b. 1911
Help out

Finish Yarmouth’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.
Date a photo2 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewTrademark registration by James P. Baxt…: 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.

Freeport5 historic placesA−Cumberland2 historic placesBNorth YarmouthIts storyBChebeague Island2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Yarmouth’s history

What year was Yarmouth founded?

In 1636, according to Wikidata. Yarmouth’s post office opened in 1852, and the census of 1850 counted 2,144 people here.

How does Yarmouth rank for history?

Yarmouth is more historic than 87% of U.S. towns, #56 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 Yarmouth?

11 listings: 11 buildings, among them the Capt. Reuben Merrill House (listed 1974, the first). 12 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Yarmouth?

17% of Yarmouth’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.9 points), against a typical 19% for a Maine town; the median home was built in 1973.

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 (43), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (4), the National Register of Historic Places (11), 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), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.