Neighborhoods in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine, is home to many neighborhoods.
Arts District
Portland's Arts District is based around
Back Cove
Back Cove is a neighborhood off of Portland's peninsula and downtown areas. The neighborhood is mostly residential with some commercial business located within
Within the boundaries of the Back Cove neighborhood are Woodford's Corner, Ocean Avenue,
The Back Cove Trail is one of the oldest trails in Portland. It is 3.6 miles (5.8 km) long and circles Bay Cove and connects to Payson Park, the Bayside Trail, and the East End Trail.[3] Payson Park is a 48 acres (19 ha) park located within the neighborhood, with baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a playground, an ice skating rink, a sledding hill, ski and snowboarding park, a playground, a community garden, and the Longfellow Arboretum.[4] The small Barrows Park, Heseltine Park, and the George Street Cemetery are located within the Back Cove neighborhood.
Bayside
Bayside is the downtown neighborhood located between Portland's Old Port and Back Cove. It is a mix of residential and commercial properties and old and modern architecture. The neighborhood is bounded by Forest Avenue, Interstate 295 (I-295), Congress Street, and Franklin Street.[5] It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Parkside, the Old Port, and East Bayside. It is represented by the Bayside Neighborhood Association. It is often confused with the East Bayside neighborhood, which is on the opposite side of Franklin Street.
The Bayside Bowl bowling alley is located in the Bayside neighborhood next to the former Public Works operation and since 2014 it has been hosting the
The Bayside Trail begins on Elm Street in the Bayside neighborhood. The trail goes across the Franklin Street divided throughway, through East Bayside, and connects to the East End Trail and the Back Cove Trail.[9] The Stone Street Playground is located in the neighborhood and is popular in the summertime because of the splash pad fountain and the proximity to the Old Port.[10] The neighborhood association rents plots in the community garden located on Chestnut Street across from the Daymark condominium building that was built in 2022.[11]
Deering Center
Deering Center is a neighborhood that runs from Brighton Avenue to Forest Avenue to Walton Street, then past Evergreen Cemetery, near Wayside Street on Ludlow Street. Formerly known as the town of Deering (named for Captain James Deering, horse farmer and early resident of Deering), which separated from Westbrook in 1871. It was incorporated into Portland as Deering Center on March 9, 1899.
Deering Highlands
Deering Highlands is a residential neighborhood on a hill generally bordered by Woodford Street to the north, Stevens Avenue to the west, Deering Street to the east, and the sloping hillside of streets in the same area, south of Brighton Avenue. The map on Barry & Anderson's Deering: A Social and Architectural History,[12] p. 15, is ambiguous as to the neighborhood's precise borders.
Deering Highlands was developed in the late 19th century, and maintains much of its original historical character, including numerous examples of architecture by
The neighborhood is almost entirely residential, but the largest institutional feature of the Highlands is Maine Medical Center's Brighton Avenue Campus (formerly known as the Brighton Medical Center). The complex is now home of the New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland and also houses training facilities and an urgent care center.
Downtown
East Deering
East Deering is the city's easternmost neighborhood, which includes waterfront homes, residential neighborhoods, Payson Park and the future home of the
Businesses are located on Washington Avenue and Veranda Street, where there are restaurants, an ice cream shop, and a juice bar. Much of the neighborhood has views of Casco Bay and nearby Mackworth Island. Major landmarks in this neighborhood include Tukey's Bridge, the B&M Baked Beans factory, Martin's Point, Presumpscot School, Grand Trunk Cemetery, Payson Park, and Lunts Corner.[13] In 2021, the Roux Institute purchased the B&M factory in order to convert it into a campus with academic buildings, student housing, a hotel, and public waterfront access.[14]
East Deering was bisected by I-295 in the 1960s. The major throughways in East Deering are Washington Avenue and Veranda Street. Martin's Point Bridge connects East Deering to Falmouth.
East Bayside
East Bayside is bordered by
East End
The East End is a neighborhood on the far eastern end of Portland's peninsula. It is closely linked with Munjoy Hill and the Eastern Promenade. The East End Community School, located on North Street, serves the area.
Libbytown
Libbytown[18] is a neighborhood in southern and western Portland, wedged between the Stroudwater, Rosemont, Oakdale, and Parkside neighborhoods, and separated from the city of South Portland by the Fore River.[19] Maine's busiest public transit hub, the Portland Transportation Center, is in Libbytown.
Nasons Corner
The area around outer Brighton Avenue is Nasons Corner. While part of the independent town of Deering in the 1890s, the area was primarily agricultural, with acres of strawberries and fields of hay. Capisic Brook runs through part of the neighborhood, and its banks were home to the Lucas and Hamblet family-run brickyards, which were sold throughout New England. In 1898, Nasons Corner and the rest of Deering was annexed by the City of Portland. The earliest housing developments in the neighborhood were built beginning around that time and were called Brighton Avenue Terrace and Portland Garden (now Holm Street and Taft Street). The Glenwood project was underway by 1900. It included affordable bungalow style homes named for English counties (Devon, Dorset, Essex, Kent, and Warwick). The Glenwood Baptist Church was built by the 1950s. The park will be part of a greening effort to restore its intended use as a "Learning Environment" by building new natural play scapes. A partnership between the City of Portland, the Nason's Corner Neighborhood Association, Breakwater School and Portland Trails. They broke ground on October 29, 2013, and should be completed by the fall of 2014.[20]
Sagamore Village
During World War II, many rural Mainers moved to Portland due to labor shortages in the booming defense industry based around Portland harbor. In 1943, Sagamore Village was built to ease the housing shortage. It was owned and operated by the federal government until 1953. It was a multiracial and multiethnic community, which was unique for many of the residents. Following the end of the war, the federal government sought to sell housing developments like Sagamore and Redbank in neighboring South Portland. Initially, the city council rebuffed calls to purchase the housing development but in 1950, it reversed its position due to public pressure and purchased the housing complex. It was opened for low-income individuals.[21]
North Deering
North Deering is the northernmost neighborhood of the city. It is situated next to the Riverton and East Deering neighborhoods of the city, as well as the town of Falmouth. It is home to some of the oldest surviving houses in the city, because the neighborhood was spared all of the four fires that plagued much of the rest of the city in the past. In North Deering's early history, it had an agriculture- and lumber-based economy, but with the spread of the automobile, North Deering became more economically connected to the rest of the city. Today, it has become a suburban neighborhood with some retail activity. It is home to
It is served by Harrison Lyseth Elementary School and Lyman Moore Middle School (which also serves the East Deering and Munjoy Hill neighborhoods). Prospective North Deering High School students can also choose between attending
Oakdale
Oakdale is a primarily residential university neighborhood. It consists mostly of owner-occupied homes, a few businesses, and the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine.[23] All the neighborhood is within walking distance of the university. The neighborhood is bounded by Ashmont Street, Devonshire Street, St. John Street, I-295, and Baxter Boulevard. Oakdale's residents are part of the Woodfords-Oakdale Neighborhood Association.[24]
The neighborhood includes the Southworth Planetarium, the Sullivan Athletic Complex, and the Glickman Library. Parks in the neighborhood include Baxter Boulevard, Longfellow Park, Noyes Park, and Fessenden Park. The Deering Avenue bridge connects the neighborhood to the neighboring Deering Oaks and the city's athletic complex of Fitzpatrick Stadium, Hadlock Field, Portland Expo, and Troubh Ice Arena. Commercial businesses are mainly located along Forest Avenue.
The historic Nathan Clifford School, built in 1907, was the neighborhood school until it was closed in 2011 and replaced by the Ocean Avenue Elementary School. In 2013, the city sold the Nathan Clifford School for $1 to the Developers Collaborative. It was supposed to primarily include "high-density affordable housing", but instead the developers "remodeled the building to create 22 market-rate apartments."[25] On January 27, 2014, the former schoolhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[26]
Old Port
The Old Port (sometimes known as the Old Port Exchange) is a neighborhood known for its cobblestone streets, 19th-century brick buildings and fishing piers. The district is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars. Because of its reputation for nightlife, the Old Port is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Bayside, East Bayside, Munjoy Hill and the West End.
Parkside
Parkside neighborhood, located at the base of the Portland peninsula, is bordered by I-295 on the far side of Deering Oaks, Forest Avenue on the East, Congress Street on the south, and Weymouth Street on the west.
Peaks Island
and has its own elementary school, library, and police station. It is the only island in Casco Bay that allows cars, due to its size.Riverton
Riverton neighborhood is located in northwestern Portland. The
Rosemont
Rosemont is a neighborhood located close to Deering Center and other off-peninsula neighborhoods. Longfellow Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School and Deering High School are located here. The local branch library, Burbank Library, is one of the highest circulating libraries in Maine. Capisic Pond, an important recreational site, is located here.[35]
Saint John Valley
The Saint John Valley Neighborhood is located between the West End and Libbytown neighborhoods, bordered by the Parkside Neighborhood and the Fore River.
- Northern Boundary: Interstate 295
- Eastern Boundary: The Western Promenade, including the Maine Medical Center Campus; Congress Street, and Weymouth Street continuing along the north side of Hadlock Field to I-295
- Western Boundary: Along the Fore River from Veterans Bridge to I-295
- Southern Boundary: The intersection of Valley Street, Veterans Bridge, and Commercial Street
The Saint John Valley Neighborhood Association was created in 2008 in an effort to define an area of the city that lacked funding and recognition. Since its inception, many improvements have been made and more are planned, such as traffic calming, beautification, and over-all streetscaping to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. The area north of I-295 and south of St. John Street is claimed by both The Saint John Valley and Libbytown Neighborhood Associations.
Stroudwater
Stroudwater is located in the southwest corner of Portland, bordered by the Nasons Corner and Libbytown neighborhoods to the north and east, the city of Westbrook to the west, and the city of South Portland to the south.
Stroudwater was founded as a hamlet which, with power generated by the Stroudwater River and Fore Rivers, was an important producer of masts for the Royal Navy. In the 2000s, Stroudwater was considered a quiet suburb of downtown Portland, though it is still officially within the city boundaries.[36]
West End
The West End neighborhood is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula. It includes a number of historical and well-preserved architecture.
Noted for its architecture,
References
- ^ Arts District - Portland's Cultural Center PortlandMaine.com
- ^ "Greater Portland Landmarks - Boulevard Park". Greater Portland Landmarks. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "Back Cove Trail » Portland Trails". Portland Trails. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "Longfellow Arboretum". Longfellow Garden Club. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ^ "Bayside Neighborhood". Bayside Neighborhood Association. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "Greater Portland Landmarks - Blog". Greater Portland Landmarks. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ Magazine, Down East (2021-03-26). "The Development Projects Reshaping Portland". Down East Magazine. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ Ward, Ian (2019-07-17). "Bayside Bowl rejuvenates PBA Tour's team event". Press Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ "Bayside Trail". Portland Trails. 2017.
- ^ Writer, Rachel OhmStaff (2022-07-27). "Portland offers free summer program for kids at city parks and playgrounds". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "Bayside Community Garden". Bayside Neighborhood Association. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ISBN 978-0-939761-14-2.
- The Bollard. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ "Portland council approves rezoning for Roux Institute development". Press Herald. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Public input sought on East Bayside Portland Press Herald, March 17, 2010
- ^ "East Bayside Neighborhood". eastbayside.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- ^ East End Community School
- ^ Deans, Emma (8 July 2010). "Welcome to Nowhere - Reconnecting an amputated neighborhood". The Bollard. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
- ^ a b "City of Portland, Maine Neighborhood Areas". Department of Public Works, City of Portland. May 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-939761-14-2.
- ISBN 978-0-939761-14-2.
- ^ "Presumpscot River Preserve". Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ 'INSTITUTIONAL CREEP' WORRIES NEIGHBORS, CITY Portland Press Herald, September 4, 2001
- ^ "Woodfords-Oakdale Neighborhood Association | Portland, ME". www.portlandmaine.gov.
- ^ Neumann, Dan (21 May 2020). "Portland family faces eviction amid pandemic". Beacon.
- ^ "Nathan Clifford School, Portland". Maine Historic Preservation Commission. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ "Parkside Neighborhood Association | Portland, ME". www.portlandmaine.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ^ Busby, Chris (August 9, 2009). "The Dark Side of Parkside". The Bollard. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ Welcome to the Riverton Trolley Park Portlandmaine.gov
- ^ "Trolleys". University of Southern Maine. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Riverton Trolley Park – Portland Trails". Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Riverton Trolley Park - Another Gem of the Portland Trails System!". WCSH 6. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ Riverton Branch PortlandLibrary.com
- ^ Riverton PortlandSchools.org
- ^ Banks, Patrick (December 5, 2008). "That's My Dump!". The Bollard. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ Insiders' Guide to Portland, Maine By Sara Donnelly, Meredith Goad
- ^ A West End hideaway in Portland Boston Globe, September 21, 2008
- ^ study in architecture: Portland, Maine Star Tribune, June 19, 2010