Editing Saco, Maine (section)

==History==

This was territory of the [[Abenaki]] tribe whose fortified village was located up the Sokokis Trail at Pequawket (now [[Fryeburg, Maine|Fryeburg]]).  There was a settlement at the mouth of the Saco river, with homes and permanent cultivation, at the time of contact with Europeans in the early 1600s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Champlain's Map of Saco Bay|url=https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/33847}}</ref>

In July 1607, 500 warriors led by [[sagamore (title)|''sakmow'']] ([[Assembly of First Nations|Grand Chief]]) of the [[Mi'kmaq people|Mi'kmaq]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|First Nations]] [[Henri Membertou]] attacked the village at present-day Saco, killing 20 of their braves, including two of their leaders, Onmechin and Marchin, leading to conflict that lasted until 1615.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2536600069.html| title = Messamouet (?-1610?) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

In 1630 the [[Plymouth Company]] granted Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonython a charter to establish a town at Saco, with a deed that extended {{convert|4|mi|km}} along the sea, by {{convert|8|mi|km}} inland. Settled in 1631 as part of Winter Harbor (as [[Biddeford Pool]] was first known). The government of Maine, under [[Ferdinando Gorges]], was based in the town from 1636 to 1653.<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911|wstitle = Saco|volume=23|page=976}}</ref> It would be reorganized in 1653 by the [[Massachusetts General Court]] as Saco, which would be renamed [[Biddeford, Maine|Biddeford]] in 1718.<ref name="Coolidge">{{Cite book|last = Coolidge|first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield|title = A History and Description of New England|publisher = A.J. Coolidge| year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n326 288]–290| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ|quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=biddeford Maine Resource Guide: Biddeford, York County]</ref>

The settlement was attacked by Indians in 1675 during [[King Philip's War]]. Settlers moved to the mouth of the river, and the houses and mills they left behind were burned. Saco lay in contested territory between [[New England]] and [[New France]], which recruited the Indians as allies. In 1689 during [[King William's War]], it was again attacked, with some residents taken captive. Hostilities intensified from 1702 until 1709, then ceased in 1713 with the [[Treaty of Portsmouth (1713)|Treaty of Portsmouth]]. The community was rebuilt and in 1718 incorporated as Biddeford. Peace would not last, however, and the town was again attacked in 1723 during [[Dummer's War]], when it contained 14 [[garrison]]s. In August and September 1723, there were Indian raids on Saco, Maine and [[Dover, New Hampshire]].<ref name="William Williamson, p. 123">William Williamson, p. 123</ref> But in 1724, a [[Massachusetts]] [[militia]] destroyed [[Norridgewock]], an Abenaki stronghold on the [[Kennebec River]] organizing raids on English settlements. The region became less dangerous, especially after the [[French people|French]] defeat in 1745 at the [[Siege of Louisbourg (1745)|Battle of Louisburg]]. The [[French and Indian Wars]] finally ended with the 1763 [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]].<ref name="Coolidge"/>

In 1762, the northeastern bank of Biddeford separated as the District of Pepperrellborough, named for [[William Pepperrell|Sir William Pepperrell]], hero of the Battle of Louisburg and late proprietor of the town. [[Amos Chase]] was one of the pioneers of Pepperrellborough. He was chosen as a selectman at the first town meeting, and served as the first deacon of the Congregational Church. Dea. Chase was one of the area's largest taxpayers, and was prominent in civic affairs during the [[American Revolution]], serving on the town's [[Committee of Correspondence]] and Committee of Inspection.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chase |first=Lonnie |title=Chase-L Archives |url=http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/CHASE/2003-01/1043803638 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715202816/http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/CHASE/2003-01/1043803638 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |publisher=listsearches.rootsweb.com |access-date=February 10, 2011 }}</ref>

The district was incorporated as the Town of Pepperellborough in 1775. Inhabitants found the name to be cumbersome, so in 1805 it was renamed Saco. It would be incorporated as a city in 1867.<ref name="EB1911" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Maine Places - Saco, York County |url=https://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_place_record.asp?place=saco |website=Maine Genealogy |access-date=15 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Saco became a center for [[lumber]]ing, with [[log driving|log drives]] down the river from Little Falls Plantation (now [[Dayton, Maine|Dayton]], [[Lyman, Maine|Lyman]], [[Hollis, Maine|Hollis]] and part of [[Limington, Maine|Limington]]). At Saco Falls, the timber was cut by 17 [[sawmill]]s. In 1827, the community produced {{convert|21000000|ft|m}} of sawn lumber, some of which was used for [[shipbuilding]].<ref>{{Citation|last = Varney|first = George J.|title = Gazetteer of the state of Maine. Saco|place = Boston|publisher = Russell| year = 1886|url = http://history.rays-place.com/me/saco-me.htm }}</ref>

On Factory Island, the Saco Iron Works began operation in 1811. The Saco Manufacturing Company established a [[cotton]] mill in 1826, and a [[canal]] was dug through rock to provide [[water power]]. The mill burned in 1830, but was replaced in 1831 by the York Manufacturing Company. With the arrival of the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad in 1842, Factory Island developed into a major [[textile]] manufacturing center, with extensive brick mills dominating the Saco and Biddeford waterfronts. Other businesses included [[foundry|foundries]], belting and harnessmaking, and [[machine shop]]s. But the New England textile industry faded in the 20th century, and the York Manufacturing Company would close in 1958. The prosperous [[mill town]] era, however, left behind much fine [[architecture]] in the [[Georgian style|Georgian]], [[Federal style architecture|Federal]], [[Greek Revival]] and [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] styles. Many buildings are now listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacomaine.org/community/history/factoryisland.shtml |first=Thomas |last=Hardiman |title=A History of the Factory Island Mill District |publisher=Sacomaine.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703124542/http://www.sacomaine.org/community/history/factoryisland.shtml |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1844, [[Laurel Hill Cemetery (Saco, Maine)|Laurel Hill Cemetery]] was established on {{convert|25|acre|adj=on}} of land. Still in operation, it is one of the earliest examples of the [[Rural cemetery]] movement.

Saco has taken steps to make the city more environmentally friendly. In early 2007 a [[small wind turbine]] was erected near the water treatment plant at the foot of Front street. Another larger wind turbine was erected on the top of York Hill in December 2007, and was expected to generate power for the new train station for Amtrak's ''[[Downeaster (train)|Downeaster]]'', although this was torn down in 2018 as the wind turbine never came close to generating the amount of energy promised.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bangordailynews.com/2017/10/12/environment/maine-city-struggles-to-get-rid-of-windmill-that-never-produced-energy-as-promised/ | title=Maine city struggles to get rid of windmill that never produced energy as promised | date=October 12, 2017 }}</ref> Saco also has two growing business parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacomaine.org/community/history/introduction.shtml |title=An Introduction to Saco History |first=Thomas |last=Hardiman  |publisher=Sacomaine.org |access-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210204428/http://www.sacomaine.org/community/history/introduction.shtml |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Amos Chase house, 144 Ferry Road, Saco, ME.JPG|[[Amos Chase]] house on Ferry Road; built {{circa|1743}}
File:York Mills, Saco, ME.jpg|York Manufacturing Co. in 1916
File:Eastman_Park,_Saco_Maine.jpg|Civil War memorial in Eastman Park
File:Saco_Maine_City_Hall.jpg|Saco City Hall
File:Masonic_Hall_Saco_Maine.jpg|Masonic Hall
</gallery>