Gazetteer of the State of Maine With Numerous Illustrations, by Geo. J. Varney

BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY B. B. RUSSELL, 57 CORNHILL. 1882. Public domain image from

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YORK COUNTY.    6H

boundary line for some fifteen miles on the north-east. The Ossipee
River continues this line ten miles or more further to the New Hamp-
shire line. The Salmon Falls River forms the western boundary line
for about thirty miles, and the Piscataqua continues it some ten miles
further to the sea. The other considerable rivers are the Little Ossipee,
Mousam, Kennebunk, Great Works, Little and York. In the northern
part there are numerous ponds; Little Ossipee—somewhat north of
the centre of the county—being the largest, except Great East Pond,
which is partly in New Hampshire. In the northern part the hills are
numerous, several of which are near 1,000 feet in height. Agamenticus
Mountain, 600 feet high, is the greatest elevation near the coast. The
rocks of the region are chiefly granitic ; though at some points near the
coast they are argillaceous. The soil of the southern and eastern parts
of the county inclines to sandy loam, though clay, and clayey and
gravelly loam are frequent. The latter increases to the north, where
the soil becomes strong and productive, though often difficult to work
on account of the stones. The Portland and Rochester railroad crosses
the middle of the county from north-east to south-west, while the
Portland, Saco and Portsmouth, and the Boston and Maine railroads
follow a similar direction near the coast. The county contains twenty-
four towns and two cities; and three United States Customs districts,
Saco, Kennebunk and York, are within its limits. It has twenty-six
towns and two cities. The shire town is Alfred. The valuation in
1870 was $22,442,875. In 1880 it was $22,423,960. The population
in 1870 was 60,174; and in 1880, 62,299.

Note.— The following having been accidentally thrown out of its
place on page 468, is therefore inserted here : —

John B. Brown was in early life associated in mercantile business
with St. John Smith, both of whom acquired fortunes. Mr. Brown
later became the founder of the well-known and esteemed banking
house of John B. Brown & Sons. He was a man of great financial
sagacity,— quick in thought and prompt in action. Having also much
public spirit, he was a chief promoter of the railroads, and other lead-
ing interests of the city, the builder of the Falmouth hotel, and was a
large patron of the Maine General Hospital, and other charitable insti-
tutions of the city.