South Portland, Maine
Encyclopedia
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County
, Maine
, United States
, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of Portland
and the islands of Casco Bay
. Due to South Portland's close proximity to air, marine, and highway transportation options, the city has become a center for retail and industry in the region.
Despite the similar name, South Portland is not part of the city of Portland.
South Portland is a principal city of the Portland – South Portland – Biddeford metropolitan area.
. On March 15, 1895, it was incorporated as a town after it broke away from Cape Elizabeth, based on a disagreement on a future source of public drinking water. Three years later South Portland became a city, destined to receive its drinking water, like Portland, from Sebago Lake
, while Cape Elizabeth used wells or other local sources.
On South Portland's waterfront is Fort Preble
, which is a military fort established in 1808 to protect Portland Harbor. It was in operation during several American conflicts, including the United States Civil War, World War I
, and World War II
. Near Fort Preble is Spring Point Ledge Light
, which was constructed by the federal government in 1897 to mark a dangerous rock ledge.
In 1940, the Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp (later called the “East Yard”) was established to build cargo ships for Britain. When the United States became involved with World War II, the shipyard expanded to include the South Portland Shipbuilding Corp. (aka the “West Yard”), that later combined with the Todd-Bath yard to become the New England Shipbuilding Corporation
. These shipyards built 236 of the 440 foot (134 m) long Liberty ship
s, more than 10 percent of all the Liberty ships constructed during the war years. At its peak, the shipyard employed some 30,000 people, including thousands of women, who took over the jobs vacated by men going into the service. The shipyard gradually ceased operations after the war ended in 1945. Remnants of the shipyards are visible, and there is a memorial to the shipyard and the workers at Bug Light Park. The park is also home to Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, commonly referred to as "Bug Light."
On July 11, 1944, at 4:45 PM, U.S. Army
Lt. Phillip "Phee" Russell was attempting to land his Douglas A-26 Invader at the Portland-Westbrook Municipal Airport
. For reasons that were never fully determined, Russell lost control of the plane and crashed into a trailer park
in South Portland's Brick Hill neighborhood. 19 people were killed and 20 people were injured — mostly the families of South Portland shipyard workers — making it the worst aviation accident in Maine history. A Long Creek Air Tragedy Memorial was eventually erected to commemorate the crash and honor the victims, but not until 66 years later.
Over the last few decades, South Portland has become the retail capital of Maine. The Mill Creek shopping center, built in the 1950s, was the first such "strip mall" built in Maine: a line of stores under one long roof and a covered walkway. Mill Creek has changed and grown significantly since, but the original layout still forms the core of the stores. The area in Mill Creek known as the Waterfront Market sits at the base of the Casco Bay Bridge
and attracts shoppers from Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and Portland.
The need for a large mall in Maine emerged in the 1960s, as Portland's downtown district could not accommodate the growing retail market. A former pig farm in South Portland was chosen as the site for the project because it was close to I-95 and convenient from Portland. Beginning construction of the Maine Mall in the late 1960s marked the start of a major transition in the western part of South Portland: from a rural, agrarian landscape to the large retail center that exists today.
The oldest neighborhood in South Portland, and its former "retail corridor," is Ferry Village. Prior to the Casco Bay Bridge (or the one it replaced, the Million Dollar Bridge
), ferries transported people and goods back and forth across the harbor to Portland. The landscape and the makeup of residents in Ferry Village were forever changed upon the close of the WWII shipyards. The Village has slowly bounced back and is now one of the more popular places in the city to live.
Ferry Village also has one of the most active and involved neighborhood associations in Southern Maine. The Ferry Village Neighboorhood Conservation Association (FVNCA) was formed in August 1985 to address the development boom in the 1980s which was quickly altering the character of the waterfront and many Greater Portland neighborhoods. FVNCA was instrumental in the formation of the South Portland Land Trust as well as the City-managed Land Bank which provides seed money for the acquisition of available open space.
The city council
is made up of seven members elected by the citizens: one member from each of the five districts in the city, and two at-large
members. Voters are allowed to vote for council candidates in all five districts, not just the district where they are registered to vote.
Every December, the members of the council elect one of themselves as mayor
, which is primarily a ceremonial title. The mayor serves as chairman of the council.
The city council is responsible for establishing policy
, passing local ordinance
s, voting appropriation
s, and developing an overall vision for the city.
The council appoints a city manager
to oversee the daily operations of the government and implement the policies established by the council. The manager is an employee of the city and has a contract
that specifies his or her duties and responsibilities. Ideally, the manager is considered apolitical
.
Soule's proposal was panned by the congressional delegation and by Governor Baldacci
, whose spokesman called it "silly" and "counterproductive."
The proposal did not gain any traction, and Soule has not pursued it since then. Soule nominated himself for reelection as mayor in November 2008, but was defeated by Thomas Blake in a 6-1 vote. Soule voted for himself.
, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37.0 km²), of which, 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) of it (16.15%) is water.
South Portland borders Cape Elizabeth, Portland, Scarborough, and Westbrook. The city is located at 43°37′54"N 70°16′22"W.
The city-owned South Portland Bus Service provides public transportation throughout the city.
Villages are in bold; neighborhoods are in italics.
of 2000, there were 23,324 people, 10,047 households, and 6,038 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,944.7 people per square mile (751.1/km²). There were 10,349 housing units at an average density of 862.9 per square mile (333.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.80% White, 0.63% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 10,047 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,770, and the median income for a family was $52,833. Males had a median income of $32,256 versus $28,630 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,781. About 4.9% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
While the city is considered suburban, it also has a diverse economy, which is displayed by its working waterfront and large retail center.
Home to the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line
, millions of barrels of oil are shipped to South Portland each year, which is a major portion of the inbound tonnage entering the Port of Portland.
Rigby Yard, the largest railroad yard in New England, built by Portland Terminal Company
in 1922, is still in operation to this day and is part of the Pan Am Railways
system.
The city is also home to a manufacturing facility and world headquarters for the technology company Fairchild Semiconductor
as well as a manufacturing facility for National Semiconductor
(now part of Texas Instruments
).
The Maine Mall is the largest and busiest mall in the state and attracts thousands of shoppers each year.
The main runway of Maine's busiest airport, the Portland International Jetport
, is located within the city of South Portland. The passenger terminal is located within the city of Portland.
Other attractions:
and Small School. The city has two middle schools, Mahoney Middle School and Memorial Middle School. The city has only one high school, South Portland High School
, which has an enrollment of about 1000 students.
The city of South Portland also has two private schools: Holy Cross School which is a catholic K-8 school and Greater Portland Christian School which is K-12.
South Portland also boasts institutions of higher learning such as Andover College
, Husson University-South Portland Campus, New England Bible College
, and Southern Maine Community College
.
and The Forecaster cover South Portland issues and events, while also serving the communities of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough. The city also has a local Public-access television
cable TV television station, SPC-TV which is sponsored by the city and is broadcast on Time Warner Cable
's channel 2.
Media coverage for South Portland is also provided by Portland's television and radio stations and periodicals.
Cumberland County, Maine
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 281,674. Its county seat is Portland, and is the most populous of the sixteen Maine counties, as well as the most affluent. Cumberland County has the deepest and second largest body of water in the...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
and the islands of Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
. Due to South Portland's close proximity to air, marine, and highway transportation options, the city has become a center for retail and industry in the region.
Despite the similar name, South Portland is not part of the city of Portland.
South Portland is a principal city of the Portland – South Portland – Biddeford metropolitan area.
History
South Portland was first settled in 1630, and it grew to become a small residential community with many farms. In 1858, the City of Portland purchased land near the Fore River for the Forest City CemeteryForest City Cemetery
Forest City Cemetery is a cemetery in South Portland, Maine, owned and operated by the adjacent city of Portland. There are approximately 30,000 burials in the cemetery. Forest City's burial records are kept at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. As of 1870, the cemetery had 24 burials of...
. On March 15, 1895, it was incorporated as a town after it broke away from Cape Elizabeth, based on a disagreement on a future source of public drinking water. Three years later South Portland became a city, destined to receive its drinking water, like Portland, from Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake is the deepest and second largest lake in the U.S. state of Maine. The lake is deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of , covers about in surface area, has a length of and a shoreline length of . The surface is around above sea level, so the deep bottom is below the present...
, while Cape Elizabeth used wells or other local sources.
On South Portland's waterfront is Fort Preble
Fort Preble
Fort Preble is a military fort in South Portland, Maine, United States. It is now on the campus of Southern Maine Community College.Henry A. S. Dearborn built this second-system fortification as an "embargo fort" in 1808 and named it in honor of Commodore Edward Preble...
, which is a military fort established in 1808 to protect Portland Harbor. It was in operation during several American conflicts, including the United States Civil War, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Near Fort Preble is Spring Point Ledge Light
Spring Point Ledge Light
-External links:*...
, which was constructed by the federal government in 1897 to mark a dangerous rock ledge.
In 1940, the Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp (later called the “East Yard”) was established to build cargo ships for Britain. When the United States became involved with World War II, the shipyard expanded to include the South Portland Shipbuilding Corp. (aka the “West Yard”), that later combined with the Todd-Bath yard to become the New England Shipbuilding Corporation
New England Shipbuilding Corporation
The New England Shipbuilding Corporation was a shipyard located in the city of South Portland, Maine, United States. The yard originated as two separate entities, the Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corporation and the South Portland Shipbuilding Corporation, which were created in 1940 and 1941...
. These shipyards built 236 of the 440 foot (134 m) long Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
s, more than 10 percent of all the Liberty ships constructed during the war years. At its peak, the shipyard employed some 30,000 people, including thousands of women, who took over the jobs vacated by men going into the service. The shipyard gradually ceased operations after the war ended in 1945. Remnants of the shipyards are visible, and there is a memorial to the shipyard and the workers at Bug Light Park. The park is also home to Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, commonly referred to as "Bug Light."
On July 11, 1944, at 4:45 PM, U.S. Army
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
Lt. Phillip "Phee" Russell was attempting to land his Douglas A-26 Invader at the Portland-Westbrook Municipal Airport
Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport is a public airport located two miles west of the central business district of Portland, in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is owned by the city of Portland...
. For reasons that were never fully determined, Russell lost control of the plane and crashed into a trailer park
Trailer park
A trailer park is a semi-permanent or permanent area for mobile homes or travel trailers. The main reasons for living in such trailer parks are the often lower cost compared to other housing, and the ability to move to a new area more quickly and easily, for example when changing jobs to another...
in South Portland's Brick Hill neighborhood. 19 people were killed and 20 people were injured — mostly the families of South Portland shipyard workers — making it the worst aviation accident in Maine history. A Long Creek Air Tragedy Memorial was eventually erected to commemorate the crash and honor the victims, but not until 66 years later.
Over the last few decades, South Portland has become the retail capital of Maine. The Mill Creek shopping center, built in the 1950s, was the first such "strip mall" built in Maine: a line of stores under one long roof and a covered walkway. Mill Creek has changed and grown significantly since, but the original layout still forms the core of the stores. The area in Mill Creek known as the Waterfront Market sits at the base of the Casco Bay Bridge
Casco Bay Bridge
The Casco Bay Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Fore River, connecting South Portland and Portland, Maine, USA.-History:In 1987 the state of Maine, in concert with surrounding towns, concluded that the existing Million Dollar Bridge, which was almost 70 years old, was inadequate for current...
and attracts shoppers from Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and Portland.
The need for a large mall in Maine emerged in the 1960s, as Portland's downtown district could not accommodate the growing retail market. A former pig farm in South Portland was chosen as the site for the project because it was close to I-95 and convenient from Portland. Beginning construction of the Maine Mall in the late 1960s marked the start of a major transition in the western part of South Portland: from a rural, agrarian landscape to the large retail center that exists today.
The oldest neighborhood in South Portland, and its former "retail corridor," is Ferry Village. Prior to the Casco Bay Bridge (or the one it replaced, the Million Dollar Bridge
Million Dollar Bridge (Maine)
The Million Dollar Bridge was a bascule bridge built in 1916 which carried traffic on Route 77 over the Fore River in Maine between Portland and South Portland....
), ferries transported people and goods back and forth across the harbor to Portland. The landscape and the makeup of residents in Ferry Village were forever changed upon the close of the WWII shipyards. The Village has slowly bounced back and is now one of the more popular places in the city to live.
Ferry Village also has one of the most active and involved neighborhood associations in Southern Maine. The Ferry Village Neighboorhood Conservation Association (FVNCA) was formed in August 1985 to address the development boom in the 1980s which was quickly altering the character of the waterfront and many Greater Portland neighborhoods. FVNCA was instrumental in the formation of the South Portland Land Trust as well as the City-managed Land Bank which provides seed money for the acquisition of available open space.
Government and politics
South Portland utilizes a council-manager form of government.The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
is made up of seven members elected by the citizens: one member from each of the five districts in the city, and two at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
members. Voters are allowed to vote for council candidates in all five districts, not just the district where they are registered to vote.
Every December, the members of the council elect one of themselves as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, which is primarily a ceremonial title. The mayor serves as chairman of the council.
The city council is responsible for establishing policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
, passing local ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
s, voting appropriation
Appropriation (law)
In law and government, appropriation is the act of setting apart something for its application to a particular usage, to the exclusion of all other uses....
s, and developing an overall vision for the city.
The council appoints a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
to oversee the daily operations of the government and implement the policies established by the council. The manager is an employee of the city and has a contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
that specifies his or her duties and responsibilities. Ideally, the manager is considered apolitical
Technocracy (bureaucratic)
Technocracy is a form of government where technical experts are in control of decision making in their respective fields. Economists, engineers, scientists, health professionals, and those who have knowledge, expertise or skills would compose the governing body...
.
Mayoral controversy
In December 2007, then-mayor James Soule made headlines in Maine and across the country when he proposed in his inaugural address that South Portland, along with parts of southern Maine, secede from the state of Maine and form a new state. Soule referred to the state government of Maine as an "oppressive enemy" and said that South Portland, along with other southern Maine cities and towns, contributes much more to the state in tax revenue than it receives in education funding. "The state of Maine needs South Portland more than South Portland needs the state of Maine," Soule claimed.Soule's proposal was panned by the congressional delegation and by Governor Baldacci
John Baldacci
John Elias Baldacci is an American politician who served as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Maine from 2003 until 2011. A Democrat, he also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003....
, whose spokesman called it "silly" and "counterproductive."
The proposal did not gain any traction, and Soule has not pursued it since then. Soule nominated himself for reelection as mayor in November 2008, but was defeated by Thomas Blake in a 6-1 vote. Soule voted for himself.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37.0 km²), of which, 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) of it (16.15%) is water.
South Portland borders Cape Elizabeth, Portland, Scarborough, and Westbrook. The city is located at 43°37′54"N 70°16′22"W.
The city-owned South Portland Bus Service provides public transportation throughout the city.
Villages and neighborhoods
- Ferry Village
- Cushing's Point
- Knightville
- Mill Creek
- Ligonia
- Pleasantdale
- Highland Avenue / Stanwood Park
- Skunk Hill
- Brick Hill
- Cash Corner
- Country Gardens
- Maine Mall
- Meadowbrook
- Redbank
- Sunset Park
- Thornton Heights
- Town House Corner
- South Portland Heights
- Willard
- Loveitt's Field
- Meetinghouse Hill
- Willard Beach
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 23,324 people, 10,047 households, and 6,038 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,944.7 people per square mile (751.1/km²). There were 10,349 housing units at an average density of 862.9 per square mile (333.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.80% White, 0.63% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 10,047 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,770, and the median income for a family was $52,833. Males had a median income of $32,256 versus $28,630 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,781. About 4.9% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Home to the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line
Portland-Montreal Pipe Line
The Portland Montreal Pipe Line is a series of underground crude oil pipelines from South Portland, Maine to Montreal, Quebec.-History:The Portland Montreal Pipe Line's history began during World War II, as oil shipments to Canada were largely disrupted by enemy naval forces...
, millions of barrels of oil are shipped to South Portland each year, which is a major portion of the inbound tonnage entering the Port of Portland.
Rigby Yard, the largest railroad yard in New England, built by Portland Terminal Company
Portland Terminal Company
The Portland Terminal Company was a terminal railroad notable for its control of switching activity for the Maine Central and Boston & Maine railroads in the Maine cities of Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook.- History :...
in 1922, is still in operation to this day and is part of the Pan Am Railways
Pan Am Railways
Pan Am Railways, Inc. , known as Guilford Rail System before March 2006, is a holding company that owns and operates Class II regional railroads covering northern New England from Mattawamkeag, Maine to Rotterdam Junction, New York...
system.
The city is also home to a manufacturing facility and world headquarters for the technology company Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. is an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Founded in 1957, it was a pioneer in transistor and integrated circuit manufacturing...
as well as a manufacturing facility for National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
(now part of Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
).
The Maine Mall is the largest and busiest mall in the state and attracts thousands of shoppers each year.
The main runway of Maine's busiest airport, the Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport is a public airport located two miles west of the central business district of Portland, in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is owned by the city of Portland...
, is located within the city of South Portland. The passenger terminal is located within the city of Portland.
Points of interest
South Portland offers an array of parks and open space. One of the main features of South Portland is the historic Greenbelt walkway, which is a three mile (5 km) paved trail that crosses through several neighborhoods and provides views of the harbor. Mill Creek Park is located in South Portland's downtown area and is complete with a beautifully landscaped pond area, bridge and rose garden. The park is host to several local events including summer concerts, Art in the Park, holiday tree lighting and ice skating in the winter. Other notable parks are Wainwright Farm, which is a new recreational facility and Hinckley Park which is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) wooded area that has two ponds. The city's waterfront has several recreational marinas and is home to the last free beach in the area, Willard Beach.Other attractions:
- Fort PrebleFort PrebleFort Preble is a military fort in South Portland, Maine, United States. It is now on the campus of Southern Maine Community College.Henry A. S. Dearborn built this second-system fortification as an "embargo fort" in 1808 and named it in honor of Commodore Edward Preble...
- Lyric Music Theater
- Portland Players Theater
- Maine Mall
- Portland Breakwater Lighthouse
- Shoreway Arboretum
- Southern Maine Community CollegeSouthern Maine Community CollegeSouthern Maine Community College is a community college in South Portland, Maine, USA, and one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System.-History:...
- Spring Point Ledge LightSpring Point Ledge Light-External links:*...
- The Portland Harbor Museum
- South Portland Historical SocietySouth Portland Historical SocietyThe South Portland Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the social, commercial and cultural heritage of South Portland, Maine.-History:...
Notable people
- Robert G. AlbionRobert G. AlbionRobert G. Albion was Harvard's first professor of Oceanic History and inspired two generations of maritime historians in the United States...
, author, historian, college professor. - Jim BeattieJim BeattieJames Louis Beattie is a former Major League Baseball player and executive who pitched in the major leagues from –....
, Major League Baseball player. - Larry BlissLarry BlissLawrence Steven Bliss, commonly known as Larry Bliss, is an American educator and former politician from the state of Maine. A Democrat, he served in the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate...
, state senator. - Brett BrownBrett BrownBrett Brown is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Australia national basketball team the Boomers team and an assistant coach at the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was an assistant coach with the Boomers for 132 games between 1995 and 2003 including the 1998 world...
, professional basketball coach. - Peter BuckPeter Buck (restaurateur)Peter Buck is a physicist, restaurateur, and philanthropist. He co-founded the Subway fastfood restaurant chain.-Education:A native of South Portland, Maine, Buck graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1952. He then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at Columbia...
, co-founder of SubwaySubway (restaurant)Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
restaurant chain. - Clarke CanfieldClarke CanfieldClarke Canfield is a New England journalist, reporter for The Associated Press, and author of Those Damned Yankees, The Not-So-Great History of Baseball's Evil Empire.-Biography:...
, journalist, author. - Frank M. CoffinFrank M. CoffinFrank Morey Coffin was an American politician from Maine and a United States federal judge. He was a Democrat.-Early life, education, and career:...
, judge, US congressman. - Chris Coyne, co-founder of OkCupidOKCupidOkCupid is a free dating and social networking website that features member-created quizzes. The site supports various modes of communication, including personal blogs, public forums, instant messages, emails, and "winks." OkCupid was listed in TIME's 2007 Top 10 dating sites.-Overview:OkCupid...
. - Bob CrowleyRobert Crowley (Survivor contestant)Robert "Bob" Crowley is the $1,000,000 winner of the American television show Survivor: Gabon. On December 14, 2008, it was revealed that he had been voted the winner, receiving four out of the seven votes and thus beating out hairdresser Susie Smith and pin-up model Jessica "Sugar" Kiper...
, winner of Survivor: GabonSurvivor: GabonSurvivor: Gabon — Earth's Last Eden is the seventeenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The premiere aired September 25, 2008, with the first two episodes screened back-to-back....
. - Charlie FurbushCharlie FurbushCharles "Charlie" R. Furbush is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball. He is 6'5" tall and weighs 215 pounds.-Early life and career:...
, Major League Baseball player. - Simon M. HamlinSimon M. HamlinSimon Moulton Hamlin was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Hamlin was born in Standish , Cumberland County, Maine, Hamlin attended the public schools, Gorham Normal School, and Bridgton Academy....
, congressman. - Terry MorrisonTerry Morrison (politician)Terry K. Morrison is an American businessman and politician from the state of Maine. A Democrat, he serves in the Maine House of Representatives, representing the 122nd district which is centered on his hometown of South Portland....
, state legislator. - James C. OliverJames C. OliverJames Churchill Oliver was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in South Portland, Maine, Oliver attended the public schools.Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, A.B., 1917....
, US congressman. - Bill SwiftBill SwiftWilliam Charles Swift is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.After graduating South Portland High School, Swift attended the University of Maine. Swift pitched for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and was a first-round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners following his senior year at Maine...
, Major League Baseball player.
Education
South Portland's public school system has five neighborhood elementary schools: Brown School, Dyer School, Kaler School, Skillin SchoolSkillin Elementary School
Skillin Elementary School is an elementary school in South Portland, Maine. it has over 380 students.The school is named for Dr. Waldo T...
and Small School. The city has two middle schools, Mahoney Middle School and Memorial Middle School. The city has only one high school, South Portland High School
South Portland High School
South Portland High School is a secondary school located in South Portland, Maine. It started in what is now Mahoney Middle school and was moved to its current campus. The School is waiting on plans for a new school, since budget was voted down in 2007. The citizens approved a renovation in a 2010...
, which has an enrollment of about 1000 students.
The city of South Portland also has two private schools: Holy Cross School which is a catholic K-8 school and Greater Portland Christian School which is K-12.
South Portland also boasts institutions of higher learning such as Andover College
Andover College (Maine)
Andover College in South Portland, Maine began as the Andover Institute of Business in Portland in 1967; the name was changed to Andover College in 1977. The college was given accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in 1998.Andover College also has a campus in...
, Husson University-South Portland Campus, New England Bible College
New England Bible College
New England Bible College is a small four-year coeducational bible college in South Portland, Maine. There are on average 50 to 60 enrolled students each semester. It is the only bible college in New England.-History:...
, and Southern Maine Community College
Southern Maine Community College
Southern Maine Community College is a community college in South Portland, Maine, USA, and one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System.-History:...
.
Media
There are several local media groups that report on the news of the city. The South Portland Sentry offers a free newspaper that covers the city's events and news. It has a circulation of 17,000 and is distributed to residents free of charge. Regional newspapers such as The CurrentCurrent Publishing
Current Publishing is a publishing company in southern Maine that puts out six weekly newspapers. Lee Hews is the company's publisher. Jane P. Lord is the executive editor, and Ben Bragdon is the managing editor.-Publications:...
and The Forecaster cover South Portland issues and events, while also serving the communities of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough. The city also has a local Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV television station, SPC-TV which is sponsored by the city and is broadcast on Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
's channel 2.
Media coverage for South Portland is also provided by Portland's television and radio stations and periodicals.