Kittery, Colonial coastal town in York County, Maine, US
Kittery is a coastal town where the Piscataqua River flows into the Atlantic Ocean, spreading across several islands. Protected harbors here have attracted maritime activity for centuries and remain central to the landscape.
The town began as a settlement in the early 1600s and soon became a center for regional shipbuilding. In 1800, a naval shipyard opened on an island and transformed the local economy.
The community here has deep roots in shipbuilding and maritime work that shape how people think about and use the waterfront. This connection to the sea remains visible in local conversations and in the way residents interact with the river and harbor.
The town sits conveniently off Interstate 95 with easy access to shopping areas and waterfront facilities. Year-round shops and restaurants make it simple for visitors to explore different parts of the area.
An old fort from the late 1600s built from granite and wood sits on a point overlooking the river entrance and has guarded the area for over 300 years. Visitors can still see different building phases that show how defense methods changed across the centuries.
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