History of Saco, Maine, USA

In 1811 Saco Academy was founded after 37 Saco citizens petition the Massachusetts legislature to establish an academy in Saco.
It was later renamed Thornton Academy.
http://maineanencyclopedia.com/saco/

1811 - Mill established in Saco
Lumbering was the early business of the place, and the raw material was here turned into all varieties of stuff; and a large business was carried on in it with the West Indies. In 1811 Joseph Calef and Thomas Cutts erected on Factory Island a rolling and slitting mill for iron, and eleven machines for making nails. A company, consisting mostly of Boston capitalists, began preparations for a cotton mill on Factory Island, cutting a canal through the solid rock to conduct the water power.
A Gazetteer of the State of Maine

1839 - Saco
Saco, Maine
York county. Saco is situated on the east side of the river of that name. It is 71 miles S.S.W. from Augusta, 15 S.W. from Portland, and 29 N.E. from York.

Saco is a port of entry, a place of some ship building, and commands a flourishing trade. Population, 1830, 3,219; 1837, 4,229.

Saco enjoys the rare privilege of possessing great hydraulic power united with navigable accommodations. The Saco river terminates its fantastic course at this place, by leaping, within a short distance, 42 feet, and mingling with the ocean. This water power is very valuable and cannot fail of becoming the site of large manufacturing operations.

From the mouth of the river a fine beach extends to the east about 5 miles, called Old Orchard beach. This name arose from a growth of apple trees formerly near the beach, planted at a very early period; some of them remained as late as 1770. Another beach of less extent but not inferior in other respects, is found at the Pool, connecting... Read MORE...

1848 - (Saco) - Thornton Academy destroyed by suspicious fire

http://maineanencyclopedia.com/saco/

1854 - Saco
Saco, a thriving post-town and port of entry of York county, Maine, on the E. or left bank of the Saco river, about 6 miles from its mouth, and on the Eastern railroad, 13 miles S. W. from Portland. The industry of this place and of Biddeford, a flourishing village on the opposite side of the river, is chiefly directed to the lumber trade and to cotton manufactures, each of which employs a large amount of capital. A fall of about 42 feet in the Saco river, here furnishes excellent water-power, which is extensively used for sawing and driving machinery. There are now 10 large cotton mills in operation at these falls - 5 on the Saco and 5 on the Biddeford side - containing about 55,000 spindles and 2800 looms. The York Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1831, have a capital of $1,500,000, and produce annually $6,200,000 yards of cloth. The most extensive corporation, however, is the Saco Water-power Company, organized in 1839, with a capital of $1,500,1)00, since increased to... Read MORE...

1870 - Fatal Railroad Accident at Saco, Maine.
SACO, Me., March 12. As the 12 o'clock train from Boston for Portland was passing a crossing in this city this afternoon the engine struck a sleigh containing J. J. Sawyer of Buxton, Oliver Tracy, agent of the West Buxton Woolen Mills, and H. Partridge of Saco. Partridge escaped unhurt, but Tracy was killed almost instantly and Sawyer was fatally injured.

SACO, Me., March 12. Mr. John J. Sawyer, the man who was so badly injured by the railroad accident yesterday, died last evening. An inquest will be held tomorrow.
Boston Journal
Boston, Massachusetts
March 14, 1870

1886 - Saco
Saco, in York County, was granted in 1630, to Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonython, by the Plymouth Company, though the latter had, in 1622, granted nearly the whole territory between this and the Kennebec River, to Mason and Gorges. The tract granted to Lewis and Bonython, extended four miles along the sea in a straight line, and back into the country eight miles. The limits, as surveyed by the commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, in 1659, commenced at the mouth of Little River and run on a north-west line, leaving about 3,000 acres in Scarborough that belonged to the original patent. This grant was also over-lapped by the “Plough Patent,” issued the same year. The settlement on this grant with that on the other side of the river was known as Winter Harbor. In 1653, it was organized as Saco, and
in 1659, began to be represented in General Court. In 1719, it was incorporated as Biddeford, being the fourth town in Maine; in 1762 it received a separate incorporation, with all the... Read MORE...

1895 - Saco
Saco, saw'ko, a city, port of entry, and one of the capitals of York co., Me., on the left bank of the river of the same name, about 6 miles from its mouth, and 14 miles W.S.W. of Portland. It is on the Eastern Railroad, and is connected by a bridge with Biddeford, a city on the opposite bank of the river. It is also on the Boston & Maine Railroad, 100 miles from Boston. It contains 7 churches, the Saco Athenaeum, a high school, a public library, 2 national banks, 2 savings-banks, a newspaper office, several large cotton-factories, machine-shops, saw-mills, manufactories of shoes, &c. The river here falls more than 40 feet, and affords excellent water-power, which is extensively employed. Pop. in 1880, 6389; in 1890, 6075.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906
Saco, a city of York co., Me., on the left bank of the river of the same name, about 6 miles from its mouth and 14 miles SW. of Portland, on the Boston and Maine R. It is connected by bridge with Biddeford, a city on the opposite bank of the river. It contains the Thornton Academy, the Dyer and York Institute, libraries, etc., and has large cotton-factories, cotton-machinery works, and manufactories of belting, shooks, bricks, etc. The river here falls more than 50 feet and affords excellent water-power, which is extensively employed. Pop. in 1900, 6122.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1947 - Saco devastated by the Great Fires of 1947
After a wet spring, in which the months of April, May and June were inundated with rainy weather, the climate turned to drought condition in mid July 1947. By the end of September, the ground was extremely dry...

Reports of small fires in woods began coming into the Forest Service on October 7. These early fires burned in Portland, Bowdoin and Wells. Being 30 miles (48 km) apart from each other, these three fires illustrated the danger. After this, reports of fires poured in, and by October 16, 20 separate fires were burning in the state...

Fires began in the towns of Shapleigh and Waterboro, destroying both communities, including,with only a few exceptions,most homes. The fires swept through the forests, and moved with the wind toward the ocean. In addition to Waterboro and Shapleigh, the towns of Alfred, Lyman, Newfield, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, North Kennebunkport (now Arundel), Dayton, Wells, and the cities of Biddeford and Saco were devastated by fire. With the exception... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Saco:
Saco Museum:

Explore the town's history and culture at the Saco Museum. It features a diverse collection of art, artifacts, and exhibits.

Ferry Beach State Park:

Enjoy the natural beauty of Ferry Beach State Park. It offers walking trails, a picnic area, and access to a beautiful sandy beach along Saco Bay.

Thornton Academy:

Take a stroll around Thornton Academy, a private school founded in 1811. The historic campus is picturesque, and you can explore its architecture.

Saco Heath Preserve:

Nature lovers will appreciate the Saco Heath Preserve. It's a unique ecosystem featuring a raised peat bog with a boardwalk trail for easy exploration.

Saco River:

Spend a relaxing day along the Saco River. You can go kayaking, canoeing, or enjoy a scenic riverside picnic.

Dyer Library and Historic Society:

Visit the Dyer Library and the Historic Society to learn more about Saco's past. The library is housed in a beautiful historic building.

Saco Farmers'... Read MORE...