Our Town
North Yarmouth, since 1680, prides itself as a small, rural town north of Portland, Maine with a population of nearly 5,000 people. Many local residents work in the greater Portland area, as well as in town. Freeport, Yarmouth and Falmouth are nearby communities. It is bisected by the Royal River, a well-used source of community recreation, as it travels through North Yarmouth to the Atlantic.
Small businesses thrive here, including a convenience store, cafes, brewery, offices and other companies. The golf course is, of course, very popular! The town has Christmas tree farms, orchards, home-made icecream, greenhouses, farms, farm stands, and more, assuring that it stays in touch with it’s prized agricultural roots. There are churches, the Carriage Museum at Skyline Farm, the Historical Society, beautiful parks, well-kept walking trails, and snowmobile trails.
The town owns much land and values the recreational use of that land. Hikers, bikers, kayakers - all are welcome. An active committee works to increase and improve bike access. Students who live here attend schools with students from Cumberland as part of MSAD #51.
Sports and many recreational activities help unite the two communities. North Yarmouth and Cumberland partner in other ways, including sharing the Prince Memorial Library. In summer, the Events Committee hosts concerts on the Village Green. Each fall, Fun Day celebrates small town life. With many events including a pancake breakfast, a great parade, live music, kid’s fun run, adult run, diaper derby, vendor exhibits and raffles, the town comes together and has fun. The traditional Bean Supper finishes the day.
The small town feels large, as much open space, both private and town-owned, provides a serene landscape surrounding the homes of the town. In the village center, homes are much closer to neighbors. This neighborhood is called Walnut Hill and includes the Fire Station and the Municipal Building. The Village Green is here, adjacent to the land where the town’s beloved Wescustogo Hall, center of much town life, once stood until, tragically, it was destroyed by fire in August, 2013. Wescustogo Hall was rebuilt in 2019 as part of the North Yarmouth Community Center located at 120 Memorial Highway (the former site of the North Yarmouth Memorial School closed in 2014).
Life in North Yarmouth travels at rather slow pace, with townspeople enjoying their families and their homes in a quiet way. Many are active in town, as volunteer committees serve as the lifeblood of small town life. Twice monthly, the town posts Reminders from Town Hall, a web-based newsletter with news of town government and municipal activities. This keeps everyone up-to-date.
