History of Westport Island, Maine
Westport Island is a small island town in Lincoln County near Wiscasset. Its history reflects the development of coastal Maine --- from an Indigenous landscape to a farming and maritime community and, more recently, a largely residential town.
Long before European settlement, Abenaki people used the island and the surrounding Sheepscot River region for fishing, hunting, gathering and transportation. The earliest recorded colonial land transaction in the area dates to 1649. European settlements were abandoned during conflicts with Native peoples in 1668, but permanent settlement resumed during the 1700s.
During the 1800s, residents supported themselves through farming, fishing, lumbering, sawmilling, shipbuilding and coastal trade. Westport’s population peaked at 798 in 1870. The historic Squire Tarbox Inn, portions of which date to 1763, preserves some of this agricultural and maritime heritage.
Today, Westport Island retains its rural character through historic preservation and conservation areas such as Clough Point, Bonyun Preserve, Segerstrom Preserve and Wright Landing. Historic buildings, cemeteries, cellar holes and stone walls continue to reflect its farming, maritime and community traditions. The Friends of Westport Island History maintains extensive local records and operates the island’s History Center.