Winthrop, Maine
Winthrop, Maine | |
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Seal Logo | |
| Nicknames: Pond Town, Apple Valley | |
Location in Kennebec County and the state of Maine. | |
| Coordinates: 44°18′42″N 69°59′24″W / 44.31167°N 69.99000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Kennebec |
| Settled | 1765 |
| Incorporated | 1771 |
| Villages | Winthrop East Winthrop Sturtevant Hill Winthrop Center |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
• Total | 37.90 sq mi (98.16 km2) |
| • Land | 31.22 sq mi (80.86 km2) |
| • Water | 6.68 sq mi (17.30 km2) |
| Elevation | 308 ft (94 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,121 |
| • Density | 196/sq mi (75.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 04364 |
| Area code | 207 |
| GNIS feature ID | 582824 |
| Website | www |
Winthrop is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. Winthrop is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 6,121 at the 2020 census. Winthrop's population, however, approximately doubles during the summer months as part-year residents return to seasonal camps located on the shores of Winthrop's Lakes and Ponds. A recreational area located among lakes, the town includes the villages of Winthrop and East Winthrop, and is the center of the Winthrop Lakes Region. Winthrop is also included in the Augusta, Maine Micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
The town is defined by several significant bodies of water, including Maranacook Lake, Annabessacook Lake, Cobbossee Lake, and the Narrows (Upper and Lower Ponds). These lakes and ponds are central to the town's identity and offer numerous recreational opportunities such as boating, fishing, and swimming, with the Ladies Delight Lighthouse on Cobbossee Lake being a unique landmark.
First called Pondtown for its lakes and ponds, it was settled by Timothy Foster in 1765. On April 26, 1771, Pondtown Plantation was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court as Winthrop, named for the first colonial governor of Massachusetts, John Winthrop. Readfield was set off and incorporated in 1791. The surface of the town is uneven, but with good land that yielded hay, grain and apples. Winthrop became noted for its orchards and cattle.
At the outlet of Maranacook Lake into Annabessacook Lake, John Chandler built a sawmill in 1768, and then added a gristmill. Other industries followed, including a fulling mill, tannery and blacksmith shop. The Winthrop Woolen & Cotton Manufactory was incorporated in 1809, and in 1814 went into operation. By 1886, the town had a sawmill which manufactured about 200,000 feet of lumber every year, two oil cloth factories, a sash and blind factory, and a foundry and machine shop. The Maine Central Railroad opened to the village, carrying freight and tourists. Winthrop and its lakes developed into a summer resort, which it remains today.