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Biddeford History & Heritage Project

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The Civil War/Reconstruction Era as Experienced in Biddeford & Saco

(Page 1 of 17) Print Version 
Biddeford and Saco downtowns, ca.1887
Biddeford and Saco downtowns, ca.1887
McArthur Public Library

By Paige S. Pandora
University of Southern Maine

Biddeford and Saco were up-and-coming areas when the Civil War struck.

Biddeford’s population grew significantly from 1830-1860. People were migrating to the area to work in the mills and the supporting businesses that supplied them. Biddeford and Saco were both already very successful in their agricultural endeavors, but industry was on a steady rise.

Business in Biddeford began to expand as entrepreneurs took advantage of the river and sea access in the area. Due to these financially advantageous factors, heavy Irish and Canadian immigration occurred. The 1830 and 1860 Biddeford census show a rise from 1,995 residents to 9,349 residents.


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"The Civil War/Reconstruction Era as Experienced in the Biddeford-Saco Area"
By Paige S. Pandora
University of Southern Maine
Department of History
Class of 2021


This exhibit was conceived, researched and written over the Spring 2021 semester for the McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, Maine.

This scholarship was supported by the University of Southern Maine Department of History's Putting History to Work program.


View/Download Exhibit Bibliography 





Biddeford History & Heritage Project
In partnership with the Maine Memory Network    |    Project of Maine Historical Society