Did you know?
- At 50 square miles, Scarborough is a big town. In fact, it’s one of the largest towns in southern Maine.
- With 20,000 residents, Scarborough is also a large community. It ranks in the top 10 in Maine, and has been one of the fastest growing towns in the state. Our proximity to Portland, the Maine Turnpike, I-295 and the Maine Mall makes us very attractive for residential and commercial development.
Scarborough Marsh – Maine’s Largest Salt Marsh
Our 3,200 acre Marsh is at the heart of Scarborough. Owned by the State of Maine, it is a Wildlife Management Area that is overseen by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Marsh supports abundant wildlife, is an international birding destination, and acts as nature’s sponge to filter water and ease flooding.
8 Miles of Coastline and 4 Beautiful Beaches
Scarborough sits at the head of Saco Bay, which has the longest stretch of sand beach in Maine. Scarborough’s coastline is over 8 miles long, with 4 beautiful beaches that provide outstanding public access to our stunning shore: Higgins Beach, Scarborough Beach, Ferry Beach, and Pine Point Beach. Prouts Neck is at the head of Saco Bay, and Biddeford Pool at the foot, with just 6 boating miles between them.
5 Rivers that Meander through Town
The Spurwink, Libby, Nonesuch, Dunstan, and Scarborough rivers provide wildlife habitat, fertile soils and clean water. Four of these rivers create the Scarborough Marsh. Running for 20 miles through almost the entire length of town, the Nonesuch River is the largest source of fresh water for the Scarborough Marsh. Its corridor is a conservation priority.
Fertile Farmland
Scarborough has a rich farming heritage, and years ago was a major producer of vegetables for the Portland and Boston markets. Scarborough land contains agricultural soils of statewide significance, and there are several active farms in town, including one on our Broadturn Farm property. Three SLT properties are on former farmland – Fuller Farm Preserve, Libby River Farm Preserve and Pleasant Hill Preserve.
Mature Forests
Scarborough has hundreds of acres of mature forests, which help protect rivers and streams, provide wildlife habitat, and offer opportunities for sustainable forestry.
Big Sky
Scarborough’s sprawling rivers and huge coastal marsh create miles of flat land that provide long, uninterrupted views of the sky, with spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Washington from our southern shore.