Winthrop is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. 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 included in the Augusta, Maine Micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
History
Winthrop was part of the Kennebec Purchase awarded by the Plymouth Council for New England. 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.
Villages and neighborhoods
Winthrop has historically referred to its regions by directional names. Other than Winthrop Village and East Winthrop, their boundaries are not firmly established and tend to vary from person to person. Winthrop has several villages and areas that can be classified as neighborhoods. Some of them are: Winthrop is the main, central area, often called The Village. It encompasses roughly the area around northern Annabessacook Lake to southern Marancook Lake. This is the central, downtown of Winthrop, featuring shops, eateries, businesses, a public beach and library. Just over 43% of Winthrop's population live in Winthrop Village. North Area (Maranacook) loops around Maranacook Lake, and includes the popular Memorial Drive, often referred to as The Drive. The area features excellent public landings, and is heavily developed with many summer homes, year-round residences, and rental cabins. East Winthrop is located just west of Manchester and south of Readfield, borders most of Cobbosseecontee Lake, and all of Little Cobbosseecontee, Upper & Lower Narrows. It has a separate post office and ZIP code (04343) from the rest of Winthrop (04364), although this serves only mail delivered to post office boxes in the East Winthrop Post Office. The area has magnificent views of the Cobbosseecontee bodies of water. South Area (Annabessacook) borders Monmouth and loops around Annabessacook Lake. The area includes popular lakeside tourist attractions, including the 65 acre Augusta West Resort, and the 25 acre historic Annabessacook Farm Bed & Breakfast. West Area (Mt. Pisgah area) encompasses roughly the area from Wilson Pond up to Berry Pond. The southern part of this area is home to Mount Pisgah. This is a popular fishing area, as Wilson Pond abounds with natural populations of warm-water species, especially bass and perch.
Geography
Winthrop is an industrial and suburban center, located approximately 10 miles west of Maine's capital city, Augusta. Nearly 10% of Winthrop's housing is seasonal. The commercial downtown is situated between Maranacook and Annabessacook Lake.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Winthrop is drained by Hoyt Brook.
The town is crossed by U. S. Route 202 and state routes 11, 41, 100, 133 and 135. It is bordered by the towns of Manchester to the east, West Gardiner to the southeast, Monmouth to the south, Leeds and Wayne to the west, and Readfield to the north.
Winthrop is also home to Mt. Pisgah (pronounced piss-gah, from the Hebrew word for summit or lookout), which is 807 ft above sea level and home to the Maine Fire Services watch tower that was in service from 1949 to 1992, when air patrols rendered it obsolete. The tower still stands to this day and is accessible by a hiking trail.