Welcome to South Bristol, Maine, USA.

We are located on the coast of Maine.

An aerial view of South Bristol, Maine's harbor taken by one of our parents.

South Bristol, Maine
History

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Bristol, Maine is named after the city of Bristol, England. Many of the early villages were named after cities in Europe from where the settlers came. Bristol is one of the oldest towns in Maine. It was incorporated in 1765, while Maine was still part of Massachusetts.

Shell heaps left by early inhabitants date back to the 4th millennium BC. Norse explorers may have reached Maine in about 1000 AD. By the time the French and English explorers reached Maine during the seventeenth century the land was occupied by Abnaki Indians. Early European settlement of the coastal region was hindered by repeated conflicts between the French, English, and Native Americans.
In the 18th century the foundations for Maine's prosperous fishing, lumbering, and shipbuilding industries were laid.

South Bristol separated from Bristol in 1915. The town of South Bristol is located on a peninsula, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by the Damariscotta River and John's Bay. Rutherford Island lies off the end of the peninsula and is connected to the rest of the town by a swing bridge.

South Bristol is a picturesque fishing village. There are approximately 850 year round residents and 2,000 summer residents. The village beckons visitors to tour the art galleries, antique and gift shops, fish, sail, or dine on the local seafood.

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