Kennebunkport Facts

The area known as Kennebunkport was originally a summer Native American, (Indian) settlement where they feasted on fish, lobsters and shellfish.   They also caught porpoises and seals and used the flat, fertile coastal
lowland plains areas to plant crops.  In the fall they harvested the crops they had grown and moved north, up the river to their winter hunting grounds.  The original name Kennibonke was the indian word for a long
sandbar or longbanks of the river.

The area may have been explored by the Europeans in the late 1400.  But the official name was submitted by John Smith in 1614 when he mapped the area and gave it the names Cape Porpoise and the Kennebunk River.  In 1653, the town was incorporated as Cape Porpus and became subject to
Massachusetts Law.  The new settlers and Native American populations did not get along.  In 1719, the town changed it's name to Arundel.  It's name Kennbunkport was adopted in 1821, when it became a port for foreign trade, shipbuilding, fishing and farming.  The town is a well-known tourist spot on the Maine coast, but also home to 3,406 year round residents.

Facts
Official Country Name: United States of America
Area: North America
Population: 258,328,000
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Nationalities: 84.1% White, 12.4% Black, 3.5% Other
Languages: English, Spanish, French, many other minority languages
Currency: American Dollar

Economy
The town of Kennebunkport has many summer seasonal businesses, local tradesman, fisherman and lobsterman.  There are also many retired professionals.  There are several working farms and saltwater farms like the one the curiouskids own. 

Major Industry: Tourism
How do most people earn a living?
Most people work the summer tourist trade, fish, lobster, work in the trades, travel to the city of Boston and
Portland to work in various professions.

Do people earn a lot of money or just enough to get by?
Our community includes a portion of very wealthy, summer residents that own large homes on the oceanfront, upper middle class residents who own large, older homes built in the 1800's and modest, modern homes and older cottages, home to the working class.   Our community includes the very rich and the very poor.
How important is trading/bartering?  Fisherman traditionally use the bartering system to get by during off season times.  But trading and bartering are still used by locals who live modestly.

What type of currency is used here?
American Dollar

Geography
The Kennebunk River divides the towns of Kennebunkport to the north and Kennebunk to the south.  It is a natural coastal plain mostly at sea level.  The coast of our town includes the riverfront port, Cape Arundel,
Turbat's Creek, Cape Porpoise, Batson's River, Goose Rocks Beach, and Little River.   There are many small islands, the coast line is made up of granite ledges and sandy beaches, salt marshes, crossed by tidal creeks.

We enjoy all four seasons, cold, snowy winter, cool spring, warm summer and cool fall.   We are influenced by the artic air from the Labrador Current and the warm air from the Atlantic Gulf Stream.

What are the natural landmarks of the destination? 
The rock bound coast, sandy beaches and natural, sheltered, deep water river harbor.

What is the makeup of the land?
The land is considered rural, farm land and a closely clustered old port.

What is the average temperature?
15 degrees f. in January and 67 degrees f. in July.

What are the different seasons?
Ski Season in winter, Mud Season in spring, Tourist Season in summer and Leaf Peeper Season in fall.

What are the weather conditions usally like?
  If you like the four seasons, it is tolerable.

What will the weather be like when the World Tour is there?
When they get home here it should be sunny and 80 degrees f. (but that's what we always
tell the tourists).

What type of foliage grows here?
Forests cover nearly 90% of Maine.  They include balsam fir, basswood, beech, hemlock, maple, oak, pine, spruce and birch trees.There are many common wildflowers and the state produces potatoes, apples, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.

What animals live in this area?
We have deer, moose, black bears, foxes, coyotes, martens, mink, racoons, skunk, rabbits, squirrels and many types of songbirds and sea birds.

Why do these animals live here?
  It is a rural, wooded area.

Are there any endangered animals present here?
There are many problems with the fishing industry and the fish stocks and shellfish declining, although they are not truly endangered they have changed the laws to reduce overfishing.  Man continues to build and develop the rural areas and threatens the existence of the natural habitat for wild animals in Maine.

How is the wildlife treated by people?
Most local people enjoy seeing wild animals around and treat them with respect.   There are many game
animals found in Maine and the state allows registered hunters to take a limited number each year.

How are animals protected in this location? 
There is limited hunting and game animals are not allowed to be killed out of season.

What animals will curiouskids likely see?
They probably will be happy to see their own farm animals when they return. Plus there is the occasional fox that runs through the yard!

Culture
Maine is an urban area, with Portland being the largest city.  We have a public shool system that provides free education for kids Kindergarten through grade 12.  There are many seafood festivals in the summer and
Winter Carnivals.  We have many traditional New England foods based on seafood, like fish, clam chowders, there are also potato chowders, baked beans and many other good foods.   We are known as Yankees, our state prides itself on being hard workers and able to survive hard times.   

What is the origin of the people?
European Descent

What languages are spoken?
In Maine,  English and French.

What is the education like there?
  Most students attend public school from Kindergarten to the 12th grade.

What are the schools like?
The schools in Maine, for the most part, are very old and need many repairs,   despite these problems, they have very dedicated staff and supportive communities working together to provide an excellent education.

How much time is spent in school?
The school year is 180 days from September to June.   The school day is about 7 hours long for students in
grades 1 -12.  Some students go on to college.

What type of housing do the people live in?
  In Kennebunkport, there are a few condominiums  and apartment buildings but most families live in single family homes.  Many homes were built in the the 1700's, but there are also very modern homes and traditional New England type homes made mostly of wood. 

What are some of the native dishes?
Maine is famous for seafood, lobster, clams, fish, and clam chowders, there are also potato chowders, baked
 beans and many other good foods.

What foods will curiouskids likely eat in this location?
They will probably be glad to be home in their own kitchen, cooking some of their favorite foods that come from their farm.

What are the major events?
  Americans like to celebrate holidays, we start with New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, St. Valentine's Day,  President's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day,  Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and religious holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur and Passover.

Government
Our government is based on English Common Law, with a judicial review of legislative acts by the Supreme Court.    The Bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate (2 from each state) and a lower house or
House of Representatives ( representation is based on population).  All citizens may vote at the age of 18.  There are also state governments and local governments.

What type of government?
The United States is a Federal Republic, with a strong democratic tradition.

What were the previous types of government? 
A colony of the British Empire.

What events have influenced the type of government? 
The American Revolution was fought to win independence from the British. 

Religion
The United States allows citizen to worship any god or religion.  There are many different types of religion in our country.

What are the major religions?
  Christianity and Judaism are  the major religions.

What religious holidays are celebrated?
Easter, Passover,  Hanukkah, Christmas,
.
What are marriage ceremonies like?
The ceremonies can be small with just a couple witnesses, or huge with lots of people involved.  The bride traditionally wears a white dress and the groom a tuxedo.   But you can get married anyway you want in America.

History
We have both the ancient history of the Indians and our short history as a country since the 1600's.  The Kennebunkport are was explored in the 1500's and 1600's and finally settled in 1653 as Cape Porpus. 

When did recorded history begin here?
  About 1602.

What historical events have influenced the country?
  The American Revolution, Civil War , World  War I & II,   Korean War,  Vietnam War ,and Persian Gulf War have all impacted our country.  

How has the government changed over time?
The government continues to grow larger and larger, both on a federal and state level.

How different is the way of life from 100 years ago?
  The United States has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, horse and buggies were replaced by railroads, and then by automobiles.  Industry and technology are well-developed. 
           

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