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Originally part of Kittery, Berwick was settled in about 1631. Berwick, which included South Berwick was variously called the "Parish of Unity", "Kittery Commons" or "Kittery North Parish". In 1713, it separated from Kittery and incorporated as "Berwick," the ninth oldest town in Maine, named after Berwick-Upon-Tweed, England. The first schoolhouse in the state was built here in 1719.
South Berwick, originally a part of Kittery and known as "Kittery Commons" or "Kittery North Parish", was settled in about 1631. Berwick which then included South Berwick, separated from Kittery and was incorporated in 1713. South Berwick separated from Berwick and incorporated in1814. Located in southern Maine near the New Hampshire border, South Berwick is a growing community that has experienced a nearly 50% increase in population since 1980, making it one of the faster growing communities in Maine. South Berwick boasts a rural, New England Village setting yet it's close to Portsmouth, NH, Boston, MA and Portland, ME.
South Berwick has hosted a Strawberry Festival on the last Saturday in June since 1976. Originally organized to celebrate the United State's Bicentennial, it's popularity convinced the festival's organizers to hold it each year since. It includes shops, food, games and rides for children and trolley rides. The festival is held on the grounds of "Central School" the primary elementary school for the town of South Berwick. South Berwick is also home to Berwick Academy. Founded in1791, Berwick Academy is a private co-educational day school.
North Berwick was first settled around 1630 by fur traders. It was originally part of Berwick until it separated and incorporated in 1831. In the 1800's, it had several mills which manufactured textiles, farm implements, stove polish, shingles and clapboards as well as toboggans and sleds.
The North Berwick Woolen Mill on the bank of the Great Works River is an historic landmark and was used as the setting of the 1995 movie "Jumanji".
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