York, Maine is a sea-coast town and was established as the first English city in America. First settled by Europeans in 1624, the plantation was originally called Agamenticus. In 1638, settlers changed the name to Bristol after Bristol, England. In 1641, a tract near the mouth of York River was incorporated by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, lord proprietor of Maine, named the capital of his province Gorgeana. In 1642, by charter of King Charles I, Gorgeana became the first incorporated city in America.
Following Gorges' death, the Massachusetts Bay Company claimed his dominion. In 1652, York, Massachusetts, was incorporated from a portion of Gorgeana, making it the second oldest town in Maine after Kittery, incorporated two years earlier. It was named for York, England.
The Nubble Lighthouse is housed on a rocky outcrop in York Beach and is 88 feet above sea level. The Nubble began operating in 1879.
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