Old Towns, New Lines: Kittery and York Settle Their Land Dispute

Kittery and York, the oldest towns in Maine, have finally settled a border dispute that started way back in the 1600s. The issue popped up again a few years ago when a developer bought land near Route 1, right where the two towns meet. York thought the border was a straight line, but Kittery believed it curved towards the coast. Things got serious in 2022 when York sued Kittery to redraw the border, but a judge dismissed the case. Now, after a survey in 2024, both towns have agreed on a new boundary, which the Maine Legislature will approve in 2026. The new border is mostly the same as the old one, but Kittery gets an extra 4 acres of land covered with trees. York’s Town Manager, Peter Thompson, is happy the long-standing issue is resolved. Kittery’s Town Council Chair, Judy Spiller, is also pleased that they could work things out.The dispute began in 2020 when a survey showed the real border was 333 feet south of where both towns thought it was. York argued for a straight-line border set in 1652, while Kittery said changing the border would be costly and complicated. Spiller stood firm, saying Kittery would protect its borders. Even though the border change won’t affect property ownership, some worried about taxes and school districts. But the final agreement has a small impact. The 4 acres involved are wooded wetlands, and taxes for affected property owners will only go up by a dollar or two. Both towns are glad to put the dispute behind them. Thompson praised Kittery for being great to work with, and Spiller was happy the towns could sit down and sort things out. After all these years, the neighbors have finally made peace.