Peaks Island

Peaks Island
Photo of ferry landing and Welch Street on Peaks Island, Maine
Map
Geography
LocationCasco Bay, Maine
Coordinates43°39′25″N 70°11′46″W / 43.65694°N 70.19611°W / 43.65694; -70.19611
Adjacent toGulf of Maine
Area720 acres (290 ha)[1]
Demographics
Population927 (2011-2015)[2]
Vintage postcard depicting Gem Theater, boardwalk, and the Peaks Island House hotel on Peaks Island, Maine

Peaks Island is the most populous island in Casco Bay, Maine. It is part of the city of Portland and about 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown. The island is served by Casco Bay Lines and has its own elementary school, library, and police station. Due to its size, it is the only island in Casco Bay that allows cars throughout.

While small, the island has a variety of businesses, including an ice cream parlor, restaurant, grocery store, kayak rentals, golf cart rentals, art galleries, the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum,[3] and the Umbrella Cover Museum.[4]

The island was originally known as Pond Island. It became Michael's Island after Michael Mitton was given the island on a 60-year lease by his father-in-law, George Cleeve. It was subsequently named Munjoy's Island, for George Munjoy, and Palmer's Island, for Munjoy's son-in-law John Palmer.[5][6]

  1. ^ "Peak Island Land Preserve".
  2. ^ American Community Survey. United States Census Bureau https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/B01003/8600000US04108. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ Fifth Maine Regiment Museum
  4. ^ "Peaks Island Businesses and Services". Peaks Island Organizations. Fifth Maine Regiment Museum. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  5. ^ The Origins of the Street Names of the City of Portland, Maine as of 1995 – Norm and Althea Green, Portland Public Library (1995)
  6. ^ History of Peaks and House Islands – Nathan Goold (1897), p. 14