History
Kittery was incorporated from Piscataquis Plantation in 1652 as the first town in the District of Maine. It was soon joined by York and within a few years the Isles of Shoals was annexed. The federal government established the nation's first federal navy yard at Kittery in 1806. The 74-gun ship Washington was the first vessel built in the Yard in 1815. The facility rebuilt the USS Constitution and built the Civil War USS Kearsarge. Seavey's Island was annexed and became the site of the now defunct Portsmouth Naval Prison

Kittery's rich history produced some fine early architecture that can still be enjoyed today, including the Sir William Pepperrell House, built in 1733, and the Lady Pepperrell House, built in 1760. The John Bray House, built in 1662, is believed to be the oldest surviving house in Maine.

Today
Kittery has been dubbed 'The Gateway to Maine' and while much of its' popularity stems from the factory outlet stores that stretch along Route One, the town can boast the inclusion of  Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point , and part of the Isles of Shoals to its' credit. Kittery Point is home to Seapoint Beach, Chauncey Creek, Gerrish Island and Fort Foster Park, originally a harbor defense. In 1996, the movie Thinner, based on the 1984 Stephen King novel of the same name was filmed in Kittery.