Overview
The late Charles Kuralt once said Rockport had "the most perfect small harbor in America."
"I've often thought if someone were coming to visit America for the first time, I'd send them to Rockport...Camden...and Penobscot Bay," he said. In a 2008 Forbes.com article, Rockport was listed first among the prettiest towns in America. Devoid of commercial development save for a renowned wooden boatbuilder and a few lobstermen, the harbor has long been revered by yachtsmen for its deep waters and sheltered location, and adored by residents and visitors for its scenic beauty. At the harbor's mouth on Indian Island, iconic Indian Head Light is one of the coast's most beautiful lighthouses.
The quiet village offers a surprisingly rich assortment of top-notch arts, cultural, and educational organizations, including Maine Media Workshops, the center for Furniture Craftsmanship, and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. The historic Rockport Opera House is home to Bay Chamber Concerts. Rockport's famous Belted Galloways, the "Oreo Cookie" cows, live at beautiful Aldermere Farm, now an educational facility run by Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Rockport's neighbor to the south, Rockland, was recently named one of America's "coolest" towns, and rightly so, with its art galleries, diverse assortment of great restaurants, coffee roaster, museums including theFarnsworth Art Museum, the Maine Lighthouse Museum, and the Owls Head Transportation Museum; and beautifully restored historic Strand Theatre.
Part of the Community School District and School Administrative District, Rockport public schools include Rockport Elementary School, Camden-Rockport Middle School, and Camden Hills Regional High School. Children's House Montessori School, Ashwood Waldorf School, and the Riley School are among the area's fine private accredited schools.
Originally part of Megunticook Plantation (later named Camden), the town of Rockport was eventually incorporated in 1891, and was by then already a well-established small port with ice harvesting, shipbuilding and a lime manufacturing center. The historic stone lime kilns are interesting relics lining the town's beautiful harborfront park. Like Camden, the town began to attract prosperous summer residents in the late 19th century and has remained a desirable vacation destination as well as a thriving year-round community. Although Camden and Rockport are separate towns today, socially, culturally, and economically they form one community.
The best Rockport real estate includes Maine waterfront properties on Rockport Harbor and out around Beauchamp Point, oceanfront properties to the south of the village with bold frontage and Penobscot Bay views, and charming waterfront summer cottages. Since the late 1800s when the area became a summer resort destination, Camden and Rockport real estate has been sought after, and values here have appreciated since. Even during times of distress in the economy, the value of real estate here has held fairly steady, and risen during times of prosperity. When an international bank established offices in the area in the early 1990s, the ensuing revitalization attracted more year-round and summer residents, and the value of Camden and Rockport real estate began to appreciate dramatically and a higher rate than in other towns in the midcoast region. As is happening in other communities along much of the Maine coast, more and more people are attracted to Maine's quality of life and are choosing the Camden-Rockport region for their primary or vacation homes.
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