Peaks Island is a small island lying about 3 miles east of and a 15 minute ferry ride from Portland, Maine. The year round population is about 1000. Seasonal residents total nearly 5000. In addition, the island is a popular destination for daytrippers. The harborside (Forest City) is the village section of the island where most of the year round homes, shops, restaurants, churches, school, health center, post office, police and fire departments are located. The Trefethen-Evergreen section is largely a summer colony. The interior and backshore are heavily forested with many newer homes. Most of this area is conservation land.
Peaks was favored by the Wabanaki Indians who summered there for generations. Until recently shell middens left by them were clearly visible along the backshore. A few European settlers maintained fishing shacks as early as the mid 1600's. Attempts to permanently settle the island were unsuccessful until the end of Indian hostilities around 1760. Between that date and about 1880 two separate and distinct villages (Forest City and Trefethen) were established at opposite ends of the island by a handful of families (the Bracketts, Trotts, Sterlings, Trefethens, Skillings, Parsons and Woodburys). At the turn of the century most of the land on the island still belonged to these families, who, by that time, were very much interrelated by blood or marriage.
By the 1890's Peaks began to benefit by the enormous changes occurring in American society. The growing urban population (both native and immigrant) had more time and money to spend on recreation. Peaks residents met their needs by providing all types of accommodations, entertainments, and other facilities. 16 hotels and inns, and hundreds of cottages were built; 3 summer theatres and an amusement park were established; dozens of shops and restaurants lined the streets of Forest City; and a dancehall was established at Trefethen. Twelve steamboat lines brought thousands of visitors to Peaks daily during the short summer season. The press labeled Peaks Island the "Coney Island of Maine".
As automobile ownership became commonplace and roadways built into areas that had previously been inaccessible about 1915, the island's popularity declined. The Depression added to the loss of tourists - with no job, it was difficult if not impossible to vacation.
World War II brought new people and government dollars to the island. The Peaks Island Military Reservation was built as the principal defense of Portland Harbor. 800-900 soldiers were stationed there. A large number of people who came to build liberty ships in the South Portland shipyards also found housing on Peaks. Many brought their families, causing overcrowding in the island's four room school. After the war ended most left only to be replaced by a new generation of young families.
Since 1834 Peaks has been a neighborhood in the City of Portland as are several other islands. Most people commute daily to jobs on the mainland as do middle and senior high school students. The island also has its fair share of retirees and new people "from away." And Peaks remains “home” to a large number of seasonal residents, many whose families have returned generation after generation.