The 43-acre (17 ha) island is believed to be one of Casco Bay's first settlements.

Indigenous people traveled along the Androscoggin River to establish summer fishing camps on nearby islands.

[1] Birch Island is located in Casco Bay, around 0.36 miles (0.58 km) southeast of the southwestern end of the Harpswell Neck, a long peninsula, extending from Brunswick, which forms the southern bounds of Maquoit Bay.

Norton Preserve, owned by Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association, is located in the northeastern section of the island.

[4] Helen owns School House 1913, a restaurant in Harpswell.