[4] Kennebunk is home to several beaches, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the 1799 Kennebunk Inn, many historic shipbuilders' homes, the Brick Store Museum and the Nature Conservancy Kennebunk Plains (known locally as the Blueberry Plains), with 1,500 acres (6 km2) of nature trails and blueberry fields.

First settled in 1621, the town developed as a trading and, later, shipbuilding until 1918,[5] and shipping center with light manufacturing.

"Kennebunk, the only village in the world so named," was featured on a large locally famous sign attached to the Kesslen Shoe Mill on Route One.

The restored Kesslen Shoe Mill has been renamed the Lafayette Center.

[5] The town's archives are located at the local history and art center, the Brick Store Museum, on Main Street.

Amtrak passenger rail also goes through Kennebunk, but does not stop at the historic train station there.

The name likely evolved due to its small size and generally calmer water, due to the rocks under and above the ocean, thus making it a natural harbor of refuge that is safer for swimming and which makes it popular with mothers keeping a watchful eye on their children.

The name is clearly descriptive rather than official, in spite of the recent installation of road signs pointing the way to "Mother's Beach".

The headquarters for the natural health-care product manufacturer Tom's of Maine is located in Kennebunk.

[6] The town is a popular summer tourist destination, which drives the local economy.

[14] Kennebunk contains fine examples of early architecture, the most noted of which is the Wedding Cake House, a Federal-style dwelling extensively decorated with scroll saw Gothic trim.

This was added to the house for his wife of many years by George Washington Bourne late in his life, and not as legend has it by a ship captain for a young bride lost at sea.

Kennebunk, along with neighboring Kennebunkport and Arundel, form Regional School District 21.

In 2000, a group of students teamed up with parents and local community members to found The New School,[15] a small alternative high school, with students coming from as close as Kennebunk and Wells and as far away as Portland and Somersworth.

The school is accredited by the State of Maine and the first group of students graduated in June 2001.