Historically a shipbuilding and fishing village, for well over a century the town has been a popular summer colony and seaside tourist destination.

The Dock Square area has a district of souvenir shops, art galleries, schooner attractions, seafood restaurants, and bed and breakfasts.

Kennebunkport has a reputation as a summer haven for the upper class and is one of the wealthiest communities in the state of Maine.

[3] The Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude takes place annually in the town, beginning either in late November or early December.

[4] In 1602, the time of contact with Europeans, it was occupied by communities of the Almouchiquois people, who referred to the area as Nampscoscock.

[6] Kennebunkport was first incorporated in 1653 as Cape Porpus, subject to the government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise).

Due to Abenaki Indian resistance to colonial expansion, European settlers abandoned the town by 1689 and did not return for at least ten years.

The Wabanaki Confederacy again expelled English from the area from 1703 to 1717, and continued violent resistance to colonization until the end of King George's War in 1748.

The Patriot casualties were Captain James Burnham killed in action; civilian Samuel Wildes was wounded when he demanded the Loyalists return the vessels they had taken.

[8] In 1821 the town was renamed again, this time to Kennebunkport in reflection to its economy becoming one of shipbuilding and trade along the Kennebunk River.

The Great Fires of 1947, which devastated much of York County, affected Kennebunkport and especially the area near Goose Rocks Beach.

Heading west, towards the mouth of the Kennebunk River is Dock Square, the current town center.

Traveling from Dock Square along Ocean Avenue is the Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District.

[14] This district of many well-preserved examples of early-20th-century shingle-style cottages begins at Chick's Creek and ends at Walker's Point.

[15] The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge has a significant portion of lands in Kennebunkport, northeast of Cape Porpoise and through Goose Rocks.