If you’ve lived in South Portland for a while, you probably have a pretty good idea of where Willard, Meetinghouse Hill, Ferry Village and Knightville are.

But what about Ligonia? Loveitt’s Field? Stanwood Park? Country Gardens?

One of the things I’ve always liked about South Portland is that for a relatively small city, we have a lot of distinct neighborhoods. I grew up here, and there are still pieces of South Portland history that I’m learning about.

That gave me the idea for a new series.

Each week, I’m going to spotlight a different South Portland neighborhood. I want to get into the history, how the neighborhood got its name, what used to be there, what changed over the years, and what makes that part of the city different today.

And I don’t want to just cover the obvious places.

South Portland Wasn’t Always South Portland

South Portland was once part of Cape Elizabeth before eventually becoming its own municipality. The City of South Portland was officially incorporated in 1898.

But the history of the communities that make up present-day South Portland goes back much further.

Early economic activity centered around fishing, farming and trade. By the early 1800s, shipbuilding had become an important local industry, with shipyards operating in Knightville and Ferry Village.

As Portland grew across the Fore River during the 1800s, industrial and commercial activity spread into South Portland. That growth helped create residential neighborhoods including Pleasantdale, Thornton Heights and Cash Corner-Ligonia.

That's part of what I find so interesting about South Portland. Drive a few miles across the city and you're moving through neighborhoods that developed during completely different periods for completely different reasons.

How Many Neighborhoods Does South Portland Have?

There isn't necessarily one perfect answer because neighborhood names and boundaries have changed over the years.

A 2019 City planning map identifies major neighborhoods including Ferry Village, Willard, Loveitt’s Field, Knightville, Meetinghouse Hill, Ocean Street, Pleasantdale, Ligonia, Thornton Heights, Cash Corner, Meadowbrook, Redbank, Country Gardens, Stanwood Park, Sunset Park and Highland, as well as the Mall/Airport area.

Some of those names are probably very familiar.

Others might make you say, "Where exactly is that?"

That's exactly what I want to explore.

The Waterfront Helped Build South Portland

It's almost impossible to tell the story of South Portland without talking about the water.

The Fore River and Casco Bay weren't simply scenery. They played a major role in where people worked and where neighborhoods developed.

Shipbuilding became an important part of the local economy during the 1800s, particularly around Knightville and Ferry Village. Then World War II transformed South Portland again.

The city's two wartime shipyards became major centers of economic activity. The influx of workers increased South Portland's population and contributed to the construction of new residential neighborhoods including Redbank, Stanwood Park, Peary Village, Mountain View and Broadview Park.

Some South Portland neighborhoods therefore have roots in maritime trade and early industry. Others grew because thousands of workers suddenly needed somewhere to live.

You can still see pieces of those different eras throughout the city today.

And Then There’s Ligonia

Ligonia is one of the reasons I wanted to do this series.

Ask someone to name neighborhoods in South Portland and you'll probably hear Willard, Meetinghouse Hill, Knightville or Ferry Village pretty quickly.

Ligonia probably isn't one of the first names that comes up.

But it's still very much a South Portland neighborhood. The City continues to identify Ligonia on its official neighborhood maps.

Its history is also tied closely to the industrial and transportation side of South Portland.

During the 1800s, as South Portland became increasingly connected economically with Portland across the Fore River, industrial and commercial development helped create new residential areas. City historical documents specifically identify Pleasantdale, Thornton Heights and Cash Corner-Ligonia as neighborhoods that developed during this period.

What I find especially interesting is that Ligonia isn't simply a historical name sitting on an old map.

The City still uses it today.

In 2025, South Portland completed its first Neighborhood Byway. The route connects the Ligonia, Cash Corner and Thornton Heights neighborhoods with South Portland Middle School using local streets and trail connections as an alternative to busier roads.

There are probably plenty of people who have driven through this part of South Portland hundreds of times without realizing they're passing through a neighborhood called Ligonia.

That's the kind of South Portland history I want to uncover with this series.

Every Neighborhood Has a Story

Over the next several weeks, we're going to explore Ligonia, Pleasantdale, Thornton Heights, Cash Corner, Ferry Village, Knightville, Meetinghouse Hill, Willard, Redbank, Stanwood Park, Country Gardens and some of the other corners of South Portland that don't get talked about nearly as much.

Some neighborhoods grew around the waterfront.

Some grew around industry and transportation.

Others were shaped by World War II or South Portland's later growth.

And some have changed so much that it's difficult to imagine what used to be there.

I've spent most of my life in South Portland, and that's part of what makes doing this interesting for me too. I'm not looking to write another generic "best neighborhoods in South Portland" series.

I want to learn more about the city I grew up in and share some of the stories that made South Portland what it is today.

Next week, we're going to take a much deeper dive into Ligonia.

We'll look at where the name came from, its industrial and transportation history, what the area used to look like, and what pieces of old Ligonia are still around today.

And this is where I'd love some help from longtime South Portland residents.

If you grew up in Ligonia, worked in the area, or have old photographs, stories or memories from the neighborhood, I'd love to hear them.

There are probably a lot of South Portland stories still out there waiting to be told.

View South Portland Homes For Sale

Matt Whitten

EXP Realty

South Portland Real Estate Broker