It's no surprise to those who live and work in Bath, Maine that this is a "happening" place! We've gotten a bit of attention lately with Bath's Front Street being named one of the top 10 streets in America by the American Planning Association - we have an active downtown merchant association in Main Street Bath and our storefronts are consistently 100% occupied - - people wait for a vacancy on Front Street!
But here's a surprise - - Just a couple weeks ago, it was announced that the Bath, the "City of Ships" has more manufacturing jobs than any other city or town in the State of Maine! According to the Manufacturers' News Inc., Bath is now the top industrial city in the state, just squeaking past much larger Portland. We owe this achievement to local defense contractor, Bath Iron Works (BIW) providing almost 5,100 industrial jobs to our area workforce. The sign at BIW says "Through these gates pass the best shipbuilders in the world" and BIW really is an impressive force in our city.
Consider that Bath's population is roughly 9,000 people; that means, every workday, we have more than half-again that many folks within our city limits. We are already a densely packed city in terms of people and buildings and BIW is located just south of our downtown, straddling Washington Street. Employees walk to work, car and van pool, ride special buses, etc. so at 3:30 pm when the whistle blows - Wow - this is something to see! One time, I needed to get to the south end of town and I thought I could squeak past BIW before the whistle blew - I ALMOST made it! I got as far as the south gate of the shipyard when hundreds of workers began streaming forth. There is nothing to do but stop and sit in your fish bowl of a vehicle as the yard clears out in one big mob. This unique phenomenon is quite a sight no matter how many times you experience it. It hearkens back to the days when many shipyards lined the banks of the Kennebec River and Bath's residents were predominantly shipbuilders and sea captains. A heritage that is still alive today.
Don't be surprised by unique local phenomena - When looking for your new home, trust a local real estate professional to navigate you through the sea of choices! For information about Bath Real Estate, contact me!
Terry Driscoll, REALTOR - Mid-Coast Maine Residential Real Estate - Representing both Buyers and Sellers
Allen & Selig Realty . 15 Vine Street (in the shadow of the shipyard) . Bath, ME 04530
207/443-2200 or my cell 207/449-9696
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