South China, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South China, Maine
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An iconic sign in South China
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 South China, Maine
Location in Maine
South China, Maine
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Kennebec |
| Town | China |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
04358
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| Area code(s) | 207 |
South China is a village in the town of China in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. It is one of five villages in the town. Located between Augusta and Waterville, South China sits along the shores of its namesake, China Lake. It is both an hour and a half from Bangor and Portland. Maine State Route 3 runs through the major part of the town, leading west to Augusta and east to Belfast, and U.S. Route 202 (Lakeview Drive) connects South China with China.
Communities
South China Lake is home to Friends Camp, a Quaker summer camp which has been active for over 50 years. It is the home of a Christian church, named South China Community Church, across from the South China library (the oldest operating library in Maine). The church is open to and welcomes all practicing Christians of any denomination. Three-Mile Pond can be accessed from Route 3, a mile south of the South China Community Church. South China is also home to Maine's second largest private high school, Erskine Academy.
Business
Ron Reed Antiques is on Mayflower Drive. At the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Mayflower Drive is the Pond and three camps to the right is Grammy's Camp at 12 West Washington Boulevard. It also used to contain a small restaurant that served breakfast and lunch known as "Dog Days." Now however it is a Curves. In 2008, a new restaurant was established in the town known as the "China Dine-ah" which serves country cooking style meals and sells various apparel with its logo on it. MJEK's grill opened in the summer of 2012 right beside the China Dine-ah. An ice cream shop, Back's Dairy Bar, is open during the spring and summer. During the summer it also opens a food section known as "Fat Joe's", which serves seafood, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other American meals. The small village, despite its old appearance, is rapidly growing. Recently, a new Hannaford's was constructed right off of Route 3. A Family Dollar store was also recently built. The current Norm's restaurant opened in 2013 adjacent to the Family Dollar on Route 3. Most recent is the upgrade of a convenience store also on Route 3. It has both a Subway and a Dunkin' Donuts franchise in it.
Notable residents
- Rufus Jones (1863-1948), writer, magazine editor, philosopher, Quaker theologian, historian, and college professor; the only person to have delivered two Swarthmore Lectures
- Mary Mayhew, 2018 Republican candidate for governor who currently resides in South China
- Stacy Westfall, horsewoman and inductee in National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, was raised in South China.
