“And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They’re quite aware of what they’re going through”
— David Bowie, Changes
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Biddeford is Maine’s youngest city, with a median age of roughly 36 years.
Take a moment and think about that.
Thirty-six is not the average age of Biddeford residents, it is the median age. Thus, half of all people living in the city are 36 and younger. Amazing!
How did this happen? How did an old mill town in Maine suddenly become such a dynamic and desirable place for young people?
According to research completed by the city’s department of economic development, this youthful energy is being largely driven by the revitalization of the city’s downtown area.
City officials point to “a significant influx” of young professionals and families moving here because of a “vibrant” downtown and a flourishing arts and food scene.
People are also coming to Biddeford because of its “affordable housing” options, especially in the downtown area.
Now, before you have a stroke or an aneurysm about what is (or what isn’t) “affordable” housing, take a deep breath and consider the following:
People who have lived here for a long time see their affordable housing options basically evaporate, most notably during the last decade – since the city was able to close MERC, our infamous downtown trash incinerator.
But newer residents – able to telecommute to their higher paying jobs in Boston, Portsmouth or Portland – see Biddeford as ripe for the picking. From their perspective, housing is super cheap in Biddeford, especially when compared to much of New England.
The bad news (and the good news) is that Biddeford is now hip and trendy; a desirable place to live. We are no longer “Trashtown, U.S.A.” as we were described not so long ago in a Portland Press Herald editorial.
We are not “Lewiston by the Sea” or all the other insulting names that have been slung toward our community for more than two centuries, when a wave of immigrants — searching for jobs and new opportunities — flocked to Biddeford from Quebec, Greece, Ireland and Albania.
Despite the fact that we are still a predominantly white community (91 percent), we were diverse long before diversity was a thing or so celebrated as a virtue.
Yes, the Klan tried to march here because they hate Catholics almost as much as they hate people of color.
“Biddo”: What say you?
Roughly 15 years ago, some people began using the word “Biddo” as slang to describe the city of Biddeford.
Many older residents get very riled up by that term. They see it as a put-down or at the very least as a lazy moniker for the city, much too close to the word “ghetto.”
More than a decade ago, I decided to examine this underlying current of resentment between “old” Biddeford and “new” Biddeford. You can find that story here: Biddeford: Thunderdome or Mr. Holland’s Opus?
When I was working on that piece, Roch Angers, a former city councilor, told me in no uncertain terms: “This is Biddeford, not Biddo. It has three syllables. Deal with it.”
Angers is “old school” Biddeford, like so many others who can trace their roots back to their Franco-speaking ancestors – the people who were instrumental in building this city.
As a native son, the word Biddo used to bug me too. Then again, I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve.
“This is Biddeford, not Biddo.
— Roch Angers
It has three syllables.
Deal with it.”
Today, I am one of the admins on a community Facebook page, and I have to say, I see lots of examples where ‘Biddo’ can also be used as a term of an endearment, not just as an insult.
Consider this: does anyone get upset when people refer to the city of South Portland as “SoPo?” Or how about describing Kennebunkport as K’Port? Or closer to home, does anyone get frosty when the town of Old Orchard Beach is called “OOB?”
The young kids are just trying to be hip, and they are bringing their own vernacular to the larger conversation about our community.
Let’s embrace these new voices.
I cannot predict the future, but I can guarantee you one thing.
About 40 years from now, today’s young kids are going to be bemoaning the young kids of the future. They will complain about a lack of respect for your elders. It happens to every generation. Every generation.
We’re gonna be okay.
__________________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 
My reaction to Biddeford being referred to as “Biddo” stems from the fact that the first people I heard using that term years ago were using it as a distinct put-down. So it continues to have a negative connotation for me.
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