Once the Goose River section of Camden, Rockport was set off on February 25, 1891. Later that same year, and again in 1893, it annexed land from Camden.
Sailing ships were built in Rockport and sent around the world; and the men of Rockport went to sea until they married and settled down. West Rockport men were primarily quarry workers and farmers. Lime production was also a major industry in Rockport. The Simonton Corner Quarry is an eleven acre, water-filled, limeston quarry now managed by the Nature Conservancy as a nature preserve.
The Samoset Hotel, a prominent feature in Rockport, known for its spectacular views of Penobscot Bay, coastal islands, and the Camden Hills, was originally constructed as a resort in 1889. The main village, further north along US Route 1, has its own harbor near Camden.
Rockport is known as an artists' community, with several notable examples of artists and art institutions which have made a significant contribution to the area's economic and social life.