text:
Dover, New Hampshire

Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,741 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous city in the New Hampshire Seacoast region and the 5th most populous city in New Hampshire.

It is the county seat of Strafford County, and home to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, the Woodman Institute Museum, and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

Etymology
The city is named for Dover, Kent, England. First recorded in its Latinised form of Portus Dubris, the word "Dover" derives from the Brythonic word for "waters" (dwfr in Middle Welsh). The same element is present in the word's French (Douvres) and Modern Welsh (Dofr) forms.

Settlement
The first known European to explore the region was Martin Pring from Bristol, England, in 1603.

In 1623, brothers William and Edward Hilton settled at Pomeroy Cove on Dover Point, near the confluence of the Bellamy and Piscataqua rivers. This first settlement makes Dover the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire, and seventh in the United States.

The Hiltons were fishmongers sent from London by the Council for New England's Laconia Company to establish a colony and fishery on the Piscataqua. In 1631, however, the colony contained only three houses. William Hilton built a salt works on the property (salt-making was the principal industry in his hometown of Northwich, England). He also served as Deputy to the General Court (the colonial legislature). The Hiltons' name survives at Hilton Park on Dover Point (originally known as Hilton Point).

The colony's original townships included Durham, Madbury, Newington, Lee, Somersworth and Rollinsford.

In 1633, the plantation was bought by a group of English Puritans who planned to settle in New England, including Viscount Saye and Sele, Baron Brooke and John Pym. They promoted colonization in America, and so that year Hilton's Point received numerous immigrants, many from Bristol. They renamed the settlement Bristol. Atop the nearby hill they built a meetinghouse surrounded by an entrenchment, with a jail nearby.

The town was called Dover in 1637 by the new governor, Reverend George Burdett. It was possibly named after Robert Dover, an English lawyer who resisted Puritanism. With the 1639 arrival of Thomas Larkham, however, it was renamed after Northam in Devon, where he had been preacher. But Lord Saye and Sele's group lost interest in their settlements, both here and at Saybrook, Connecticut, when their plan to establish a hereditary aristocracy in the colonies met disfavor in New England. Consequently, the plantation was sold in 1641 to Massachusetts and again named Dover.

Because it was an early settlement in Abenaki lands, settlers built fortified log houses called garrisons, inspiring Dover's nickname "The Garrison City." The population and business center shifted from Dover Point to Cochecho Falls on the Cochecho River, where its drop of 34 ft providing water power for industry (Cochecho means "the rapid foaming water" in the Abenaki language). What is now downtown Dover settlers called Cochecho village.

Cochecho Massacre
On June 28, 1689, Dover suffered a devastating attack by Native Americans. It was revenge for an incident on September 7, 1676, when 400 Native Americans were tricked by Major Richard Waldron into performing a "mock battle" near Cochecho Falls. After discharging their weapons, the Native American warriors were captured. Half were sent to Massachusetts for predations committed during King Philip's War, and seven or eight were hanged, and others were sold into slavery. Local Native Americans deemed innocent were released, but considered the deception a dishonorable breach of hospitality. Thirteen years passed. When colonists thought the episode forgotten, they struck. Fifty-two colonists, a quarter of the population, were either captured or slain.

Incursions against the frontier town would continue for the next half century. During Father Rale's War, in August and September 1723, there were Indian raids on Saco, Maine, and Dover, New Hampshire. The following year Dover was raided again and Elizabeth Hanson wrote her captivity narrative.

Mill era
Located at the head of navigation, Cochecho Falls brought the Industrial Revolution to 19th-century Dover in a big way. But cotton textile manufacturing actually began about two miles upstream with the Dover Cotton Factory, which was incorporated in 1812, its mill built in 1815. The business would move to Cochecho Falls when it acquired water privileges occupied since the 17th century by sawmills and gristmills. In 1823 it was renamed the Dover Manufacturing Company, but was not successful. So in 1827 the Cocheco Manufacturing Company was founded (the misspelling a clerical error at incorporation), and the next year, the mill was the site of the first women's strike in the United States. "The Strike of the Mill Girls" took place on December 30, 1828, when about half of the 800 women employed at the mill walked out over lower wages and longer hours that the new owners had implemented. Expansive brick mills were constructed downtown, linked to receive cotton bales and ship finished cloth when the railroad arrived in 1842. Incorporated as a city in 1855, Dover for a time became a leading national producer of textiles, the mill complex dominating the riverfront and employing 2,000 workers.

The mills were purchased in 1909 by the Pacific Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, which closed the printery in 1913 but continued spinning and weaving. The printery buildings were demolished in 1913, their site is now Henry Law Park.

In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike, shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut and hours increase.

During the Great Depression, however, textile mills no longer dependent on New England water power began moving to southern states in search of cheaper operating conditions, or simply went out of business. Dover's millyard shut in 1937, then was bought at auction in 1941 by the city itself for $54,000. There were no other bids. Now called the Cocheco Falls Millworks, its tenants include technology and government services companies, plus a restaurant, brewery and bar.

Textile manufacturing in Dover wasn't limited to cotton. In 1824, Alfred I. Sawyer established the Sawyer Woolen Mills beside the Bellamy River. It would expand to include 15 major buildings over 8.5 acre, and by 1883 was the largest woolen manufacturer in the state. In 1889 it was acquired by the American Woolen Company, but closed and was sold off in 1955. The buildings have been repurposed into housing.

Modern era
With the closing of the mills, the downtown area of Dover sat vacant and lifeless for a long time. With the turn of the century, the city government began to revitalize the area. The Children's Museum of New Hampshire was brought into a disused mill building with a lease of $1 a year. Henry Law Park, a grassy waterfront stretch of land, was given a brand new playground. Small businesses moved into the mills, such as restaurants, toy stores, real estate offices, and barber shops. Old buildings have been refurbished or outright rebuilt to provide new housing. An $87.5 million high school was built to handle the influx of new residents retreating from the high housing prices in Portsmouth. Recently, a plan to develop the waterfront on the other side of the river from the traditional downtown area was approved for $6 million. In early May 2021, waypoint signs were sporadically added to help drivers and walkers navigate Dover with the expansions that are underway.

Geography and transportation
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.2 km2, of which 69.2 km2 are land and 6.0 km2 are water, comprising 7.97% of the city. Dover is drained by the Cochecho and Bellamy rivers, both of which flow into the tidal Piscataqua River, which forms the city's eastern boundary and the New Hampshire–Maine border. Long Hill, elevation greater than 300 ft above sea level and located 3 mi northwest of the city center, is the highest point in Dover. Garrison Hill, elevation approximately 290 ft, is a prominent hill rising directly above the center city, with a park and lookout tower on top.

The city is crossed by New Hampshire Routes 4, 9, 16 (the Spaulding Turnpike), 108, and 155, plus U.S. Route 4. It is bordered by the town of Newington to the south (across the inlet to Great Bay), Madbury to the southwest, Barrington and Rochester to the northwest, and Somersworth and Rollinsford to the northeast. South Berwick, Maine, lies to the northeast, across the tidal Salmon Falls River, and Eliot, Maine, is to the east, across the Piscataqua River.

The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) operates a publicly funded bus network in Dover and surrounding communities in New Hampshire and Maine. C&J Bus Lines is a private intercity bus carrier currently connecting Dover with Boston's South Station and Logan Airport, as well as New York City (via Midtown Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal). Wildcat Transit, operated by the University of New Hampshire, provides bus service to Durham, which is free for students and $1.50 for the public. Amtrak's Downeaster train service stops at the Dover Transportation Center with service to the Portland Transportation Center, Boston's North Station, and intermediate stops.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census, there were 32,741 people, 14,431 households, and 7,059 families residing in the city. The city grew by 2,754 residents between 2010 and 2020, the third-largest numeric growth of a town or city in New Hampshire, after Manchester and Nashua. The population density in 2020 was 1,224.88 people per square mile (472.93/km2). There were 15,166 housing units at an average density of 567.38 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.2% White, 1.7% African American, 0.20% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.2% some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 12,827 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were headed by married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27, and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

For the period 2009–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $55,040, and the median income for a family was $69,980. Male full-time workers had a median income of $51,891 versus $36,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,590. About 6.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The Dover School District serves approximately 4,000 pupils, attending Horne Street Elementary School, Garrison Elementary School, Woodman Park Elementary School, Dover Middle School and Dover High School. Dover High's athletic teams are known as "The Green Wave," and the middle school's teams are "The Little Green."

Saint Mary Academy, a Catholic school, has been in downtown Dover since 1912, currently serving about 200 students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade. Many students at Saint Mary's subsequently attend St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a Catholic high school located on Dover Point.

Portsmouth Christian Academy is located west of the Bellamy River in Dover, serving preschool through 12th grade.

The Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy (CATA) is a public charter high school with about 100 students. It was formerly located in Barrington, New Hampshire.

The Seacoast Charter School is a publicly funded elementary/middle school that integrates the arts into the core curriculum. The school was founded in 2004 in Kingston, New Hampshire, and relocated to Dover in 2015. Enrollment in January 2016 was 215 students in grades K–8.

Government
In the New Hampshire Senate, Dover is in the 4th District and is currently represented by Democrat David H. Watters. On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Dover is in District 2 and is currently represented by Democrat Cinde Warmington. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Dover is included in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat Chris Pappas.

Dover is a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. No Republican presidential nominee has carried Dover since George H. W. Bush’s five-point victory in the town over Michael Dukakis in 1988.

In popular culture
Dover was used as the fictional setting for the Hallmark Channel movie Christmas Incorporated.

Dover was the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, created by comic book writers Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first published by Mirage Studios—then based in Dover—in 1984.

Historic sites

 * First Parish Church
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 51: Dr. Jeremy Belknap (1744–1798)
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 92: Hilton's Point – 1623
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 165: The Alexander Scammell Bridge over the Bellamy River
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 264: Home of John Parker Hale, 1840–1873
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 282: Native Retribution Against Maj. Waldron
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 289: Creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 * Religious Society of Friends Meetinghouse
 * St. Thomas Episcopal Church
 * Woodman Institute

title: Dover, New Hampshire


text:
Lee, New Hampshire

Lee is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,520 at the 2020 census. The town is a rural farm and bedroom community, being close to the University of New Hampshire.

History
Lee was first settled by Europeans in 1657 as part of the extensive early Dover township. It includes Wheelwright Pond, named for the Reverend John Wheelwright, the founder of Exeter.

Wheelwright Pond was the site of a noted early battle during King William's War. Indians, incited by the government of New France, attacked Exeter on July 4, 1690. They were pursued by two infantry companies raised for the purpose, who overtook them at Wheelwright Pond on July 6, 1690. Fierce fighting on that day would leave 3 officers and 15 soldiers dead, together with a large number of Indians. Among the dead were Captain Noah Wiswall, Lieutenant Gershom Flagg, and Ensign Edward Walker of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In 1735, Durham, which included Lee, separated from Dover. Then Lee, in turn, would separate from Durham on January 16, 1766, when it was established by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. It was among the last of 129 towns to receive a charter during his administration, and named for British General Charles Lee, who later joined the American Revolution.

Lee is hometown for numerous faculty of the University of New Hampshire in Durham. In 2007 the U.S. Postal Service assigned the town its own ZIP code—03861.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.3 km2, of which 51.8 km2 are land and 0.5 km2 are water, comprising 1.03% of the town. The town is drained by the Lamprey River, North River and Oyster River. Lee lies fully within the Piscataqua River (Coastal) watershed. The highest point in Lee is 272 ft above sea level, atop an unnamed hill southwest of the town center.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Madbury (north)
 * Durham (east)
 * Newmarket (southeast)
 * Epping (southwest)
 * Nottingham (west)
 * Barrington (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,145 people, 1,466 households, and 1,092 families residing in the town. The population density was 207.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,534 housing units at an average density of 76.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.02% White, 0.55% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.57% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,466 households, out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,993, and the median income for a family was $62,330. Males had a median income of $41,354 versus $29,651 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,905. About 4.3% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Julian Barry (1930-2023), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the film Lenny, based on his Broadway hit play of the same name
 * Tom Bergeron (born 1955), television personality
 * Daniel Meserve Durell (1769–1841), US congressman; born in Lee
 * Robert Eggers (born 1983), director of The Witch (2015 film)
 * Ralph Fletcher (born 1953), author; currently lives in Lee
 * Ethan Gilsdorf (born 1966), writer, poet, performer, editor, critic, teacher, journalist
 * Robert Parker Parrott (1804–1877), American soldier, inventor of military ordnance
 * Charles L. Sawyer (1860-1918), lawyer and Minnesota state legislator
 * Henry Tufts (1748–1831), infamous 18th-century thief who grew up in Lee

Sites of interest

 * Bedrock Gardens
 * DeMeritt Hill Farm, home of Haunted Overload the winner of ABC's 2014 Great Halloween Fright Fight
 * Lee Historical Society & Museum
 * Lee USA Speedway, a short-track oval race track that has hosted NASCAR events

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Lee, New Hampshire


text:
Madbury, New Hampshire

Madbury is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,918 at the 2020 census.

History
Madbury was originally a part of Dover called "Barbadoes", after the West Indies island of Barbados with which settlers conducted trade, sending wood and lumber in exchange for sugar, molasses, slaves and other commodities. The name survives at Barbadoes Pond. Garrison houses were built as protection against the Native Americans. Later it was part of Durham, a Dover parish which organized in 1716 and then incorporated in 1735. Madbury was once the farm of Sir Francis Champernowne of Greenland, and named after his ancient family's mansion at Modbury in Devon, England.

The name Madbury Parish was first recorded in a 1755 grant made by colonial governor Benning Wentworth, with full town privileges granted in 1768 by his successor, Governor John Wentworth. A lumbering and farming community, Madbury was incorporated in 1775. Jackson in Carroll County was first settled in 1778 as "New Madbury" by residents of the town. Today, Madbury is residential, its inhabitants generally employed elsewhere. Numerous faculty of the nearby University of New Hampshire reside here.

Geography
The town of Madbury is shaped like a wedge, extending from the southeastern tip of the town touching Cedar Point on Little Bay to the town's border with Barrington to the northwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.6 sqkm, of which 30.1 sqkm are land and 1.5 sqkm are water, comprising 4.65% of the town. The highest point of land is the summit of Hicks Hill, at 331 ft above sea level, located close to the center of town.

Although a branch of the Oyster River rises in western Madbury, the Bellamy River is the only river of size in town. Bellamy Reservoir, fed by the Bellamy River together with Mallego Brook, covers 382 acre and provides 60% of the water supply for Portsmouth. It was created in 1960 with a dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Madbury is served by state routes 9, 108 and 155.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Dover (northeast)
 * Durham (south)
 * Lee (southwest)
 * Barrington (west)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,509 people, 534 households, and 411 families residing in the town. The population density was 129.2 PD/sqmi. There were 543 housing units at an average density of 46.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.62% White, 0.40% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 534 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,981, and the median income for a family was $67,981. Males had a median income of $47,969 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,524. About 3.9% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
Madbury is part of the Oyster River Cooperative School District, along with the towns of Durham and Lee. One of the two elementary schools in the district, Moharimet Elementary School, is located in Madbury on Route 155. It was named after a 17th century Native American chief from the region.

Madbury Day
Madbury Day was traditionally celebrated the second Saturday in June. After taking two years off during COVID (in 2020 and 2021), it returned in 2022 to now be held on the Saturday after Labor Day. Main activities include the parade, community yard sale, BBQ, and face-painting. The parade begins at 12pm at the intersection of Cherry Lane and Town Hall Road, making its way towards the Town Hall. Participants of the parade typically include antique cars, fire engines, the Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band, clowns on unicycles, women of the Madbury Community Club, and adolescents on bicycles.

title: Madbury, New Hampshire


text:
Middleton, New Hampshire

Middleton is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,823 at the 2020 census.

History
Granted by the Masonian Proprietors in 1749, the town was named after Sir Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham, who was in charge of convoy service between Barbados and the colonies. The land was first settled shortly before the Revolutionary War by settlers from Lee and Rochester. Soon after the war, its population was challenged when a number of Quaker families led by the town auditor, Nicholas Austin, left for the more peaceful setting of Austin, Quebec. Although the soil is rocky and unsuited for cultivation, cider was made in considerable quantities, and maple syrup to some extent.

Middleton was situated on the road between the New Hampshire Seacoast and Wolfeboro, the location of colonial governor John Wentworth's summer home, "Kingswood". (Today the road survives as "Governors Road" in northern Rochester and Milton and continues as "Kings Highway" through Middleton. ) Neglect of the road caused the governor to bill the proprietors for repairs he had to make for safe travel to Kingswood, built in 1771. Middleton was incorporated on March 4, 1778, and originally included Brookfield, which was split off in December 1794.

Middleton's old Town Hall, located on King's Highway, was built in 1795 as a meetinghouse on Ridge Road. It was moved to its current location in 1812, jacked-up on the new site, and the Town Hall added underneath. The original stucco painting, a wrap-around landscape mural of trees and scenery, was painted by John Avery in 1811 and touched up in 1841.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.9 sqkm, of which 46.8 sqkm are land and 1.1 sqkm are water, comprising 2.33% of the town. That water is primarily contained by Sunrise Lake, previously known as the Old Dump Reservoir, near the southern corner of the town. Sunrise Lake drains south toward the Cocheco River in Farmington, while the rest of the town drains eastward toward the Branch River, a tributary of the Salmon Falls River. Jones Brook flows through the center of town and joins the Branch River in the northern part of Milton. The entire town is part of the Piscataqua River watershed. The Moose Mountains, which separate Middleton from Brookfield, have a series of 1600 to 1700 ft peaks, including the highest point in Middleton at an elevation of 1670 ft above sea level.

The town is served by New Hampshire Route 153.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Brookfield (north)
 * Wakefield (northeast)
 * Milton (southeast)
 * Farmington (south)
 * New Durham (west)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,440 people, 514 households, and 389 families residing in the town. The population density was 79.6 PD/sqmi. There were 706 housing units at an average density of 39.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.54% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.56% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.

There were 514 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,942, and the median income for a family was $48,529. Males had a median income of $32,014 versus $26,336 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,415. About 4.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Middleton, New Hampshire


text:
Milton, New Hampshire

Milton is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,482 at the 2020 census. A manufacturing, resort and residential town, Milton includes the village of Milton Mills. The primary village in town, where 593 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as the Milton census-designated place (CDP), and is located along New Hampshire Route 125 and the Salmon Falls River, just north of Route 75.

History
Originally a part of Rochester variously called the "Northeast Parish", "Three Ponds" or "Milton Mills", the town was settled in 1760. It was set off and incorporated in 1802 as "Milton", the name either a contraction of "mill town", or else derived from a relative of the Wentworth colonial governors—William Fitzwilliam, Earl Fitzwilliam and Viscount Milton. The town of Fitzwilliam also bears his name.

The high concentration of water-powered industries in Milton caused Ira W. Jones to found and operate an engineering firm from offices on Main Street in Milton. The company did business as I W Jones Engineers.

In 1893 Jonas Spaulding opened a leatherboard mill in Milton, organizing the business as J. Spaulding and Sons. His sons were Leon C., Huntley N. and Rolland H., of whom Huntley and Rolland would serve as governors of New Hampshire. Jonas and his sons would undertake the construction of another leatherboard mill in North Rochester around 1900. Jonas died before the North Rochester mill became operational. The brothers continued to run the business successfully and brought the Spaulding Brothers leatherboard mill in Townsend Harbor, Massachusetts, under the J. Spaulding and Sons banner in 1902. They were successful with a machine to manufacture shoe counters and with experiments to make vulcanized fiber. In 1912 they opened a purpose-built facility to make vulcanized fiber in Tonawanda, New York. In 1913 J. Spaulding and Sons opened a second leatherboard mill in Milton. They also acquired the Kennebunk Manufacturing Company (KEMACO), which made lunch boxes and violin cases using leatherboard and vulcanized fiber and at one time had facilities in Milton as well.

The town contains some distinctive architecture, particularly the Milton Town House, built in 1808, and the Milton Free Public Library, a Second Empire former schoolhouse built at Milton Mills in 1875.

Geography
The main village of Milton is in the southern part of the town, along the west side of the Salmon Falls River at the outlet of Milton Pond. The village of Milton Mills is in the northern part of the town, 7 mi by road north of Milton village.

The Spaulding Turnpike (New Hampshire Route 16) runs north to south through Milton, with access from Exit 17 (New Hampshire Route 75) in the south, near Milton village, and from Exit 18 (New Hampshire Route 125) in the north, just south of the Wakefield town line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.8 km2, of which 85.6 km2 are land and 3.2 sqkm are water, comprising 3.57% of the town. Milton is drained by the Salmon Falls River, which forms the eastern boundary of the town and the New Hampshire–Maine state line. The town is part of the Piscataqua River watershed. Teneriffe Mountain is the highest point in Milton, with the summit reaching 1090 ft above sea level.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Wakefield (north)
 * Acton, Maine (northeast)
 * Lebanon, Maine (east)
 * Rochester (south)
 * Farmington (southwest)
 * Middleton (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,598 people, 1,800 households, and 1,283 families residing in the town. There were 2,181 housing units, of which 381, or 17.5%, were vacant. 225 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% white, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,800 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were headed by married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, 22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% were from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $60,000, and the median income for a family was $67,991. Male full-time workers had a median income of $55,324 versus $34,832 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,495. 8.8% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the poverty line. 8.5% of the population under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Sites of interest

 * New Hampshire Farm Museum
 * The Milton Free Public Library (MFPL) in Milton Mills is housed in a building that was constructed in 1875 as a school house, and continued in this role until 1991, when its elementary grade students were bused daily down to Milton. It was the following year—1992—that MFPL relocated from smaller premises on Jug Hill Road to its current location. Before that the library was located at the current historical society, which was built in 1916 with the purpose of becoming a library. The land was donated by John E. Towsend, and did not become part of the town until September 26, 1921. The very first librarian that worked at this location was John Simes, and the first group of trustees were John E. Horne, Everett Fox, and Moses G. Chamberlain.

Notable people

 * Louise Bogan (1897–1970), fourth Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress (1945)
 * Robert Edmond Jones (1887–1954), theatrical designer
 * Alonzo Nute (1826–1892), US congressman
 * Richard Olney II (1871–1939), US congressman from Massachusetts
 * Michael Stonebraker (born 1943), computer scientist

title: Milton, New Hampshire


text:
New Durham, New Hampshire

New Durham is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,693 at the 2020 census. It is drained by the Merrymeeting, Cocheco and Ela rivers, and is known for Merrymeeting Lake. New Durham is home to the Powder Mill Fish Hatchery, located on Merrymeeting Road. Also located here is the Lions Club's Camp Pride, a camp for children and adults with special needs.

History
Granted by the Masonian Proprietors in 1749 as "Cochecho Township", New Durham was first settled by Europeans in 1750, almost entirely by colonists from Durham. It would be incorporated as "New Durham" on December 7, 1762. With a somewhat uneven and rocky surface, the town was better suited to grazing than cultivation. Lumber became the chief article of trade, and by 1859 New Durham had five sawmills and four shingle mills. It also had two gristmills, and a gunpowder factory called the Eureka Powder Works. On September 19, 1849, the Cocheco Railroad opened through the town, connecting Dover with Alton Bay.

An early town minister, Reverend Benjamin Randall, founded a new religious denomination in 1780 called the Free Will Baptists, later known as Free Baptists. The church has two buildings in the community; the older built in 1819 on New Durham Ridge.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 113.5 sqkm, of which 106.7 sqkm are land and 6.8 sqkm are water, comprising 5.98% of the town. The southern part of the town is drained by the headwaters of the Cocheco River and its tributary, the Ela River, and is part of the Piscataqua River watershed, flowing to the Atlantic Ocean at Portsmouth. The northern part of town is home to Merrymeeting Lake and its outlet, the Merrymeeting River, which flows west to Lake Winnipesaukee and is part of the Merrimack River watershed. The highest point in town (and in Strafford County) is 1700 ft above sea level, on the western slope of Copple Crown Mountain, along the town's eastern border. The mountain's 1868 ft summit is in the neighboring town of Brookfield, in Carroll County.

New Durham is served by New Hampshire Route 11.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Wolfeboro (north)
 * Brookfield (northeast)
 * Middleton (east)
 * Farmington (southeast)
 * Alton (west)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,220 people, 819 households, and 630 families residing in the town. The population density was 53.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,309 housing units at an average density of 31.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.15% White, 0.23% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 819 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,270, and the median income for a family was $52,941. Males had a median income of $35,574 versus $28,092 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,139. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Alfred M. Jones (1837–1910), Midwest politician and businessman born in New Durham
 * Benjamin Randall (1749–1808), minister

title: New Durham, New Hampshire


text:
Rochester, New Hampshire

Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,492 at the 2020 census, making it the 6th most populous city in New Hampshire. In addition to the downtown area, the city contains the villages of East Rochester, Gonic, and North Rochester. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and part of Baxter Lake.

Rochester was one of New Hampshire's fastest growing cities between 2010 and 2020.

Origins
The town was one of four granted by colonial governor Samuel Shute of Massachusetts and New Hampshire during his brief term. Incorporated in 1722, it was named for his close friend, Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, brother-in-law to King James II. As was customary, tall white pine trees were reserved for use as masts by the Royal Navy.

Rochester Common
In 1737, the Reverend Amos Main became the first settled pastor of the Congregational Church, located on Rochester Hill. The building would be moved to Rochester Common, which then encompassed 250 acre and was called "Norway Plain Mille Common" after its abundant Norway pines. At the time, the Common extended into what is now downtown Rochester. By 1738, the farming community contained 60 families. A statue of Parson Main, sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti, today presides over the town square. By 1780 the area surrounding the Common was the most thickly settled part of town, so a meeting house/church was erected on the east end of the Common with the entrance facing what is now South Main Street. A cemetery was also established near the new meeting house, but the ground was found to be too wet, and the bodies were removed to the Old Rochester Cemetery. In 1842 the Meeting House/church was moved to the present-day location at the corner of Liberty and South Main streets. As the years went by the size of the Common would shrink as more of it was sold off for development. A bandstand was constructed in 1914. Today, the Common is used for community activities such as Memorial Day events and for concerts throughout the summer months, in addition to having a walking track. During the Revolutionary War the Common was used as the meeting place for soldiers before going off to war. The common is also the location of the city's Civil War monument that bears the names of the 54 men who died then. The monument was dedicated in the 1870s, and in the 1880s the statue was added to the monument. Four Civil War cannons also decorated the monument, but during World War II the cannon were melted down for use in the war. They were replaced by World War II guns.

The bandstand was built in 1914 by Miles Dustin; before then band concerts were held on the square. The flag pole was donated by J. Frank Place in 1917. He was the former publisher of the Rochester Courier.

Early education
In 1750, Rochester voted at a town meeting to establish a public school to teach writing and reading to the town's children. The vote was quickly overturned, which violated colonial laws mandating schools in each community. In 1752 the first public schooling began. The school lasted for 16 weeks and the schoolmaster was named John Forst. He was paid a salary of 15 pounds and boarded with a different family each month (this family received 30 cents a week from the city).

For many years the city followed the pattern of the first school by opening one and closing it shortly after. Eventually the citizens realized a school was necessary, but funding one was an issue. In 1783 the state demanded that schools were opened permanently or else the state would penalize them. A year later permanent schools were established. Corporal punishment was commonly used by the schoolmasters.

In 1806 the school system was divided into districts in accordance with state law that was passed in 1805. This system of districts remained in place until 1884 when laws regarding districts changed. The schools in this system often lacked the necessary educational materials. Eventually the number of students attending school across the state diminished. This led to the abolishment of this system, because communities across the state including Rochester had many schools with extremely low numbers of students.

In 1850 the city voted to allow high schools and the funding of them. However money was not actually raised for high schools until 1868. The first high school opened in 1857. The principal and teacher was William A. Kimball. At that time a school year lasted for 22 weeks. High school attendance was relatively low, and most dropped out before graduating.

Growth through the 19th century
Mail service was established in 1768 when a post rider traveled from Portsmouth through Berwick, Dover and Rochester bringing gazettes. In 1792 this improved when Joseph Paine would deliver and pick up mail once a week. When he arrived in town a horn would blow to inform the town of his presence. A regular post office was established on March 26, 1812, in the Barke Tavern. The first postmaster in Rochester was William Barker.

The first large business was lumbering, although it would be overtaken by other industries as Rochester developed into a mill town with the Cochecho River to provide water power. In 1806, six tanneries were operating, along with a sawmill, fulling mill, and two gristmills. By the 1820s–1830s, the town had a cabinet maker and clockmaker. The Mechanics Company was established in 1834, producing woolen blankets that won the premium quality award at the 1853 New York World's Fair. The Norway Plains Woolen Company manufactured blankets used by the Union Army in the Civil War, and in 1870 wove 1600000 yd of textiles, but by century's end was out of business. Shoe manufacturing had surpassed textiles as Rochester's dominant industry by 1880.

In 1854, the E.G. & E. Wallace Shoe Company was established, eventually becoming the city's largest employer, with over 700 workers in 1901. Its name changed to the Rochester Shoe Corporation in the 1920s. The Wallace brothers died in the 1890s, and other shoe factories opened, including Perkins, Linscott & Company (later the Linscott, Tyler, Wilson Company) off Wakefield Street and N. B. Thayer & Company, Inc., in East Rochester. In the early twentieth century, more people were employed in shoe manufacturing than in all other local industries combined. Rochester contributed to New Hampshire's position as the nation's third largest shoe-producing state. The Kessel Fire Brick Company was established in 1889, and at one time bricks for new buildings at Harvard University were made in Gonic. Carrying the freight were four railroads that once passed through Rochester, a major junction between Haverhill, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine. Agriculture continued to be important, and in 1875 the Rochester Fair was established. In 1891, Rochester was incorporated as a city.

The first telephone was installed in 1885 in the K.C. Sanborn Drug Store. The phone was connected to the Dover Telephone Exchange. By the early 1900s there were 1,200 local calls and 400 toll calls a day made from Rochester.

In 1889 and 1900 Jonas Spaulding and his three sons Leon, Huntley, and Rolland, built a leatherboard mill at North Rochester. Jonas died before the mill became operational, but his three sons ran it well in co-partnership and expanded the company nationally and internationally. Leon Cummings Spaulding served as the J Spaulding and Sons Company president after his father's death.

During the Great Depression, however, several industries left for cheaper operating conditions in the South or went bankrupt. But the affluent mill era left behind fine architecture, including the Rochester Public Library, a Carnegie Library designed by the Concord architects Randlett & Griffin.

Library
The Rochester Public Library was approved in 1893 but was not open to the public until early 1894. Back then, the library was located on the corner of Portland Street and South Main Street. In 1897, the library moved to City Hall, where it remained for over eight years. In the early 1900s, Osman Warren, Rochester's postmaster, contacted Andrew Carnegie for help in securing an endowment to build the new library. The Carnegie Institute donated $20,000 to construct the new building. The new library was built on the site of what was the Main Street School. The library was built in the Georgian revival style, using brick and granite, and the inside was finished with golden oak and cypress. The library opened on October 2, 1905, and 150 people registered the first day. Miss Lillian Parshley was the first librarian, serving until her death in 1945. Velma Foss, Miss Parshley's assistant, was the second librarian of the Rochester Library.

City Hall and Opera House
Another notable structure is Rochester City Hall, built in 1908, and Opera House designed by George G. Adams. Adams designed other municipal government/opera house dual-purpose buildings around New England, including in Bellows Falls, Vermont (1887); Amesbury, Massachusetts (1887); Dover, New Hampshire (1891); and Derry, New Hampshire (1901). Only four of his structures survive today (in Waterville, Maine, Montpelier, Vermont, Derry, and Rochester), with many of his buildings destroyed by fires.

Adams' opera houses were unique because of their floors, which were movable and could function in both inclined or level position. With the floor in the inclined position, the opera house would show plays, concerts, etc. When the floor was level, the building could be used for dances or public meetings. The Rochester Opera House opened on Memorial Day 1908. Almost all of Adams' buildings contained movable floors, though the buildings in Waterville and Montpelier did not. Because of the destruction of the other opera houses, the Rochester Opera House is the only known theatre in the United States to use this type of movable floor.

Rochester City Hall contained the Rochester Police Department in its basement offices for many years. Some historical portraits of officers remain in an upstairs chamber where a collection of portraits of city officials was traditionally preserved, including officers Nelson S. Hatch and Red Hayes.

Today, visitors may still attend shows at the Rochester Opera House. The City of Rochester has preserved the 90-year-old historical décor of the Opera House.

20th century
Rochester's thriving shoe industry in the early twentieth century attracted entrepreneurs from out of state. In 1930 Samuel J. Katz of Brookline, Massachusetts, incorporated the Hubbard Shoe Company and commenced operations in N. B. Thayer & Company's factory on Pleasant Street in East Rochester before the end of the year. By 1931 the firm had also taken over the Linscott, Tyler, Wilson factory off Wakefield Street in Rochester, which it purchased outright in May 1932. At its peak, the Hubbard Shoe Company employed about four hundred people in East Rochester making men's shoes and five hundred in Rochester making women's shoes, with a total annual payroll of $3 million and total annual output of 2.5 million shoes. In 1934 the Maybury Shoe Company began operations on the former E.G. & E. Wallace site on South Main Street. Both firms survived the Great Depression, providing steady jobs for hundreds of Rochester citizens, and converted to a wartime footing during World War Two, but were unable to compete against the flood of cheap foreign imports in the 1970s. Hubbard Shoe Company went out of business in 1973, and Maybury Shoe closed in the mid-1970s. Samuel Katz's son Saul, however, went on to found the profitable Rockport Shoe Company with his son, Bruce R. Katz.

Rochester passed out of the silent film era on May 20, 1929, with the arrival of the first talking motion picture in the city, titled The Wild Party, starring Clara Bow. The movie was shown at the Scenic Theater. The evening admission price was 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children.

A Rochester Courier article from October 1930 described a new indoor golf course:

INDOOR GOLF COURSE TO BE OPENED ON SATURDAY The Leavitt Theatre Property Transformed Inside Into a Bower of Beauty - Rochester is to have an indoor golf course, which, it is said, will be second to none, in beauty and attractiveness, this side of New York. Fred Couture, proprietor of the Scenic theatre, who a few months since purchased the Leavitt theatre on South Main Street, has been laying out a small fortune in fitting it up on the ground floor for such use. This building was formerly the residence of the Hon. Summer Wallace and was one of the most beautiful mansions in New Hampshire. Despite the way in which the outside was altered to make the theatre, much of the magnificent paneling inside has been preserved. It was a foundation for an unusual setting for indoor golf. A large force of workers has been engaged in recent weeks, working in relays, and this week six scene painters are decorating the walls and ceilings. There are to be an Egyptian room, a Japanese room, an Indian room and a Dutch room. The walls of each are adorned with appropriate paintings to form a picture of any particular land represented. The Dutch room, for example, not only has the paintings of the canals and dikes but an actual windmill revolving. In the Indian room are pictures of forests and streams, with an Indian paddling a canoe. There is a real waterfall too, with the water flowing down over actual rocks into a series of three basins, with a pool for goldfish at the bottom. One room represents the seashore, the entire wall being one huge painting of the ocean, with a real light house perched up on a promontory, with a light shedding forth its rays. There is also a garden room with a profusion of flowers. There are various rest rooms and seats in plenty everywhere for the onlookers or tired players. All the floors will be covered with artificial grass. In a conspicuous place is a great pile of stones, with a fountain at the top, out of which a tiny stream trickles down over the rocks in various small channels and little pools. Ferns grow on its sides. There are also in various places tree trunks, some birch with their white bark and other varieties. There will be eighteen holes to the golf course, with various traps and some mysteries. The whole place is certainly a wonderful representation of the great out-of-doors and a veritable dream of loveliness. The grand opening is set for Saturday evening at 6:00, when Mayor Louis H. McDuffee will press the button and turn on the lights.

Natural disasters
The summer of 1947 was dry. In late October of that year only 1/8 inch of rain had fallen since mid-September, and the temperatures were high. Small ponds and streams were dried up, and local farmers were using water from the Salmon Falls River and Cocheco River to provide water for their livestock. Fire risk was high. On October 21, sparks from a passing train car in Farmington ignited the dry grass on both sides of the track, starting the biggest fire to strike Rochester.

At first, firefighters seemed to have the fire in control, but two days later, winds up to 60 mph drove the "small" fire out of control. The wind-driven fire moved to the south and east into Rochester. The fire would engulf an area over 9 mi long and over 2 mi wide with walls of flame 40 ft high. Before the fire was under control, over 30 homes in Rochester would be lost.

Hurricane Carol struck New Hampshire on September 2, 1954. The winds of the hurricane were in excess of 90 mph. The property damage in New Hampshire was estimated to be 3 million dollars, and 4 in of rain fell during the storm.

A Category 5 hurricane, known locally as the Hurricane of '38, was the most deadly of New Hampshire's history, causing excessive damage to Rochester and outlying communities. Hurricane Carol was a Category 3 storm.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 117.7 sqkm, of which 116.6 sqkm are land and 1.1 sqkm are water, comprising 0.91% of the city. Rochester is drained by the Salmon Falls, Isinglass and Cochecho rivers. The highest point in Rochester is 581 ft Chestnut Hill, occupying the northern corner of the city.

New Hampshire Route 16 (the Spaulding Turnpike) is a six-lane controlled-access highway that passes through the city, leading north towards Conway and south to Dover and Portsmouth. U.S. Route 202 uses the turnpike to bypass the city center, then heads northeastward into Maine and southwestward towards Concord. New Hampshire Route 125 passes north–south through the center of town, leading south to Lee and Epping, and traveling north parallel to NH 16 into Milton. New Hampshire Route 11 leads west to Alton and Laconia and northeast along US 202 into Maine. New Hampshire Route 108 leads southeast to Dover, and New Hampshire Route 202A leads southwest to Strafford and Northwood.

Besides the main downtown part of Rochester, there are two other named communities of significance within the city limits. East Rochester, a small neighborhood, is located near the northeastern border of the city along routes 202 and 11, next to the Salmon Falls River, while Gonic (from the Native American name Squanamagonic) is located south of downtown along NH 125 at a dam on the Cocheco River.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Lebanon, Maine (north)
 * Berwick, Maine (northeast)
 * Somersworth (east)
 * Dover (southeast)
 * Barrington (southwest)
 * Strafford (west)
 * Farmington (northwest)
 * Milton (north)

Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 29,752 people, 12,378 households, and 7,936 families residing in the city. There were 13,372 housing units, of which 994, or 7.4%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 95.4% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 12,378 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were headed by married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, 22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% were from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $46,979, and the median income for a family was $59,519. Male full-time workers had a median income of $42,948 versus $34,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,580. 13.2% of the population and 12.3% of families were below the poverty line. 22.2% of the population under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Economy
Major employers in Rochester include Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Albany International, Market Basket, Walmart, Thompson Investment Casting, Spaulding Composites, Rochester Manor, NextPhase Medical Devices, Monarch School of New England, Lydall Performance Materials, Lowe's, Laars Heating Systems, Kohl's, Homemakers & Health Services, The Home Depot, Hannaford, Eastern Propane & Oil, Cornerstone VNA, the City of Rochester, and Rochester School District.

Transportation
Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation provides local bus service.

Government
In the New Hampshire Senate, Rochester is in the 6th District and is currently represented by Republican Jim Gray. On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Rochester is in District 2 and is currently represented by Democrat Cinde Warmington. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Rochester is included in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat Chris Pappas.

Notable people

 * Isaac Adams (1802–1883), inventor, manufacturer; invented the Adams Power Press, which revolutionized the printing industry
 * Allard Baird (born 1961), vice president and assistant general manager for scouting and player development of the New York Mets
 * Jeff Coffin (born 1965), saxophonist with the Dave Matthews Band; three time Grammy Award-winner as a member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
 * Casey DeSmith (born 1991), ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks
 * James Farrington (1791–1859), U.S. congressman
 * Samuel D. Felker (1859–1932), mayor and 54th governor of New Hampshire
 * James Foley (1973–c. 2014), photojournalist murdered by the group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
 * John P. Hale (1806–1873), U.S. senator
 * Charles Francis Hall (c. 1821–1871), Arctic explorer
 * Lyndon LaRouche (1922–2019), political activist, perennial presidential candidate
 * Daniel Lothrop (1831–1892), publisher; born in Rochester
 * George A. Lovejoy (1931–2015), New Hampshire state senator, businessman
 * Freddy Meyer (born 1981), defenseman with the Philadelphia Flyers
 * Gertrude Jenness Rinden (1901–1992), missionary, educator, writer
 * Brandon Rogers (born 1982), defenseman with the Anaheim Ducks
 * Carol Shea-Porter (born 1952), U.S. congresswoman
 * Huntley N. Spaulding (1869–1955), 61st governor of New Hampshire
 * Rolland H. Spaulding (1873–1942), 55th governor of New Hampshire
 * John Tuttle (1951–2022), Maine state legislator; born in Rochester
 * John Hanson Twombly (1814–1893), president of the University of Wisconsin; Methodist minister
 * Nathaniel Upham (1774–1829), U.S. congressman

Sites of interest

 * Rochester Common
 * Rochester Historical Society Museum
 * Rochester Museum of Fine Arts
 * Rochester Opera House
 * Rochester Skate Park
 * Roger Allen Sports Facility
 * Spaulding High School
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 42: The Spaulding Brothers
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 191: Arched Bridge

title: Rochester, New Hampshire


text:
Rollinsford, New Hampshire

Rollinsford is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,597 at the 2020 census. The main village in town was once known as "Salmon Falls Village".

History
The area was once within the domain of the Newichawannock people, an Abenaki sub-tribe which took its name from the Newichawannock River, meaning "river with many falls", now the Salmon Falls River. Their village was located at what later was known as Salmon Falls Village and is now Rollinsford. They fished at the falls, stretching nets across the river to catch migrating salmon and other species swimming upriver to spawn. But war and disease, probably smallpox brought from abroad, decimated the native population.

Subsequently, settled by about 1630, the land was part of Dover, one of the original townships of New Hampshire. The area was first called "Sligo", likely after County Sligo in Ireland, and the name survives on a town road. An historical marker on Sligo Road reads, "Near this place lived David Hamilton of Westburn born in the parish of Cambuslang, Scotland in October 1620; captured by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester, England, September 3, 1651; Brought to America as a prisoner in chains on the "John and Sarah" in the same year; settled near here and married Annah Jaxson of Lanark, Scotland. Killed by Indians on September 28, 1691."

In 1729 the area was established as a parish called "Summersworth", meaning summer town, because the ministers preached here during the summer. In 1754, it was set off and incorporated as a town by colonial governor Benning Wentworth, although thereafter spelled "Somersworth" due to a clerical error. Since the first settlers' arrival, small communities had developed near various sawmills and gristmills along the Salmon Falls River, but the center of "Summersworth" was located at Rollinsford Junction.

Beginning in the early 1820s, water powered textile mills were established at the larger falls, and the town was divided between them—Great Falls became Somersworth, and Salmon Falls became Rollinsford, incorporated in 1849. It was named in honor of the Rollins family, whose ancestor Judge Ichabod Rollins had settled there many generations before and had become the first probate judge for the state.

Salmon Falls Village
The village of Salmon Falls was founded in 1823 by a group of local investors led by James Rundlet of Portsmouth, who on June 17, 1822, incorporated the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company to manufacture woolen cloth using the power of the Salmon Falls River, a Piscataqua River tributary. After an 1834 fire destroyed the first factory built there, the company's Portsmouth-based investors built a new factory for cotton manufacturing, eventually selling the corporation to their Boston-based cotton broker Mason and Lawrence in the 1840s. As part of their expansion, the town was laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid plan, with the three-story boarding houses and an adjoining mill building made of brick to withstand fires. Two-story brick double houses were also built to accommodate the families of the overseers. The town thrived into the first decades of the 20th century and eventually became home to many immigrant families whose forebears came to work in the mills. Although the town planners originally forbade the mill workers to drink alcohol and required that they attend church on Sunday, during Prohibition, its proximity to temperate Maine and the Boston & Maine Railroad line led to the establishment of numerous bars and a relatively short-lived but racy reputation for free-flowing liquor.

The New England cotton industry would fade in the early to mid-20th century, but would leave the brick town intact. Today, the mills have been reborn as low-cost studio space for more than 100 artists and artisans who use the converted studios for everything from painting, sculpting and crafting handmade furniture to teaching and practicing yoga and dance.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Rollinsford has a total area of 19.6 sqkm, of which 18.9 sqkm are land and 0.7 sqkm are water, comprising 3.71% of the town. The town is bounded on the east by the Salmon Falls River, which serves as the New Hampshire–Maine border. The western half of the town is drained by Rollins and Twombly brooks, which flow south to the Cochecho River in neighboring Dover. The entire town is part of the Piscataqua River watershed. The highest point in town is an unnamed 300 ft summit near the border with Somersworth. Garrison Hill, 290 ft above sea level, occupies the town's border with Dover to the west.

New Hampshire Route 4 crosses the town, leading southwest to Dover and northeast to South Berwick, Maine, where it becomes Maine State Route 4.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Berwick, Maine (north)
 * South Berwick, Maine (east)
 * Dover (southwest)
 * Somersworth (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,648 people, 1,033 households, and 721 families residing in the town. The population density was 363.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,060 housing units at an average density of 145.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.77% White, 0.68% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,033 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,588, and the median income for a family was $60,625. Males had a median income of $37,750 versus $26,068 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,444. About 2.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * George G. Adams (1850–1932), architect
 * Dave Guard (1934–1991), folk singer with The Kingston Trio
 * Dan Marsh (born 1956) a.k.a. "Dangerous" Danny Davis, referee-turned-wrestler with the WWE
 * Virginia Huntington Robie (1868–1957), author and academic
 * Edward H. Rollins (1824–1889), state senator, US congressman
 * Bill Staines (1947–2021), folk singer-songwriter

title: Rollinsford, New Hampshire


text:
Somersworth, New Hampshire

Somersworth is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2020 census. Somersworth has the smallest area and third-lowest population of New Hampshire's 13 cities.

History
Prior to European settlement, the area that is now Somersworth was central-south Abenaki land. These Algonquian speaking peoples of the Wabanaki Confederacy lived along what they called Newichwanook, now the Salmon Falls River. Colonists from Britain arriving before 1700 named the area "Sligo", after Sligo in Ireland and settled there as a part of Dover. The community was organized in 1729 as the parish of "Summersworth", meaning "summer town", because during that season the ministers preached here. It was set off and incorporated in 1754 by colonial governor Benning Wentworth, and until 1849 included Rollinsford. A clerical error at incorporation contracted the name to "Somersworth". It was incorporated as a city in 1893, before which it was also known as "Great Falls".

Situated where the Salmon Falls River drops 100 ft over a mile, Somersworth early became a mill town, beginning with gristmills and sawmills. In 1822, the brothers Isaac and Jacob Wendell of Boston purchased for $5,000 a gristmill with its water rights at the Great Falls. They established the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, a textile business that expanded to include three mills for spinning thread and weaving cotton and woolen fabrics, specializing in "drillings, shirtings and sheetings". Throughout the 19th century, other expansive brick mill buildings, including a bleachery and dye works, were erected beside the river. The bleachery became the longest running textile operation in Somersworth. The building housed the operations that took the buff-colored fabric produced in the seven mills and transformed it into a sparkling white material that could be dyed or printed according to the buyer's wishes. The gate house at the dam directed water as needed, regulating the flow either into the river or a company canal, which itself had gates sending it under the mill. Water power turned the wheels and belts that operated mill machinery. The railroad arrived in the early 1840s, before which goods were carted to Dover.

At first, millworkers came from surrounding farms, including those in Berwick, Maine, directly across the bridge, many of whom were women. But as the need for labor grew, immigrants arrived from Ireland, and later Quebec. Brick tenement row houses were rented by the company to employee families, many of whose members worked in the mills beside their parents before passage of child labor laws. For relaxation, workers found entertainment at the Opera House or at Central Park, an amusement park beside Willand Pond. In the early 1870s, the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad began excursions to the White Mountains. The Electric Street Railway came in 1890, allowing trolley rides to York Beach, Maine.

In 1922, Somersworth was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike, shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut and hours increase.

But the New England textile industry went into decline later in the 20th century. Water power was replaced with newer forms of energy, and cotton could be manufactured where it grew, saving transportation costs. Labor was also cheaper in the South, which did not have New Hampshire's inventory tax that levied commodities like coal and cotton at the plants. The Great Depression sent many regional textile firms into bankruptcy, when some local facilities were adapted for shoemaking. The Great Falls Manufacturing Company's big mill was renovated for other uses in the 1980s, although the bleachery suffered a devastating fire in November 2003, which required assistance from 23 fire departments from New Hampshire and Maine. Aclara Technologies operates a factory (previously owned by General Electric Company ) that manufactures state of the art electric meters for the energy business.

Somersworth's heyday was during the mill era. Although frequently overshadowed by the larger neighboring cities of Dover and Rochester, Somersworth retains a quantity of Victorian architecture from its prosperous age. Some antique residences, most notably within the historic district known as "The Hill", have been restored. The municipality is today largely a bedroom community for other cities and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The upper end of High Street, however, continues to develop as a retail center, with several big-box chain stores.

One ship of the United States Navy was named after the city; the USS Somersworth (PCE(R)-849) was a PCE-842-class patrol craft. Commissioned in April 1944, it was named after the city in February 1956, and remained in service until decommissioned in September 1965. The ship was present at the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II.

Geography
Somersworth is located in eastern Strafford County at 43.25389°N, -70.87556°W (43.253783, −70.875499).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.9 sqkm, of which 25.4 sqkm are land and 0.5 sqkm are water, comprising 1.96% of the city. Somersworth is bordered to the northeast by the Salmon Falls River, which is also the state boundary with Maine. The highest point in Somersworth is Prospect Hill rising just west of the city center, on which the city reservoir is built. The hill's elevation is approximately 310 ft above sea level.

New Hampshire Route 9 (High Street) is the main road through the city, leading north into Berwick, Maine, and south into Dover. New Hampshire Route 108 passes through a western portion of the city, leading northwest to Rochester and south to Dover. New Hampshire Route 236 (West High Street) leads west out of downtown to NH 108.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Berwick, Maine (north)
 * Rollinsford (southeast)
 * Dover (southwest)
 * Rochester (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 11,855 people residing in the city. There were 5,325 housing units, of which 243, or 4.6%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% white, 1.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 7.3% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.1% some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,766 people, 4,862 households, and 3,044 families residing in the city. There were 5,199 housing units, of which 337, or 6.5%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 89.4% white, 1.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.3% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.9% some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,862 households in the city, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were headed by married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42, and the average family size was 2.95.

23.2% of residents in the city were under the age of 18, 8.1% were from age 18 to 24, 29.2% were from 25 to 44, 27.7% were from 45 to 64, and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $54,868, and the median income for a family was $66,086. Male full-time workers had a median income of $47,865 versus $36,935 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,527. 13.6% of the population and 10.2% of families were below the poverty line, along with 20.0% of people under the age of 18 and 6.9% of people 65 or older.

Education
The Somersworth School District consists of Somersworth High School (grades 9–12), Somersworth Middle School (grades 6–8), and two elementary schools, Idlehurst Elementary School and Maple Wood Elementary School.

Somersworth's first high school (pictured above) opened in 1850 and was located at 17 Grand Street. Hilltop School, built at the same location in 1927, replaced the original high school. Later it would be converted to an elementary school.

In 1999, after numerous fire code violations were identified with the Hilltop School by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal, the City of Somersworth was granted waivers for a period of three years to address the state's concerns. Despite the failure of the school district to address the numerous code violations during the probation period, the waivers continued to be extended past their originally intended three-year period. In August 2007, the upper floors of the school were closed by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshall after the city neglected to fix code violations they were warned about in November 2006.

The closure of the upper floors came just weeks before neighborhood students were scheduled to return from summer vacation. This resulted in the start of school being delayed by over two weeks for Hilltop students. Three portable classrooms were brought in for "2 years" in 2007. Students were still occupying the three portable classrooms surpassing the time allotted as of August 18, 2010.

In the spring of 2007, the Somersworth School Board voted to build a new school to replace Hilltop. On February 17, 2009, the Somersworth City Council voted to approve bonding in the amount of $19.9 million for the construction of a new elementary school. The new school has been named Idlehurst, and has been functioning in the SAU 56 school system as of the start of the 2011–2012 school year.

In May 2019, Somersworth Middle School was awarded 2019 Middle School of the Year by the New Hampshire Department of Education. The middle school, led by Principal Dana Hilliard, was awarded this award for excellence in education for its ability to engage students and support their social and emotional growth.

Notable people

 * Fred H. Brown (1879–1955), US senator, 59th governor of New Hampshire
 * Stuart Chase (1888–1985), economist, engineer
 * John Alfred Hayes (1839–1913), Civil War surgeon, officer
 * Edward H. Rollins (1824–1889), businessman, politician
 * John Sullivan (1740–1795), Founding Father, Continental Army major general, delegate to the Continental Congress
 * John Wentworth Jr. (1745–1787), Founding Father, lawyer, served as a New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Articles of Confederation
 * Hopley Yeaton (1739–1812), first commissioned officer of the Revenue Cutter Service, precursor to the United States Coast Guard

Sites of interest

 * Summersworth Historical Society and Museum (157 Main Street)
 * Somersworth Historic District
 * Noble Pines
 * Somersworth River Walk

Transportation
Public transportation is provided by the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation.

title: Somersworth, New Hampshire


text:
Strafford, New Hampshire

Strafford is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,230 at the 2020 census. The two main settlements in town are Center Strafford and Bow Lake Village.

History
Once part of Barrington, Strafford was set off due to the lengthy travel required to attend town meetings. Settled prior to the Revolution, the town incorporated in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Strafford County had been organized in 1773 during the administration of colonial governor John Wentworth, and named in honor of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford.

The Austin Academy once stood in the center of Strafford village. George Cate, a wealthy shoe manufacturer, visited the school at the request of its principal Alvin E. Thomas and was so impressed with the school that he left at his death $200,000 on the condition that his name be added to that of Mr. Austin. After his death, the hundred-acre farm of George Washington Foss was purchased, and soon a beautiful new building, designed by well-known New Hampshire architect J. Edward Richardson, sat on the hill with the name on its façade, "Austin-Cate Academy - 1903". The property has been purchased by the state for a National Guard training center. The Foss farmhouse that was used as a dormitory burned in 1961 and was replaced with a one-story dormitory. The main building had burned in the early 1930s and was replaced with the brick building, also designed by Richardson, that is there now.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 132.7 sqkm, of which 127.0 sqkm are land and 5.7 sqkm are water, comprising 4.27% of the town. Bow Lake covers 1160 acre in the southern part of town. Strafford is drained by the Isinglass River and its tributary the Berrys River, and by the Big River. The Isinglass River flows east to the Cocheco River in Dover and is part of the Piscataqua River watershed, while the Big River flows west to the Suncook River in Barnstead and is part of the Merrimack River watershed.

The Blue Hills Range divides the town in half, running southwest to northeast. Parker Mountain, the highest point in the range and in Strafford, rises to 1420 ft above sea level.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Farmington (northeast)
 * Rochester (east)
 * Barrington (southeast)
 * Northwood (southwest)
 * Pittsfield (west)
 * Barnstead (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,626 people, 1,281 households, and 1,022 families residing in the town. The population density was 73.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 31.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.48% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 1,281 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $59,044, and the median income for a family was $62,238. Males had a median income of $40,423 versus $30,524 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,500. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Charles Simic (born 1938), fifteenth US Poet Laureate (2007–2008)

title: Strafford, New Hampshire


text:
Acworth, New Hampshire

Acworth is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 853.

History
Originally chartered by colonial governor Benning Wentworth in 1752, it was called "Burnet" after William Burnet, a former governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. In 1754, however, the French and Indian War broke out, and no settlements were made under the charter. Wentworth regranted the township on September 19, 1766, naming it after Sir Jacob Acworth, a former Surveyor of the Royal Navy. The town was first permanently settled in 1768 by several families from Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Acworth was incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth, but war again slowed its development. With the close of the Revolution, however, Acworth grew quickly. By 1859, it had 1,251 inhabitants, most of whom were occupied in agriculture. The Cold River provided water power for industry, including five sawmills, a gristmill, a woolen factory, a bobbin factory and a peg factory. There was also a boot and shoe manufacturer. Acworth is a source for museum-quality crystals such as beryl. The town of Acworth, Georgia, was named for this town, because this was the hometown of a railroad engineer there.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 101.2 sqkm, of which 100.5 sqkm are land and 0.6 sqkm are water, comprising 0.65% of the town. Acworth is drained by the Cold River and its tributaries, except for the northwest corner of town, which drains north to the Little Sugar River. The town lies fully within the Connecticut River watershed. The highest point in Acworth is Gove Hill in the northeast part of town, at 1939 ft above sea level.

The town is crossed by one numbered state highway, New Hampshire Route 123A, which follows the Cold River and passes through the village of South Acworth. Although not numbered routes, the state also maintains a handful of other roads in the town, including Cold River Road, Hill Road, and a portion of Charlestown Road.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Unity (north)
 * Lempster (east)
 * Marlow (southeast)
 * Alstead (south)
 * Langdon (southwest)
 * Charlestown (northwest)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 836 people, 318 households, and 234 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km$2$). There were 512 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.84% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.24% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 318 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,386, and the median income for a family was $41,397. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $26,912 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,132. About 10.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * George W. Anderson (1861–1938), federal judge
 * Nedom L. Angier (1814–1882), mayor of Atlanta; Georgia state treasurer
 * John Graham Brooks (1846–1938), sociologist, political reformer
 * Thomas J. Cram (1804–1883), engineer in the service of the U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
 * Adrian Dubois (born 1987), professional soccer player
 * Alice B. Fogel, New Hampshire Poet Laureate, 2014–2019
 * Perley Keyes (1774–1834), member of the New York Senate
 * Talcott Parsons (1902–1979), Harvard sociologist
 * Fritz Wetherbee (born 1936), television personality
 * Hiram Wilson (1803–1864), abolitionist
 * Joseph Gardner Wilson (1826–1873), Oregon supreme court justice and US congressman
 * Urban A. Woodbury (1838–1915), Civil War veteran and the 45th governor of Vermont

title: Acworth, New Hampshire