Atkinson, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Atkinson is a town in Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 6,751 at the 2010 census.
. Atkinson Academy
, the second-oldest co-educational school in the country, was founded as a boys' school in 1787 by Reverend Stephen Peabody, General Nathaniel Peabody
and Doctor William Cogswell; it began admitting girls in 1791. The school building burnt to the ground in 1802, and was rebuilt in 1803 at a cost of $2,500. That building remains a part of the Academy, with only four classrooms. Other historic buildings, such the Atkinson Historical Society and Library, Rockwell School (current police station), and many more, grace this southern New Hampshire town with their rich historical value and education of the history of the area.
Relatives of former President John Quincy Adams
live in Atkinson, along with famous politicians and businessmen. Atkinson’s history can be read about in depth in the book Atkinson Then and Now, which can be purchased at the Atkinson Public Library on Academy Avenue.
, the town has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²), of which 11.1 sq mi (28.7 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 1.42% of the town. The highest point in Atkinson is Hog Hill, at 430 feet (131.1 m) above sea level
. Atkinson lies fully within the Merrimack River
watershed
.
of 2000, there were 6,178 people, 2,317 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. The population density
was 555.2 people per square mile (214.3/km²). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 218.5 per square mile (84.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 2,317 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,729, and the median income for a family was $77,631. Males had a median income of $53,229 versus $34,760 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $30,412. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 399 people per square mile . There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 163 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,751 at the 2010 census.
History
Atkinson has a rich history, dating back to the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Atkinson Academy
Atkinson Academy
Atkinson Academy is a public elementary school located in Atkinson, New Hampshire. It is the oldest standing co-ed school in the United States.-History:Atkinson Academy was founded in 1787 as an all-boys school. It began admitting girls in 1791....
, the second-oldest co-educational school in the country, was founded as a boys' school in 1787 by Reverend Stephen Peabody, General Nathaniel Peabody
Nathaniel Peabody
Nathaniel Peabody was an American physician from Rockingham County, New Hampshire. He represented New Hampshire as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780....
and Doctor William Cogswell; it began admitting girls in 1791. The school building burnt to the ground in 1802, and was rebuilt in 1803 at a cost of $2,500. That building remains a part of the Academy, with only four classrooms. Other historic buildings, such the Atkinson Historical Society and Library, Rockwell School (current police station), and many more, grace this southern New Hampshire town with their rich historical value and education of the history of the area.
Relatives of former President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
live in Atkinson, along with famous politicians and businessmen. Atkinson’s history can be read about in depth in the book Atkinson Then and Now, which can be purchased at the Atkinson Public Library on Academy Avenue.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²), of which 11.1 sq mi (28.7 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 1.42% of the town. The highest point in Atkinson is Hog Hill, at 430 feet (131.1 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Atkinson lies fully within the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,178 people, 2,317 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 555.2 people per square mile (214.3/km²). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 218.5 per square mile (84.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 2,317 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,729, and the median income for a family was $77,631. Males had a median income of $53,229 versus $34,760 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $30,412. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Town website
- Town of Atkinson Recreation Website
- AtkinsonWeather.com - forecasts for Atkinson and New England!
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Atkinson Academy, Grades 1-5
- Timberlane Regional Middle School, Grades 6-8, located in Plaistow
- Timberlane Regional High School, Grades 9-12, located in Plaistow