Belmont, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Belmont is a town
in Belknap County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 7,356 at the 2010 census.
The primary settlement in town, where 1,301 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Belmont census-designated place
(CDP) and includes the densely-populated portion of the town near the intersection of New Hampshire Route 106
and New Hampshire Route 140
.
. With water power from the Tioga River
, it developed as a mill town
. Built in 1833, the Gilmanton Village Manufacturing Co. made cotton
and woolen
textiles. Over the years it would change owners, names and products. In 1921, it was the Belmont Hosiery Co., a maker of silk
, lisle
and woolen stockings. It went out of business in 1955, and the renovated mill building is now a community center.
Separated from Gilmanton by an act of legislature
, the town was incorporated in 1859 as Upper Gilmanton. The name Belmont was adopted in 1869 to honor August Belmont
, a wealthy financier who (it was hoped) would contribute to the nascent town, but he never acknowledged the act.
, the town has a total area of 32.3 square miles (83.7 km²), of which 30.5 square miles (79 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is water, comprising 5.76% of the town. The highest point in Belmont is an unnamed 1360 feet (414.5 m) hill near the northern border. Drained by the Tioga River
, Belmont lies fully within the Merrimack River
watershed
.
Belmont is crossed by state routes 106
and 140
.
of 2000, there were 6,716 people, 2,641 households, and 1,867 families residing in the town. The population density
was 219.4 people per square mile (84.7/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 101.7 per square mile (39.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.53% White, 0.15% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 2,641 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,717, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $25,882 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,986. About 3.8% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Belknap County
Belknap County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 56,325 people, 22,459 households, and 15,496 families residing in the county. The population density was 140 people per square mile . There were 32,121 housing units at an average density of 80 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 7,356 at the 2010 census.
The primary settlement in town, where 1,301 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Belmont census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and includes the densely-populated portion of the town near the intersection of New Hampshire Route 106
New Hampshire Route 106
New Hampshire Route 106 is a long secondary north–south highway in Merrimack and Belknap counties in central New Hampshire...
and New Hampshire Route 140
New Hampshire Route 140
New Hampshire Route 140 is a long east–west state highway in New Hampshire. It runs from Tilton to Alton.The western terminus of NH 140 is in Tilton at U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 11. The eastern terminus is in Alton at NH 11 and New Hampshire Route 28A . In Alton, the road is named the...
.
History
Originally known as Upper Gilmanton, Belmont was chartered in 1727 as a parish of GilmantonGilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census. Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks...
. With water power from the Tioga River
Tioga River (New Hampshire)
The Tioga River is a river located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Winnipesaukee River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
, it developed as a mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
. Built in 1833, the Gilmanton Village Manufacturing Co. made cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
textiles. Over the years it would change owners, names and products. In 1921, it was the Belmont Hosiery Co., a maker of silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, lisle
Lisle
Lisle is a type of cotton fabric that has been processed to give it a smooth finish. The process burns off lint and threads as well as fibre ends, leaving a smooth edge...
and woolen stockings. It went out of business in 1955, and the renovated mill building is now a community center.
Separated from Gilmanton by an act of legislature
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
, the town was incorporated in 1859 as Upper Gilmanton. The name Belmont was adopted in 1869 to honor August Belmont
August Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
, a wealthy financier who (it was hoped) would contribute to the nascent town, but he never acknowledged the act.
Notable inhabitants
- William BadgerWilliam BadgerWilliam Badger was an American manufacturer and mill owner from Gilmanton, New Hampshire. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire state legislature and was elected Governor for two terms....
, governor of New Hampshire - Krystal BarryKrystal BarryKrystal Barry is a beauty queen from Belmont, New Hampshire who has competed in the Miss USA pageant.Barry won the Miss New Hampshire USA title in late 2005, after placing first runner-up the previous year. She represented New Hampshire in the Miss USA 2006 pageant televised live from Baltimore,...
, Miss New Hampshire USAMiss New Hampshire USAThe Miss New Hampshire USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Hampshire in the Miss USA pageant.New Hampshire has had little success at Miss USA, and has only placed four times...
2006 - Richard Paul Pavlick, attempted assassin of President Kennedy
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 32.3 square miles (83.7 km²), of which 30.5 square miles (79 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is water, comprising 5.76% of the town. The highest point in Belmont is an unnamed 1360 feet (414.5 m) hill near the northern border. Drained by the Tioga River
Tioga River (New Hampshire)
The Tioga River is a river located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Winnipesaukee River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
, Belmont 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...
.
Belmont is crossed by state routes 106
New Hampshire Route 106
New Hampshire Route 106 is a long secondary north–south highway in Merrimack and Belknap counties in central New Hampshire...
and 140
New Hampshire Route 140
New Hampshire Route 140 is a long east–west state highway in New Hampshire. It runs from Tilton to Alton.The western terminus of NH 140 is in Tilton at U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 11. The eastern terminus is in Alton at NH 11 and New Hampshire Route 28A . In Alton, the road is named the...
.
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 6,716 people, 2,641 households, and 1,867 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 219.4 people per square mile (84.7/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 101.7 per square mile (39.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.53% White, 0.15% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.16% 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 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 2,641 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,717, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $25,882 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 $19,986. About 3.8% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.