Contoocook River
Encyclopedia
The Contoocook River is a 71 miles (114.3 km) river in New Hampshire
. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake
on the Jaffrey
/Rindge
border to Penacook
(just north of Concord
), where it empties into the Merrimack River
. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction. Two picturesque covered bridge
s in Hopkinton
and one in Henniker
span the Contoocook, as does another on the Hancock
-Greenfield
line. Residents and tourists have made the Contoocook popular for fishing and whitewater boating.
The river gives its name to Contoocook, New Hampshire
, a census-designated place
(CDP) within the town of Hopkinton
.
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...
. It flows from Pool Pond and Contoocook Lake
Contoocook Lake
Contoocook Lake is a water body located in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire, United States, in the towns of Jaffrey and Rindge. The lake, along with Pool Pond, forms the headwaters of the Contoocook River, which flows north to the Merrimack River in Penacook, New Hampshire.Contoocook...
on the Jaffrey
Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Jaffrey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,457 at the 2010 census.The primary settlement in town, where 2,757 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Jaffrey census-designated place and is located along the Contoocook River at the...
/Rindge
Rindge, New Hampshire
Rindge is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,014 at the 2010 census. Rindge is home to Franklin Pierce University, the Cathedral of the Pines, and part of Annett State Forest.-Native American inhabitants:...
border to Penacook
Penacook, New Hampshire
Penacook, originally called "Fisherville", is a village within the city of Concord in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. It lies along Concord's northern border with Boscawen. The name comes from the Pennacook tribe that lived in the area...
(just north of Concord
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
), where it empties into 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...
. It is one of only a few rivers in New Hampshire that flow in a predominantly northward direction. Two picturesque covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
s in Hopkinton
Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Hopkinton is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census. It consists of three villages: Hopkinton, West Hopkinton, and Contoocook...
and one in Henniker
Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,836. Henniker is home to New England College, Ames State Forest and Craney Hill State Forest....
span the Contoocook, as does another on the Hancock
Hancock, New Hampshire
Hancock is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2010 census. Hancock is home to the Welch Family Farm Forest....
-Greenfield
Greenfield, New Hampshire
Greenfield is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,749 at the 2010 census. Greenfield is home to the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, to Greenfield State Park, and to part of the Wapack Trail.- History :...
line. Residents and tourists have made the Contoocook popular for fishing and whitewater boating.
The river gives its name to Contoocook, New Hampshire
Contoocook, New Hampshire
Contoocook is a village and census-designated place within the town of Hopkinton in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,444 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, a 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) within the town of Hopkinton
Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Hopkinton is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census. It consists of three villages: Hopkinton, West Hopkinton, and Contoocook...
.
Principal tributaries
From south to north:- Nubanusit BrookNubanusit BrookNubanusit Brook is a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed.Nubanusit Brook begins at the outlet of Nubanusit Lake in Nelson, New Hampshire...
begins at Nubanusit LakeNubanusit LakeNubanusit Lake is a lake located on the border between Cheshire and Hillsborough counties in southwestern New Hampshire, United States, in the towns of Nelson and Hancock. The outlet of the lake is Nubanusit Brook, a tributary of the Contoocook River in the Merrimack River drainage basin....
in NelsonNelson, New HampshireNelson is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 729 at the 2010 census. Nelson includes the village of Munsonville.-History:...
and joins the Contoocook in PeterboroughPeterborough, New HampshirePeterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
. - The North BranchNorth Branch Contoocook RiverThe North Branch of the Contoocook River is a river located in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
of the Contoocook starts in StoddardStoddard, New HampshireStoddard is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2010 census.Between 1842 and 1873, the town was home to four glass manufacturers. The glass produced by these works, now known as Stoddard glass, is noted for its deep amber colors and design...
and joins the main stem in HillsboroughHillsborough, New HampshireHillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census...
. - The Warner RiverWarner RiverThe Warner River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
starts in BradfordBradford, New HampshireBradford is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2010 census. The main village of the town, where 356 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Bradford census-designated place , and is located west of the junction of New Hampshire...
and joins the Contoocook in Hopkinton. - The Blackwater RiverBlackwater River (Contoocook River)The Blackwater River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Contoocook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
begins at Pleasant LakePleasant Lake (New London, New Hampshire)Pleasant Lake is a lake located in Merrimack County in central New Hampshire, United States, in the town of New London. The village of Elkins is located at the east end of the lake, next to its outlet...
in New LondonNew London, New HampshireNew London is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,397 at the 2010 census.The town center, where 1,415 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the New London census-designated place , and is located on a hilltop along New Hampshire Route 114 north...
and joins the Contoocook in Hopkinton.
External links
- NH Department of Environmental Services The Contoocook and North Branch Rivers
- American Whitewater description of the Freight Train rapids section