Dorchester, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Dorchester is a town in Grafton County
, New Hampshire
, United States. The population was 355 at the 2010 census.
in 1761, Dorchester was named for Dorchester in Dorset
, England. When the recipients failed to take up the grant, it was regranted in 1766, but also without success. Finally, it was regranted by Governor John Wentworth
to 72 people on May 1, 1772, and settlement began soon thereafter. The first settlers were Benjamin Rice and Stephen Murch from Hanover
, but originally from Connecticut
.
When the first census of Dorchester was taken in 1790, there were 175 residents. By 1859, when the population reached 711, there were eleven sawmill
s, in addition to several clapboard
and shingle
mills. Charcoal
was also manufactured here.
, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles (117.1 km²), of which 44.7 sq mi (115.8 km²) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.22% of the town. It is drained by the South Branch Baker River
and Indian River
. The highest point in Dorchester is on its western boundary, where the elevation reaches 3190 feet (972.3 m) above sea level
, just east of the summit of Smarts Mountain
. Dorchester lies within two watersheds
— roughly the southwestern half of town is in the Connecticut River
watershed and the northeastern half is in the Merrimack River
watershed.
The town is crossed by New Hampshire Route 118
.
of 2000, there were 353 people, 132 households, and 99 families residing in the town. The population density
was 7.9 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 236 housing units at an average density of 5.3 per square mile (2.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.17% White, 0.28% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.85% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,940. About 8.6% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
, 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. The population was 355 at the 2010 census.
History
Originally granted by Governor Benning WentworthBenning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
in 1761, Dorchester was named for Dorchester in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England. When the recipients failed to take up the grant, it was regranted in 1766, but also without success. Finally, it was regranted by Governor John Wentworth
John Wentworth (governor)
Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet was the British colonial governor of New Hampshire at the time of the American Revolution. He was later also Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.-Early life:...
to 72 people on May 1, 1772, and settlement began soon thereafter. The first settlers were Benjamin Rice and Stephen Murch from Hanover
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, but originally from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
When the first census of Dorchester was taken in 1790, there were 175 residents. By 1859, when the population reached 711, there were eleven sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, in addition to several clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
and shingle
Roof shingle
Roof shingles are a roof covering consisting of individual overlapping elements. These elements are typically flat rectangular shapes laid in rows from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive higher row overlapping the joints in the row below...
mills. Charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
was also manufactured here.
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 45.2 square miles (117.1 km²), of which 44.7 sq mi (115.8 km²) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.22% of the town. It is drained by the South Branch Baker River
South Branch Baker River
The South Branch of the Baker River is a river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Baker River, part of the Pemigewasset River and Merrimack River watersheds....
and Indian River
Indian River (New Hampshire)
The Indian River is a 12.8 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. The river is a tributary of the Mascoma River, which in turn flows to the Connecticut River and ultimately Long Island Sound....
. The highest point in Dorchester is on its western boundary, where the elevation reaches 3190 feet (972.3 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...
, just east of the summit of Smarts Mountain
Smarts Mountain
Smarts Mountain is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Smarts is flanked to the north by Mount Cube, at , and to the southwest by Holts Ledge, at . Although of only moderate elevation, Smarts is separated from the southwestern White Mountains by Oliverian Notch, a fairly low pass...
. Dorchester lies within two watersheds
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...
— roughly the southwestern half of town is in the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
watershed and the northeastern half is in 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.
The town is crossed by New Hampshire Route 118
New Hampshire Route 118
New Hampshire Route 118 is a long secondary north–south highway in Grafton County, New Hampshire. NH 118 stretches from Woodstock, in the White Mountains Region, south to Canaan in the Upper Valley region....
.
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 353 people, 132 households, and 99 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 7.9 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 236 housing units at an average density of 5.3 per square mile (2.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.17% White, 0.28% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.85% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,375 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 $18,940. About 8.6% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Rufus BlodgettRufus BlodgettRufus Blodgett was a US Senator from New Jersey and Superintendent of the New York & Long Branch Railroad for 25 years.-Biography:...
, senator - Albert WoodworthAlbert WoodworthAlbert Woodworth was an American businessman and member of the Woodworth political family.-Early life:Woodworth was born in Dorchester, New Hampshire, on April 7, 1843, the son of George Woodworth, whose own father, Sylvanus Woodworth, came to New Hampshire from Lebanon, Connecticut with Eleazer...
, businessman and politician