Epsom, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Epsom is a town in Merrimack County
, New Hampshire
, United States. The population was 4,566 at the 2010 census.
, England. Although dotted with several small mountains, the land was suitable for grazing
and growing grain
. By 1859, when the town's population was 1,366, it had two gristmill
s and two sawmill
s.
Epsom was home to Major Andrew McClary, highest ranking officer to fall in the Battle of Bunker Hill
. Fort McClary
in Kittery, Maine
is named in his honor.
, the town has a total area of 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²), of which 34.2 sq mi (88.6 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.58% of the town. The highest point in Epsom is the summit of Fort Mountain, at 1413 feet (430.7 m) above sea level
, in the eastern part of town. Other neighboring small mountains in town include McCoy Mountain—1270 ft (387.1 m)—and Nats Mountain—1180 ft (359.7 m). The town is drained by the Suncook River
. Epsom lies fully within the Merrimack River
watershed
.
of 2000, there were 4,021 people, 1,491 households, and 1,103 families residing in the town. The population density
was 117.7 people per square mile (45.4/km²). There were 1,592 housing units at an average density of 46.6 per square mile (18.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.63% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.
There were 1,491 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,685, and the median income for a family was $56,875. Males had a median income of $40,995 versus $27,106 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,026. About 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
was from.
Merrimack County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 136,225 people, 51,843 households, and 35,460 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile . There were 56,244 housing units at an average density of 60 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. The population was 4,566 at the 2010 census.
History
Incorporated in 1727, Epsom takes its name from EpsomEpsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, England. Although dotted with several small mountains, the land was suitable for grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
and growing grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
. By 1859, when the town's population was 1,366, it had two gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s and two 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.
Epsom was home to Major Andrew McClary, highest ranking officer to fall in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. Fort McClary
Fort McClary
Fort McClary is a former defensive fortification of the United States military located along the southern coast of Maine at Kittery Point, the seaside district of Kittery. Used primarily throughout the 19th century, it was built to protect approaches to the nearby Piscataqua River...
in Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
is named in his honor.
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 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²), of which 34.2 sq mi (88.6 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.58% of the town. The highest point in Epsom is the summit of Fort Mountain, at 1413 feet (430.7 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...
, in the eastern part of town. Other neighboring small mountains in town include McCoy Mountain—1270 ft (387.1 m)—and Nats Mountain—1180 ft (359.7 m). The town is drained by the Suncook River
Suncook River
The Suncook River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Gulf of Maine....
. Epsom 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 4,021 people, 1,491 households, and 1,103 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 117.7 people per square mile (45.4/km²). There were 1,592 housing units at an average density of 46.6 per square mile (18.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.63% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.
There were 1,491 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,685, and the median income for a family was $56,875. Males had a median income of $40,995 versus $27,106 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 $22,026. About 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- John DolbeerJohn DolbeerJohn Dolbeer was a partner in the Dolbeer & Carson Lumber Co., one of the early major Humboldt County, California lumber operations in based in Eureka. While in that business, he invented the logging engine, more commonly known as the steam donkey or donkey engine...
, inventor and entrepreneur - Noah MartinNoah MartinNoah Martin , born in Epsom, New Hampshire to Samuel and Sally Martin. Noah graduated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1824, and began his medical practice in Somersworth. In 1825, Martin married Mary Jane Woodbury, the daughter of Dr...
, doctor and governor - John B. SanbornJohn B. SanbornJohn Benjamin Sanborn was a lawyer, politician, and soldier from the state of New Hampshire who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, lawyer, politician and brigadier general - Walter Henry SanbornWalter Henry SanbornWalter Henry Sanborn was a United States federal judge.Born in Epsom, New Hampshire, Sanborn received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1867 and an A.M. from Dartmouth College in 1870. He was a high school teacher and principal in Milford, New Hampshire from 1867 to 1870. He read law to enter the...
, judge
In popular culture
Epsom was the town where Leo Rockway (known initially as "Joe") in Stephen King's The StandThe Stand
The Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It demonstrates the scenario in his earlier short story, Night Surf...
was from.