Keene, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Keene is a city in Cheshire County
, New Hampshire
, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Cheshire County.
Keene is home to Keene State College
and Antioch University New England
, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest
. In recent years, Keene has gained attention as being a popular location for members of the Free State Project
and has attracted many political libertarians to move to the town.
Governor Jonathan Belcher
to 63 settlers who paid five pounds each and whose properties were assigned by lot. Settled after 1736, it was intended to be a fort town protecting the Province of Massachusetts Bay
during the French and Indian Wars
. When New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts
in 1741 Upper Ashuelot became part of New Hampshire.
During King George's War
, the village was attacked and burned by Indians
. Colonists fled to safety, but would return to rebuild in the early 1750s. It was regranted to its inhabitants in 1753 by Governor Benning Wentworth
, who renamed it Keene after Sir Benjamin Keene
, English
minister to Spain
and a West Indies trader. Located at the center of Cheshire County, it became county seat in 1769. Land was set off for Sullivan
and Roxbury
, although Keene would annex 154 acre (0.62321644 km²) from Swanzey
(formerly Lower Ashuelot).
Timothy Dwight
, the Yale
president who chronicled his travels, called the town "...one of the prettiest in New England." Situated on an ancient lake bed surrounded by hills, the valley with fertile meadows
was excellent for farming. The Ashuelot River
provided water power for sawmill
s, gristmill
s and tanneries
. After the railroad arrived in 1848, numerous other industries were established. Keene became a manufacturing center for wooden-ware, pails, chairs, sash
, shutters
, doors, pottery
, glass, soap
, woolen
textile
s, shoes, saddle
s, mowing machines, carriage
s and sleighs. It also had a brick
yard and foundry
. Keene was incorporated as a city in 1874, and by 1880 had a population of 6,784.
New England manufacturing declined in the 20th century, however, particularly during the Great Depression
. Keene is today a center for insurance, education and tourism. The city nevertheless retains a considerable inventory of fine Victorian
architecture
from its flush mill town
era. An example is the Keene Public Library, which occupies a Second Empire mansion built about 1869 by manufacturer Henry Colony.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 37.6 square miles (97.4 km²). 37.3 sq mi (96.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) of it is water, comprising 0.67% of the town. Keene is drained by the Ashuelot River
. The highest point in Keene is the summit of Grays Hill in the city's northwest corner, at 1388 feet (423.1 m) above sea level
. Keene is entirely within the Connecticut River
watershed
, with all of the city except for the northwest corner draining to the Connecticut via the Ashuelot River
.
climate zone. It experiences all four seasons quite distinctly. The summers can get very hot. The average high temperature in July is 82, and the record high for Keene is 102. As with other cities in the eastern U.S., periods of high humidity can raise heat indices to near 110. During the summer, Keene can get hit by thunderstorms from the west, but the Green Mountains
to the west often break up some of the storms, so that Keene doesn't usually experience a thunderstorm at full strength. The last time a tornado hit Cheshire County was in 1997.
The winters in Keene can be very harsh. The most recent such winter was 2002-2003, when Keene received 112.5" of snow. The majority of the snowfall in Keene comes from nor'easter
s, areas of low pressure that move up the Atlantic
coast and strengthen. Many times these storms can produce blizzard conditions across southern New England. Recent examples are the blizzard of 2005 and the blizzard of 2006. Keene is situated in an area where cold air meets the moisture from the south, so oftentimes Keene gets the jackpot with winter storms. Aside from snow, winters can be very cold. Even in the warmest of winters, Keene usually has at least one night below zero. During January 2004, Keene saw highs below freezing 25 of the days including five days in the single digits and one day with a high of zero. Overnight lows dropped below zero 12 times, including 7 nights below -10. The record low in Keene is -31. In addition to the cold temperatures, Keene can receive biting winds that drive the wind chill
down below -30.
Snow can continue to occur right through the end of April, but on the other end, 80-degree days can begin in late March. Autumn weather is similar. Keene's first snowfall usually occurs in early November, though the city can also see 60-degree days into mid November. Significant rain events can occur in the spring and fall. For example, record rainfall and flooding with the axis of heaviest rain (around 12") near Keene occurred in October 2005. Another significant flood event occurred in May of the following year.
of 2000, there were 22,955 people, 9,013 households, and 5,118 families residing in the city. The population density
was 611.2 people per square mile (233.5/km²). There were 9,295 housing units at an average density of 249.2 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White, 0.39% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 9,013 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,033, and the median income for a family was $49,935. Males had a median income of $32,720 versus $25,488 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,544. About 5.2% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Print
to Keene.
The stations are:
FM
AM
Syndicated programming
as it is the site of Keene State College
, whose 5,400 students make up over 1/4 of the city's population, and Antioch University New England
.
At the secondary level, Keene serves as the educational nexus of the area, due in large part to its status as the primate city
of Cheshire County
. Keene High School
is the largest regional High School in Cheshire County, serving about 1,850 students.
Keene has one middle school, Keene Middle School, and five elementary schools: Jonathan Daniels Elementary School, Fuller Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Symonds Elementary School, Wheelock Elementary School.
Keene is part of New Hampshire's School Administrative Unit 29, or SAU 29.
at Central Square, colloquially known in town as the "White Church" or the "Church at the Head of the Square". A second church on the square was Grace United Methodist Church
, also known as the "Brick Church", but is now a new church, Crossway Church (having no affiliation with Grace United Methodist).
Keene has two Roman Catholic churches, St. Bernard's (which is the Parish seat for several churches in Cheshire County) and St. Margaret Mary's. Keene is within the see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
. Keene has one Episcopal
church, St. James, which is within the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
. Keene also has one Greek Orthodox church, St. George's under the see of the Metropolis of Boston.
The town's synagogue is the Congregation Ahavas Achim.
Every October, Keene hosts an annual Pumpkin Festival
. This event has set world records for the largest simultaneous number of jack-o'-lantern
s on display several times http://www.pumpkinfestival.com/history.asp, and the tally from the 2003 festival stood as the record until Boston took the lead in 2006. Guinness
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=52325. Besides the pumpkins stacked on massive towers set in the streets (see photo at right), thousands of additional pumpkins line the streets of the city. Face painting, fireworks
, music, and other entertainments are also provided. Over 80,000 people from around the world attend this event annually.
Keene Music Festival
In late August or early September the city hosts the Keene Music Festival. Several stages are located throughout the downtown area during the day's events, which are free to the public and sponsored by locally-owned businesses. Visitors, mostly from the local community, roam the city's sidewalks listening to the dozens of bands.
The Cheshiremen Chorus, a local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, meet every Tuesday at 7pm at the United Church of Christ on Central Square.
Every year, the Keene branch of the Lions Clubs International
performs a Broadway musical at the Colonial Theatre (a restored theatre dating back to 1924), to raise money for the community. Other theatres and auditoriums include the new Keene High School
Auditorium and the county's largest auditorium, the Larracey Auditorium at Keene Middle School. Keene Cinemas is the local movie theater located off of Key Road. The Putnam Arts Lecture Hall located on the campus of Keene State is also an excellent place to see films ranging from mainstream movies to brilliant obscure films.
baseball
team of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
(NECBL). The Swamp Bats play at Alumni Field
in Keene during June and July of each summer. The Swamp Bats are two-time league champions (2000
, 2003
) and are consistently near the top of the NECBL in attendance, having led the league in 2002
, 2004
, and 2005
.
in New Hampshire, Keene has become a center for libertarian
activists who refer to their movement as Free Keene. The stated goal of the movement is the creation of a voluntary society using such tactics as civil disobedience
to challenge victimless crime laws and promote agorism
. Some Free Keene activists have become infamous for engaging in illegal activity as part of civil disobedience, namely illicit courtroom behavior and the use of marijuana in public space. Since 2009, Keene's Central Square has become the center of "420" celebrations which advocate the public use of the drug. One highly-publicized case happened in 2010 when Andrew Carroll, an activist originally from Whittier, California
who moved to Keene with the Free State Project, spent time in jail for public marijuana usage. Carroll stated that he chose jail over paying a $420 fine since he did not want to pay any money to the state.
Free Keene has encountered opposition from other Keene residents. In February 2011 the movement was the subject of a report on WMUR-TV
which focused on the high number of Free Keene arrests due to civil disobedience and their effect on Keene's image and economy. Keene residents interviewed for the segment had mixed views on the movement with some agreeing with the initial goals and others expressing concern. The report ended by stating how these arrests cost Keene $100 per night of jail time spent by each activist and are leading to a much higher police presence in the town.
Cheshire County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 73,825 people, 28,299 households, and 18,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 31,876 housing units at an average density of 45 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 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cheshire County.
Keene is home to Keene State College
Keene State College
Keene State College is a liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is a member of the University System of New Hampshire and of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges....
and Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England is a private graduate school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the Antioch University system that includes campuses in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; and Yellow Springs, Ohio.- History :In 1964, Antioch College...
, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest
Pumpkin Fest
The Keene Pumpkin Festival is a yearly celebration held in Keene, New Hampshire, United States around Halloween...
. In recent years, Keene has gained attention as being a popular location for members of the Free State Project
Free State Project
The Free State Project is a political movement, founded in 2001, to recruit at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideas....
and has attracted many political libertarians to move to the town.
History
The community was granted as Upper Ashuelot in 1735 by ColonialColony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
Governor Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher was colonial governor of the British provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.-Early life:Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1682...
to 63 settlers who paid five pounds each and whose properties were assigned by lot. Settled after 1736, it was intended to be a fort town protecting the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
during the French and Indian Wars
French and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
. When New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1741 Upper Ashuelot became part of New Hampshire.
During King George's War
King George's War
King George's War is the name given to the operations in North America that formed part of the War of the Austrian Succession . It was the third of the four French and Indian Wars. It took place primarily in the British provinces of New York, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Nova Scotia...
, the village was attacked and burned by Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Colonists fled to safety, but would return to rebuild in the early 1750s. It was regranted to its inhabitants in 1753 by Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning 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...
, who renamed it Keene after Sir Benjamin Keene
Benjamin Keene
200-px|thumb|right|Benjamin KeeneSir Benjamin Keene was a British diplomat known for his service as British Ambassador to Spain. He strove to maintain good relations between the two countries, although he was unable to prevent the War of Jenkins' Ear breaking out in 1739 he later successfully kept...
, English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
minister to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and a West Indies trader. Located at the center of Cheshire County, it became county seat in 1769. Land was set off for Sullivan
Sullivan, New Hampshire
Sullivan is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 677 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of East Sullivan and Ellisville.-History:...
and Roxbury
Roxbury, New Hampshire
Roxbury is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 229 at the 2010 census.- History :The smallest town in Cheshire County, Roxbury was incorporated in 1812 from portions of Nelson, Marlborough, and Keene...
, although Keene would annex 154 acre (0.62321644 km²) from Swanzey
Swanzey, New Hampshire
Swanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,230 at the 2010 census. In addition to the town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.-History:...
(formerly Lower Ashuelot).
Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author...
, the Yale
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
president who chronicled his travels, called the town "...one of the prettiest in New England." Situated on an ancient lake bed surrounded by hills, the valley with fertile meadows
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
was excellent for farming. The Ashuelot River
Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
provided water power for 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, 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 tanneries
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
. After the railroad arrived in 1848, numerous other industries were established. Keene became a manufacturing center for wooden-ware, pails, chairs, sash
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
, shutters
Window shutter
A window shutter is a solid and stable window covering usually consisting of a frame of vertical stiles and horizontal rails...
, doors, pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, glass, soap
Soap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
, 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...
textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s, shoes, saddle
Saddle
A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures...
s, mowing machines, carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
s and sleighs. It also had a brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
yard and foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
. Keene was incorporated as a city in 1874, and by 1880 had a population of 6,784.
New England manufacturing declined in the 20th century, however, particularly during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Keene is today a center for insurance, education and tourism. The city nevertheless retains a considerable inventory of fine Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
from its flush 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:...
era. An example is the Keene Public Library, which occupies a Second Empire mansion built about 1869 by manufacturer Henry Colony.
Notable inhabitants
- Edwin Eugene BagleyEdwin Eugene BagleyEdwin Eugene Bagley was born in Craftsbury, Vermont on May 29, 1857 and died in Keene, New Hampshire on January 29, 1922. He is famous for composing the National Emblem....
(1857–1922), American composer - John BosaJohn BosaJohn Bosa is a former professional American football defensive lineman who played three seasons for the Miami Dolphins. He played for Keene High School in Keene, New Hampshire and received a full athletic scholarship to play football for the Boston College Eagles....
(1964- ), NFL footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Jimmy CochranJimmy CochranJimmy Cochran is an American alpine ski racer who has competed since 1998. His best World Cup finish was seventh at a giant slalom event in France in 2005....
(b. 1981), Olympic alpine skierAlpine skiingAlpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four... - Jonathan Daniels (1939–1965), murdered Civil Rights Movement activist
- Clarence DeMarClarence DeMarClarence Harrison DeMar was a U.S. marathoner, winner of seven Boston Marathons, and Bronze medalist at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was known by the nickname "Mr. DeMarathon."...
(1888-1958), seven-time Boston Marathon champion - Michael DubruielMichael DubruielMichael Dubruiel was a Roman Catholic author and speaker. Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Dubruiel served for four years in the U.S. Army before studying for a BA in philosophy from the now-closed St. Meinrad College and an MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University...
(1958–2009), Roman Catholic author - Salma HaleSalma HaleSalma Hale was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Alstead, New Hampshire. He became a printer and in 1805 edited the Walpole Political Observatory. He studied law and was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas of Cheshire County...
(1787–1866), a United States Representative from New Hampshire - Ernest HebertErnest HebertErnest Hebert is an American author. He is best known for the Darby series, five novels written between 1979 and 1990, about modern life in a fictional New Hampshire town as it transitions from relative rural poverty to being more upscale, almost suburban....
(b. 1941), author - JoJo (b. 1990), singer
- David G. PerkinsDavid G. PerkinsDavid G. Perkins is a United States Army general who was commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado from 2009 to 2011 and was named in July 2011 to be Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas .Perkins was born in...
(b. 1958), United States Army lieutenant general - Terry PindellTerry PindellTerry Pindell is an American travel writer known primarily for three North American 'rail odysseys', through the USA, Canada and Mexico, each of which became the subject of a travel book. He has also written a book on migration within the United States...
, travel writer - Cynthia Dunbar Thoreau (1787–1872), mother of Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist...
- Jon UdellJon udellJon Udell is an "Evangelist" at Microsoft. Previously he was lead analyst for the Infoworld Test Center.Udell is author of Practical Internet Groupware, published in 1999 by O'Reilly Media, and is an advisor to O'Reilly's Safari Tech Books Online. He wrote the column "Tangled in the Threads" for...
, technology writer - Heather WilsonHeather WilsonHeather A. Wilson , is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing from 1998 to 2009...
(b. 1960), U.S. Representative from New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S... - Isaac WymanIsaac WymanIsaac Wyman was born January 18, 1724 in Woburn, Massachusetts to Joshua Wyman and his wife Mary Pollard. In 1747 he married Sarah Wells of Franklin, Massachusetts...
(1724–1792), soldier and politician
Geography
Keene is located at 42°56′01"N 72°16′41"W (42.9339, -72.2784).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city has a total area of 37.6 square miles (97.4 km²). 37.3 sq mi (96.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) of it is water, comprising 0.67% of the town. Keene is drained by the Ashuelot River
Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
. The highest point in Keene is the summit of Grays Hill in the city's northwest corner, at 1388 feet (423.1 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...
. Keene is entirely within 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
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...
, with all of the city except for the northwest corner draining to the Connecticut via the Ashuelot River
Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
.
Climate
Keene is located in a temperateTemperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
climate zone. It experiences all four seasons quite distinctly. The summers can get very hot. The average high temperature in July is 82, and the record high for Keene is 102. As with other cities in the eastern U.S., periods of high humidity can raise heat indices to near 110. During the summer, Keene can get hit by thunderstorms from the west, but the Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
to the west often break up some of the storms, so that Keene doesn't usually experience a thunderstorm at full strength. The last time a tornado hit Cheshire County was in 1997.
The winters in Keene can be very harsh. The most recent such winter was 2002-2003, when Keene received 112.5" of snow. The majority of the snowfall in Keene comes from nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
s, areas of low pressure that move up the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast and strengthen. Many times these storms can produce blizzard conditions across southern New England. Recent examples are the blizzard of 2005 and the blizzard of 2006. Keene is situated in an area where cold air meets the moisture from the south, so oftentimes Keene gets the jackpot with winter storms. Aside from snow, winters can be very cold. Even in the warmest of winters, Keene usually has at least one night below zero. During January 2004, Keene saw highs below freezing 25 of the days including five days in the single digits and one day with a high of zero. Overnight lows dropped below zero 12 times, including 7 nights below -10. The record low in Keene is -31. In addition to the cold temperatures, Keene can receive biting winds that drive the wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
down below -30.
Snow can continue to occur right through the end of April, but on the other end, 80-degree days can begin in late March. Autumn weather is similar. Keene's first snowfall usually occurs in early November, though the city can also see 60-degree days into mid November. Significant rain events can occur in the spring and fall. For example, record rainfall and flooding with the axis of heaviest rain (around 12") near Keene occurred in October 2005. Another significant flood event occurred in May of the following year.
Climate chart
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 22,955 people, 9,013 households, and 5,118 families residing in the city. 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 611.2 people per square mile (233.5/km²). There were 9,295 housing units at an average density of 249.2 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.66% White, 0.39% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 9,013 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,033, and the median income for a family was $49,935. Males had a median income of $32,720 versus $25,488 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 city was $20,544. About 5.2% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
- The Keene Sentinel
- The Monadnock Shopper News
- The Equinox, Keene State College's student newspaper
- Parent Express
Radio
The city has several radio stations licensed by the FCCFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to Keene.
The stations are:
FM
- WEVNWEVNWEVN is a radio station licensed to Keene, New Hampshire. The station is owned by New Hampshire Public Radio, and is an affiliate of their public radio network .-External links:*...
90.7, operated by New Hampshire Public RadioNew Hampshire Public RadioNew Hampshire Public Radio is a public radio network serving the state of New Hampshire. NHPR is based in Concord and operates seven transmitters and six translators covering nearly the whole state. All signals carry the same programming, which comprises news and talk shows on weekdays and a mix... - WKNHWKNHWKNH is a student-run radio station licensed to serve Keene, New Hampshire. The station is owned by Keene State College...
91.3, operated by Keene State CollegeKeene State CollegeKeene State College is a liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is a member of the University System of New Hampshire and of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.... - WKHP-LP 94.9, a low power FM operated by the Keene FourSquare church
- WSNIWSNIWSNI is a radio station licensed to serve Keene, New Hampshire. The station is owned by Monadnock Radio Group, a division of Saga Communications, and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC...
97.7 (Adult Contemporary, Sunny 97). WSNI changed its city of license from SwanzeySwanzey, New HampshireSwanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,230 at the 2010 census. In addition to the town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.-History:...
to Keene in September 2009. - W256BJ 99.1, (Classic Hits, "Classic Hits 99.1", //WKNE-HD2)
- W276CB 103.1, (Oldies, "Oldies 103.1", //WKNE-HD3)
- WKNEWKNE-External links:**...
103.7 (Hot Adult Contemporary, 1037 KNE FM)
AM
- WZBK 1220 (News/Talk), simulcast of the programming of sister station WKVTWKVT (AM)WKVT is a radio station licensed to serve Brattleboro, Vermont. The station is owned by Saga Communications and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC. It airs a News/Talk format....
from Brattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census... - WKBKWKBKWKBK is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Keene, New Hampshire, USA, the station is currently owned by Monadnock Radio Group and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC and features programming from Westwood One, CBS Radio and Premiere Radio...
1290 (News/Talk), formerly WKNE. Simulcasted on W281AU, 104.1 FM.
Syndicated programming
- Free Talk LiveFree Talk LiveFree Talk Live is an American call-in radio talk show heard seven nights a week. The program is hosted by Ian Freeman and Mark Edge on Tuesday through Saturday, Mark Edge and Stephanie Murphy on Sunday, and Ian Freeman and Dale Everett on Monday. It is a chiefly libertarian political talk show and...
, nationally syndicated radio talk show based in Keene
Television
- Cheshire TV, local cable programming
- WEKW-TV (Digital 48/Virtual 52), New Hampshire Public TelevisionNew Hampshire Public TelevisionNew Hampshire Public Television is a television company and public broadcasting state network in New Hampshire, licensed to the University System of New Hampshire and is part of the Public Broadcasting Service...
affiliate (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
)
Education
Keene is often considered a minor college townCollege town
A college town or university town is a community which is dominated by its university population...
as it is the site of Keene State College
Keene State College
Keene State College is a liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is a member of the University System of New Hampshire and of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges....
, whose 5,400 students make up over 1/4 of the city's population, and Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England is a private graduate school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the Antioch University system that includes campuses in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; and Yellow Springs, Ohio.- History :In 1964, Antioch College...
.
At the secondary level, Keene serves as the educational nexus of the area, due in large part to its status as the primate city
Primate city
A primate city is the leading city in its country or region, disproportionately larger than any others in the urban hierarchy. A 'primate city distribution' has one very large city with many much smaller cities and towns, and no intermediate-sized urban centres, in contrast to the linear 'rank-size...
of Cheshire County
Cheshire County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 73,825 people, 28,299 households, and 18,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 31,876 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile...
. Keene High School
Keene High School
Keene High School is a public high school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It serves the city of Keene and the surrounding towns of Chesterfield, Harrisville, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Westmoreland and Winchester....
is the largest regional High School in Cheshire County, serving about 1,850 students.
Keene has one middle school, Keene Middle School, and five elementary schools: Jonathan Daniels Elementary School, Fuller Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Symonds Elementary School, Wheelock Elementary School.
Keene is part of New Hampshire's School Administrative Unit 29, or SAU 29.
Religion
Keene has over 20 churches and one synagogue. A significant landmark in downtown Keene is the United Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
at Central Square, colloquially known in town as the "White Church" or the "Church at the Head of the Square". A second church on the square was Grace United Methodist Church
Grace United Methodist Church (Keene, New Hampshire)
Grace United Methodist Church is a historic Methodist Church building at 34 Court Street in Keene, New Hampshire.It was designed by architect Shepard S. Woodcock and built in 1869. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985....
, also known as the "Brick Church", but is now a new church, Crossway Church (having no affiliation with Grace United Methodist).
Keene has two Roman Catholic churches, St. Bernard's (which is the Parish seat for several churches in Cheshire County) and St. Margaret Mary's. Keene is within the see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the region of New England in the United States comprising the entire state of New Hampshire...
. Keene has one Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
church, St. James, which is within the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America , covers the entire state of New Hampshire. It was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1841. The see city is Concord...
. Keene also has one Greek Orthodox church, St. George's under the see of the Metropolis of Boston.
The town's synagogue is the Congregation Ahavas Achim.
Festivals
Pumpkin FestivalEvery October, Keene hosts an annual Pumpkin Festival
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
. This event has set world records for the largest simultaneous number of jack-o'-lantern
Jack-o'-lantern
A jack-o'-lantern is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday of Halloween and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern...
s on display several times http://www.pumpkinfestival.com/history.asp, and the tally from the 2003 festival stood as the record until Boston took the lead in 2006. Guinness
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=52325. Besides the pumpkins stacked on massive towers set in the streets (see photo at right), thousands of additional pumpkins line the streets of the city. Face painting, fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
, music, and other entertainments are also provided. Over 80,000 people from around the world attend this event annually.
Keene Music Festival
In late August or early September the city hosts the Keene Music Festival. Several stages are located throughout the downtown area during the day's events, which are free to the public and sponsored by locally-owned businesses. Visitors, mostly from the local community, roam the city's sidewalks listening to the dozens of bands.
Keene in popular culture
- The 1949 movie Lost BoundariesLost BoundariesLost Boundaries is a film released in 1949. The film was directed by Alfred L. Werker and starred , Mel Ferrer, and Susan Douglas Rubes. The film is based on the book by William Lindsay White, relating the true story of , a graduate of Rush Medical College whose family passed for white while living...
, starring Mel FerrerMel FerrerMel Ferrer was an American actor, film director and film producer.-Early life:Ferrer was born Melchor Gastón Ferrer in Elberon, New Jersey, of Catalan and Irish descent. His father, Dr. José María Ferrer , was born in Cuba, was an authority on pneumonia and served as chief of staff of St....
, tells the true story of a blackAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Keene physician who passed as white for many years. The film won the 1949 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
award for best screenplay.
- Much of the 1995 movie JumanjiJumanji (film)Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy-comedy film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move. It was directed by Joe Johnston and is based on Chris Van Allsburg's popular 1981 picture book of the same name...
, starring Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, was filmed in Keene (in November 1994) - the movie's fictional town of Brantford. Frank's Barber Shop is a featured setting; as well as The Parish Shoe sign, which was temporarily painted for the film, was removed and then repainted as a reminder of the film.
- Because Keene State offers a B.A.Bachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Film StudiesFilm theoryFilm theory is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of the cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding film's relationship to reality, the other arts, individual viewers, and society at large...
, Keene is also the location of many student films. A student film festival is usually hosted in the Mabel Brown Room in the Student Center at the end of each school year.
Music and theatre
Many community groups perform on a regular basis, including the Keene Chamber Orchestra, the Keene Chamber Singers, the Keene Pops Choir, and the Keene Jazz Orchestra.The Cheshiremen Chorus, a local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, meet every Tuesday at 7pm at the United Church of Christ on Central Square.
Every year, the Keene branch of the Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
performs a Broadway musical at the Colonial Theatre (a restored theatre dating back to 1924), to raise money for the community. Other theatres and auditoriums include the new Keene High School
Keene High School
Keene High School is a public high school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It serves the city of Keene and the surrounding towns of Chesterfield, Harrisville, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Westmoreland and Winchester....
Auditorium and the county's largest auditorium, the Larracey Auditorium at Keene Middle School. Keene Cinemas is the local movie theater located off of Key Road. The Putnam Arts Lecture Hall located on the campus of Keene State is also an excellent place to see films ranging from mainstream movies to brilliant obscure films.
Sports
Keene is home to the Keene Swamp BatsKeene Swamp Bats
The Keene Swamp Bats are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Keene, New Hampshire. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League , plays their home games at Alumni Field. In the NECBL, they are consistently one of the top teams and have reached the league playoffs in each...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August...
(NECBL). The Swamp Bats play at Alumni Field
Alumni Field (Keene)
Alumni Field is a baseball field located in Keene, New Hampshire, USA. The field, located on Arch Street, was constructed in 1948 and has served as the home of the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League since the 1997 NECBL season. The field is part of the athletic...
in Keene during June and July of each summer. The Swamp Bats are two-time league champions (2000
2000 NECBL season
The 2000 NECBL season was the seventh season of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league added a franchise in Manchester, Connecticut, the Manchester Silkworms, along with a franchise in Lowell, Massachusetts, the Mill City All-Americans...
, 2003
2003 NECBL season
The 2003 NECBL season marked the tenth season of the existence of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league expanded to thirteen teams with the addition of the Vermont Mountaineers of Montpelier, Vermont. The franchise was the league's first in the New England state of Vermont...
) and are consistently near the top of the NECBL in attendance, having led the league in 2002
2002 NECBL season
The 2002 NECBL season was the ninth season in the history of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league expanded to twelve franchises with the addition of the North Adams SteepleCats of North Adams, Massachusetts and the Sanford Mainers of Sanford, Maine, the league's first franchise...
, 2004
2004 NECBL season
The 2004 NECBL season was the 11th season in the history of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league's Middletown, Connecticut franchise, the Middletown Giants, moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts and became the Holyoke Giants...
, and 2005
2005 NECBL season
The 2005 NECBL season was the twelfth season of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league reduced its membership from thirteen teams to twelve teams with the league's West Warwick, Rhode Island franchise, the Riverpoint Royals, dropping out of the league...
.
Free Keene
With the establishment of the Free State ProjectFree State Project
The Free State Project is a political movement, founded in 2001, to recruit at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideas....
in New Hampshire, Keene has become a center for libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
activists who refer to their movement as Free Keene. The stated goal of the movement is the creation of a voluntary society using such tactics as civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
to challenge victimless crime laws and promote agorism
Agorism
Agorism is a political philosophy founded by Samuel Edward Konkin III and developed with contributions by J. Neil Schulman that holds as its ultimate goal bringing about a society in which all "relations between people are voluntary exchanges – a free market." The term comes from the Greek...
. Some Free Keene activists have become infamous for engaging in illegal activity as part of civil disobedience, namely illicit courtroom behavior and the use of marijuana in public space. Since 2009, Keene's Central Square has become the center of "420" celebrations which advocate the public use of the drug. One highly-publicized case happened in 2010 when Andrew Carroll, an activist originally from Whittier, California
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
who moved to Keene with the Free State Project, spent time in jail for public marijuana usage. Carroll stated that he chose jail over paying a $420 fine since he did not want to pay any money to the state.
Free Keene has encountered opposition from other Keene residents. In February 2011 the movement was the subject of a report on WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV
WMUR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the state of New Hampshire that is licensed to Manchester. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on the south peak of Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. Owned by Hearst Television, the station has studios...
which focused on the high number of Free Keene arrests due to civil disobedience and their effect on Keene's image and economy. Keene residents interviewed for the segment had mixed views on the movement with some agreeing with the initial goals and others expressing concern. The report ended by stating how these arrests cost Keene $100 per night of jail time spent by each activist and are leading to a much higher police presence in the town.
Sites of interest
External links
- City of Keene official website
- Guide & Calendar for Downtown Keene, NH
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Historical Society of Cheshire County
- "Upper Ashuelot: a history of Keene NH" (entire book in pdf format)
- "A History of the Town of Keene from 1732...to 1874" by S.Griffin (entire book in pdf format)