Middleton, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Middleton is a town
in Strafford County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 1,783 at the 2010 census.
, who was in charge of convoy
service between Barbados
and the colonies. The land was first settled shortly before the Revolutionary War
by settlers from Lee
and Rochester
. Although the soil is rocky and unsuited for cultivation
, cider
was made in considerable quantities, and maple syrup
to some extent.
Middleton was situated on the road between Exeter
and Wolfeboro
, the location of Colonial Governor John Wentworth's
summer home, Kingswood. Neglect of the road caused the governor to bill the proprietors for repairs he had to make for safe travel to Kingswood, built in 1771. Middleton was incorporated on March 4, 1778, and originally included Brookfield
, which was split off in December of 1794.
Middleton's old Town Hall, located on King's Highway, was built in 1795 as a meetinghouse on Ridge Road. It was moved to its current location in 1812, jacked-up on the new site, and the Town Hall added underneath. The original stucco
painting, a wrap-around landscape mural
of trees and scenery, was painted by John Avery in 1811 and touched-up in 1841.
, the town has a total area of 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²), of which 18.1 sq mi (46.9 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) (2.27%) is water. That water is primarily contained by Sunrise Lake
, previously known as the Old Dump Reservoir. The Moose Mountains, which separate Middleton from Brookfield, have a series of 1,600-1,700 foot peaks, including the highest point in Middleton at an elevation of 1670 feet (509 m) above sea level
.
The town is served by New Hampshire Route 153
.
of 2000, there were 1,440 people, 514 households, and 389 families residing in the town. The population density
was 79.6 people per square mile (30.7/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 39.0 per square mile (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.54% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.56% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 514 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,942, and the median income for a family was $48,529. Males had a median income of $32,014 versus $26,336 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,415. About 4.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Strafford County
Strafford County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 112,233 people, 42,581 households, and 27,762 families residing in the county. The population density was 304 people per square mile . There were 45,539 housing units at an average density of 124 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,783 at the 2010 census.
History
Granted by the Masonian Proprietors in 1749, the town was named after Sir Charles Middleton, 1st Baron BarhamCharles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham
Admiral Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham PC was a British naval officer and politician.He was born at Leith, Midlothian to Robert Middleton, a customs collector of Bo'ness, Linlithgowshire, and Helen, daughter of Charles Dundas.-Naval career:Middleton entered the Royal Navy in 1741 as captain's...
, who was in charge of convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
service between Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and the colonies. The land was first settled shortly before the Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
by settlers from Lee
Lee, New Hampshire
Lee is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,330 at the 2010 census. The town is a rural farm and bedroom community, being close to the University of New Hampshire.-History:...
and Rochester
Rochester, New Hampshire
Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29,752. The city includes the villages of East Rochester and Gonic. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and the annual Rochester Fair....
. Although the soil is rocky and unsuited for cultivation
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
, cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
was made in considerable quantities, and maple syrup
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
to some extent.
Middleton was situated on the road between Exeter
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
and Wolfeboro
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Wolfeboro is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,269 at the 2010 census. A venerable resort area situated beside Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro includes the village of Wolfeboro Falls...
, the location of Colonial Governor John Wentworth's
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:...
summer home, Kingswood. Neglect of the road caused the governor to bill the proprietors for repairs he had to make for safe travel to Kingswood, built in 1771. Middleton was incorporated on March 4, 1778, and originally included Brookfield
Brookfield, New Hampshire
Brookfield is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 712 at the 2010 census.-History:Settled in 1726 by Scottish-Irish immigrants, the town was first named Coleraine. Fertile ground made it popular with farmers. It was later renamed Brookfield, after...
, which was split off in December of 1794.
Middleton's old Town Hall, located on King's Highway, was built in 1795 as a meetinghouse on Ridge Road. It was moved to its current location in 1812, jacked-up on the new site, and the Town Hall added underneath. The original stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
painting, a wrap-around landscape mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
of trees and scenery, was painted by John Avery in 1811 and touched-up in 1841.
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 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²), of which 18.1 sq mi (46.9 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) (2.27%) is water. That water is primarily contained by Sunrise Lake
Sunrise Lake
Sunrise Lake is a water body located in Strafford County in eastern New Hampshire, in the town of Middleton. The lake was originally known as Dump Reservoir. Water from Sunrise Lake flows to the Cocheco River, part of the Piscataqua River watershed....
, previously known as the Old Dump Reservoir. The Moose Mountains, which separate Middleton from Brookfield, have a series of 1,600-1,700 foot peaks, including the highest point in Middleton at an elevation of 1670 feet (509 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...
.
The town is served by New Hampshire Route 153
New Hampshire Route 153
New Hampshire Route 153 is a long secondary north–south highway in Strafford and Carroll counties in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The road runs from Farmington north to Conway....
.
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 1,440 people, 514 households, and 389 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 79.6 people per square mile (30.7/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 39.0 per square mile (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.54% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.56% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 514 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,942, and the median income for a family was $48,529. Males had a median income of $32,014 versus $26,336 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 $18,415. About 4.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.