Pittsburg, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Pittsburg is a town
in Coos County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 869 at the 2010 census. It is the northernmost town in New Hampshire and the largest town by area in the state - and in New England as well - more than twice the size of the next largest town, Lincoln
. U.S. Route 3
is the only major highway in the town, although the northern terminus of New Hampshire Route 145
also lies within Pittsburg.
Pittsburg is part of the Berlin
, NH–VT
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom
. Prior to its incorporation in 1840, the area was settled ca
1810 and known as the Territory of Indian Stream. It had the unique distinction of having been its own microstate
briefly during the 1830s, called the Republic of Indian Stream
.
province, Canada
to its west and north, and borders the states of Maine
(to the east) and Vermont
(a very small portion to the southwest). Directly to the south is Clarksville
. Pittsburg is the only New Hampshire municipality to border Canada, the only one that borders both Maine and Vermont, and the only one to share a land border with Vermont, as the Connecticut River
defines the state line from Clarksville southward. New Hampshire's only Canadian border crossing is located at the northern end of town at the terminus of U.S. Route 3
. The western edge of Pittsburg is defined by Halls Stream
, being the "northwesternmost headwaters of the Connecticut River
", which defined (ambiguously) the border in the Treaty of Paris
of 1783.
Contained within the boundaries of Pittsburg are the Connecticut Lakes
, which form the beginning of the Connecticut River. Pittsburg also contains the communities of Happy Corner, Idlewilde, and The Glen. Early maps (e.g. 1854) also show several grants that were incorporated into the eastern edge of Pittsburg, including Carlisle No. 1, Webster/Carlisle No. 2 and Hubbards No. 3, all north of Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 291.2 square miles (754.2 km²), the largest of any township in New England. 281.4 square miles (728.8 km²) of it is land and 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is water, comprising 3.37% of the town.
The highest point in Pittsburg is the summit of Stub Hill, at 3627 feet (1,105.5 m) above sea level
. Magalloway Mountain, 3383 feet (1,031.1 m) above sea level, is a prominent summit reachable by hiking trail.
of 2000, there were 867 people, 386 households, and 264 families residing in the town. The population density
was 3.1 people per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 1,281 housing units at an average density of 4.5 per square mile (1.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 386 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,516, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,455 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,703. About 5.0% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
and ATV
enthusiasts year round. In the winter months thousands of people flock to Pittsburg to take advantage of the state-funded and club-supported and maintained trails that can bring snowmobilers from anywhere in the state of New Hampshire to Pittsburg, with access to the states of Maine
, Vermont and the border crossing to Canada
. Some of the same trails are used in the summer for ATVs. Check the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club and the Great North Woods Riders ATV Club web sites for further information. Also, for weather information specific to the First Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg check John's NH Weather for current conditions, forecast and much more.
Another focus in the area for tourists is fishing
and hunting
. Pittsburg is home to the four Connecticut Lakes
, Back Lake, part of Lake Francis
, and numerous smaller water bodies. The lakes are annually stocked with fish and allow for weekends of good fishing. There are maps on the local snowmobile club's website that can be helpful in planning a trip to the area. It shows all trails in Pittsburg as well as roads and access points to the lakes and rivers.
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 Coos County
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
, 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 869 at the 2010 census. It is the northernmost town in New Hampshire and the largest town by area in the state - and in New England as well - more than twice the size of the next largest town, Lincoln
Lincoln, New Hampshire
Lincoln is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. It is the second-largest town by area in New Hampshire. The population was 1,662 at the 2010 census. The town is home to the New Hampshire Highland Games and to a portion of Franconia Notch State Park. Set in the White Mountains,...
. U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3 is a north–south United States highway that runs from its southern terminus in Cambridge, Massachusetts through New Hampshire to its terminus near Third Connecticut Lake at the Canadian border, where the road continues north as Quebec Route 257.In New Hampshire parts of US 3 are...
is the only major highway in the town, although the northern terminus of New Hampshire Route 145
New Hampshire Route 145
New Hampshire Route 145 is a long north–south state highway in Coos County in northern New Hampshire. The highway runs between Colebrook and Pittsburg, paralleling U.S. Route 3 for its entire length....
also lies within Pittsburg.
Pittsburg is part of the Berlin
Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, NH–VT
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Berlin micropolitan area
The Berlin Micropolitan Statistical Area is the core based statistical area centered on the urban cluster associated with the city Berlin, New Hampshire in the United States...
.
History
Pittsburg derives its name from William PittWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Prior to its incorporation in 1840, the area was settled ca
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1810 and known as the Territory of Indian Stream. It had the unique distinction of having been its own microstate
Microstate
A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area, but usually both. Some examples include Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Singapore, and Vatican City....
briefly during the 1830s, called the Republic of Indian Stream
Republic of Indian Stream
The Republic of Indian Stream was a small, unrecognized, constitutional republic in North America, along the section of the US–Canada border that divides the Canadian province of Quebec from the US state of New Hampshire. It existed from July 9, 1832 to 1835...
.
Geography
Pittsburg is the northernmost New Hampshire municipality. It shares an international border with QuébecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
province, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to its west and north, and borders the states of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
(to the east) and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
(a very small portion to the southwest). Directly to the south is Clarksville
Clarksville, New Hampshire
Clarksville is a town located in northern Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 265 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. Pittsburg is the only New Hampshire municipality to border Canada, the only one that borders both Maine and Vermont, and the only one to share a land border with Vermont, as 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...
defines the state line from Clarksville southward. New Hampshire's only Canadian border crossing is located at the northern end of town at the terminus of U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3 is a north–south United States highway that runs from its southern terminus in Cambridge, Massachusetts through New Hampshire to its terminus near Third Connecticut Lake at the Canadian border, where the road continues north as Quebec Route 257.In New Hampshire parts of US 3 are...
. The western edge of Pittsburg is defined by Halls Stream
Halls Stream
Halls Stream is a 25.2 mile long tributary of the Connecticut River. For most of its length, it forms the boundary between Canada and the United States, with the province of Quebec to its west and the state of New Hampshire to its east....
, being the "northwesternmost headwaters of 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...
", which defined (ambiguously) the border in the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
of 1783.
Contained within the boundaries of Pittsburg are the Connecticut Lakes
Connecticut Lakes
The Connecticut Lakes are a group of lakes in northern New Hampshire, situated along the headwaters of the Connecticut River. They are accessed via the northernmost segment of U.S. Route 3 . The lakes are located within the boundaries of Pittsburg, but are far from the town center...
, which form the beginning of the Connecticut River. Pittsburg also contains the communities of Happy Corner, Idlewilde, and The Glen. Early maps (e.g. 1854) also show several grants that were incorporated into the eastern edge of Pittsburg, including Carlisle No. 1, Webster/Carlisle No. 2 and Hubbards No. 3, all north of Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant
Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant, New Hampshire
Atkinson and Gilmanton Academy Grant is a township in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. It was granted by the state legislature to Gilmanton Academy and Atkinson Academy in equal shares in 1809 and contained about . It was later expanded by annexation of previously ungranted land to the...
.
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 town has a total area of 291.2 square miles (754.2 km²), the largest of any township in New England. 281.4 square miles (728.8 km²) of it is land and 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is water, comprising 3.37% of the town.
The highest point in Pittsburg is the summit of Stub Hill, at 3627 feet (1,105.5 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...
. Magalloway Mountain, 3383 feet (1,031.1 m) above sea level, is a prominent summit reachable by hiking trail.
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 867 people, 386 households, and 264 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 3.1 people per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 1,281 housing units at an average density of 4.5 per square mile (1.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.23% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 386 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% 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, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,516, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,455 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 $17,703. About 5.0% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
Pittsburg is a mecca for snowmobileSnowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
and ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
enthusiasts year round. In the winter months thousands of people flock to Pittsburg to take advantage of the state-funded and club-supported and maintained trails that can bring snowmobilers from anywhere in the state of New Hampshire to Pittsburg, with access to the states of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Vermont and the border crossing to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Some of the same trails are used in the summer for ATVs. Check the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club and the Great North Woods Riders ATV Club web sites for further information. Also, for weather information specific to the First Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg check John's NH Weather for current conditions, forecast and much more.
Another focus in the area for tourists is fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. Pittsburg is home to the four Connecticut Lakes
Connecticut Lakes
The Connecticut Lakes are a group of lakes in northern New Hampshire, situated along the headwaters of the Connecticut River. They are accessed via the northernmost segment of U.S. Route 3 . The lakes are located within the boundaries of Pittsburg, but are far from the town center...
, Back Lake, part of Lake Francis
Lake Francis (Murphy Dam)
Lake Francis is a reservoir on the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire. The lake is located in Coos County, east of the village of Pittsburg and along the boundary between the towns of Pittsburg and Clarksville. The lake, impounded by Murphy Dam, covers nearly .The lake was mentioned as...
, and numerous smaller water bodies. The lakes are annually stocked with fish and allow for weekends of good fishing. There are maps on the local snowmobile club's website that can be helpful in planning a trip to the area. It shows all trails in Pittsburg as well as roads and access points to the lakes and rivers.