Stark, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Stark is a town
in Coos County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 556 at the 2010 census. It has a famous covered bridge. The town includes the villages of Percy and Crystal as well as the village of Stark, located on the Upper Ammonoosuc River
. New Hampshire Route 110
runs through Stark, east from U.S. Highway 3 in Groveton
and northwest from Route 16
in Berlin
. Much of the town is within the boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest
.
Stark is part of the Berlin
, NH–VT
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
. The town was incorporated in 1795, and renamed Stark in 1832, after General John Stark
, author of New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die".
camp in the town were converted to form Camp Stark, which would hold about 250 German POWs. This was the only World War II
POW camp located in New Hampshire. Most of the men in the camp performed hard labor in the nearby forests, supplying wood for the paper mills in Berlin, New Hampshire
. Some of the men eventually came back to live in the United States
and Canada
after the war ended, and the camp was closed in 1946.
, the town has a total area of 59.6 square miles (154.4 km²), of which 58.7 square miles (152 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water, comprising 1.52% of the town. The town includes the eastern edge of the Pilot Range in the White Mountains
, including several peaks higher than 3000 feet (914.4 m) above sea level
. The highest point in Stark is 3730 feet (1,136.9 m) Mount Hutchins, on the border with Northumberland
.
of 2000, there were 516 people, 194 households, and 147 families residing in the town. The population density
was 8.7 people per square mile (3.4/km²). There were 384 housing units at an average density of 6.5 per square mile (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.48% White, 1.36% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.
There were 194 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,946, and the median income for a family was $40,089. Males had a median income of $35,833 versus $24,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,168. About 2.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.2% 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 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 556 at the 2010 census. It has a famous covered bridge. The town includes the villages of Percy and Crystal as well as the village of Stark, located on the Upper Ammonoosuc River
Upper Ammonoosuc River
The Upper Ammonoosuc River is a tributary of the Connecticut River that flows through Coös County in northern part of the northeastern U.S. state of New Hampshire...
. New Hampshire Route 110
New Hampshire Route 110
New Hampshire Route 110 is a long east–west state highway in Coos County, northern New Hampshire. The road winds through the scenic, mountainous country of New Hampshire north of the White Mountain National Forest. NH 110 is locally named the Berlin-Groveton Highway.The eastern terminus of NH 110...
runs through Stark, east from U.S. Highway 3 in Groveton
Groveton, New Hampshire
Groveton is a census-designated place in the town of Northumberland in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,118 at the 2010 census. It is located at the intersection of U.S...
and northwest from Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
in 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...
. Much of the town is within the boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest is a federally-managed forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. It was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911; federal acquisition of land had already begun in 1914. It has a total area of...
.
Stark 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
Granted in 1774, Stark was originally named Percy, after Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of NorthumberlandHugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC was an Engish peer, landowner and art patron.He was born Hugh Smithson, the son of Langdale Smithson and grandson of Sir Hugh Smithson, 3rd Baronet from whom he inherited the baronetcy in 1733...
. The town was incorporated in 1795, and renamed Stark in 1832, after General John Stark
John Stark
John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...
, author of New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die".
World War II POW camp
In early 1944, the remains of a former Civilian Conservation CorpsCivilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
camp in the town were converted to form Camp Stark, which would hold about 250 German POWs. This was the only World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
POW camp located in New Hampshire. Most of the men in the camp performed hard labor in the nearby forests, supplying wood for the paper mills in Berlin, New Hampshire
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...
. Some of the men eventually came back to live in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 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...
after the war ended, and the camp was closed in 1946.
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 59.6 square miles (154.4 km²), of which 58.7 square miles (152 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water, comprising 1.52% of the town. The town includes the eastern edge of the Pilot Range in the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
, including several peaks higher than 3000 feet (914.4 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 highest point in Stark is 3730 feet (1,136.9 m) Mount Hutchins, on the border with Northumberland
Northumberland, New Hampshire
Northumberland is a town located in southwestern Coos County, New Hampshire, U.S., north of Lancaster. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT micropolitan statistical area...
.
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 516 people, 194 households, and 147 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 8.7 people per square mile (3.4/km²). There were 384 housing units at an average density of 6.5 per square mile (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.48% White, 1.36% Asian, 0.19% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.
There were 194 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,946, and the median income for a family was $40,089. Males had a median income of $35,833 versus $24,750 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 $17,168. About 2.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Further reading
- Koop, Allen V. Stark Decency: German Prisoners of War in a New England Village. University Press of New England, 1988.