Strafford, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Strafford is a town
in Strafford County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 census. The two main settlements in town are the villages of Center Strafford
and Bow Lake Village
.
, Strafford was set off due to the lengthy travel required to attend town meetings. Settled prior to the Revolution
, the town incorporated in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Strafford County had been organized in 1773 during the administration of Colonial
Governor John Wentworth
, and named in honor of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford
.
The Bow Lake Grange Hall, originally built in 1829 as a steam-operated mill, is now maintained by the Bow Lake Community Club and home to The Lakeside Players, a theatre group.
The Austin Academy once stood in the center of Strafford village. George Cate, a wealthy shoe manufacturer, visited the school at the request of its principal Alvin E. Thomas and was so impressed with the school that he left at his death $200,000 on the condition that his name be added to that of Mr. Austin. After his death the hundred-acre farm of George Washington Foss was purchased and soon a beautiful new building, designed by well-known Boston architect, Richardson, sat on the hill with the name on its facade, "Austin-Cate Academy - 1903". After the property was purchased by the state for a National Guard training center, all of the original wooden buildings were torn down and replaced by new brick buildings.
, the town has a total area of 51.4 square miles (133.1 km²), of which 49.2 sq mi (127.4 km²) is land and 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²) is water, comprising 4.38% of the town. Bow Lake
, popular with fishermen, covers 1160 acres (469.4 ha). Strafford is drained by the Isinglass
, Big
, and Berrys
rivers.
The Blue Hills Range divides the town in half, running southwest to northeast. Parker Mountain, the highest point in the range and in Strafford, rises to 1420 feet (432.8 m) above sea level
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,626 people, 1,281 households, and 1,022 families residing in the town. The population density
was 73.7 people per square mile (28.5/km²). There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 31.8 per square mile (12.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.48% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 1,281 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,044, and the median income for a family was $62,238. Males had a median income of $40,423 versus $30,524 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,500. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% 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 3,991 at the 2010 census. The two main settlements in town are the villages of Center Strafford
Center Strafford, New Hampshire
Center Strafford is an unincorporated village in the town of Strafford, New Hampshire. It is one of the two principal settlements in the town, along with Bow Lake Village....
and Bow Lake Village
Bow Lake Village, New Hampshire
Bow Lake Village is a small village in the town of Strafford, New Hampshire, located at the outlet of Bow Lake. The village is home to the Bow Lake Grange, Sheila's Country Deli , the old Waldron Store and the Bow Lake Inn...
.
History
Once part of BarringtonBarrington, New Hampshire
Barrington is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,576 at the 2010 census. The town is a woodland, farm and bedroom community.-History:...
, Strafford was set off due to the lengthy travel required to attend town meetings. Settled prior to the Revolution
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...
, the town incorporated in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Strafford County had been organized in 1773 during the administration of Colonial
Colony
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 John Wentworth
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:...
, and named in honor of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford is a title that has been created three times in English and British history.The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1640 for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, the close advisor of King Charles I...
.
The Bow Lake Grange Hall, originally built in 1829 as a steam-operated mill, is now maintained by the Bow Lake Community Club and home to The Lakeside Players, a theatre group.
Notable inhabitants
- Charles SimicCharles SimicDušan "Charles" Simić is a Serbian-American poet, and was co-Poetry Editor of the Paris Review. He was appointed the fifteenth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 2007.-Early years:...
, U.S. Poet LaureatePoet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of CongressThe Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress—commonly referred to as the United States Poet Laureate—serves as the nation's official poet. During his or her term, the Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of...
(2007–2008)
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 51.4 square miles (133.1 km²), of which 49.2 sq mi (127.4 km²) is land and 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²) is water, comprising 4.38% of the town. Bow Lake
Bow Lake (New Hampshire)
Bow Lake is a water body located in Strafford and Rockingham counties in eastern New Hampshire, United States, in the towns of Strafford and Northwood. Its outlet is the Isinglass River, flowing east to the Atlantic Ocean via the Cocheco and Piscataqua rivers....
, popular with fishermen, covers 1160 acres (469.4 ha). Strafford is drained by the Isinglass
Isinglass River
The Isinglass River in Strafford County, southeastern New Hampshire, the United States, is about 15 miles long. It rises at Bow Lake in Strafford, but is also fed through its tributaries by Ayer's, Nippo, Round and Long Ponds in Barrington. The Isinglass flows east to meet the Cochecho River below...
, Big
Big River (New Hampshire)
The Big River is a river located in central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Suncook River, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
, and Berrys
Berrys River
The Berrys River is a 12.9 mile long river located in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Isinglass River, part of the Cocheco River/Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
rivers.
The Blue Hills Range divides the town in half, running southwest to northeast. Parker Mountain, the highest point in the range and in Strafford, rises to 1420 feet (432.8 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...
.
Demographics
Census
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 3,626 people, 1,281 households, and 1,022 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 73.7 people per square mile (28.5/km²). There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 31.8 per square mile (12.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.48% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% 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 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,044, and the median income for a family was $62,238. Males had a median income of $40,423 versus $30,524 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 $23,500. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.