Tamworth, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Tamworth is a town
in Carroll County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 2,856 at the 2010 census. Tamworth includes the villages of Chocorua
, South Tamworth, Wonalancet
, and Whittier. The White Mountain National Forest
is to the north. The town is home to Hemenway State Forest in the north and White Lake State Park in the southeast.
Granted in 1766 by Colonial
Governor Benning Wentworth
, this town was named in honor of his close friend, British
Admiral Washington Shirley, Viscount Tamworth. The admiral's daughter, Selina Shirley, was instrumental in the founding of Dartmouth College
. The village of Whittier, like Mount Whittier in Ossipee
, is named for the poet John Greenleaf Whittier
.
The Chinook Kennels here raised sled dogs for the Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd Antarctic
expeditions and the Army's
search-and-rescue units. The Barnstormers Theatre
summer playhouse was established here in 1931 by Francis Grover Cleveland, son of President Grover Cleveland
. He supported the theatre until his death in 1995. Barnstormers is hailed as the oldest continuously running professional theatre in the state.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 60.7 square miles (157.2 km²), of which 59.7 square miles (154.6 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.59% of the town. Tamworth is drained by the Bearcamp
, Chocorua
and Wonalancet
rivers. Chocorua Lake
is to the north. The highest point in Tamworth is the summit of Black Snout Mountain at 2689 feet (819.6 m) above sea level
, located precisely at the southwest corner of the town, within the Ossipee Mountain range.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,510 people, 1,074 households, and 675 families residing in the town. The population density
was 41.9 people per square mile (16.2/km²). There were 1,662 housing units at an average density of 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.05% White, 0.16% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.36% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,074 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,200, and the median income for a family was $41,121. Males had a median income of $30,389 versus $23,352 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,961. About 7.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 10.1% 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 Carroll County
Carroll County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,666 people, 18,351 households, and 12,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² . There were 34,750 housing units at an average density of 14/km²...
, 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 2,856 at the 2010 census. Tamworth includes the villages of Chocorua
Chocorua, New Hampshire
Chocorua is a village within the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. It is located in the general area where Routes 16 and 113 meet, south of Mount Chocorua and Chocorua Lake....
, South Tamworth, Wonalancet
Wonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
, and Whittier. 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...
is to the north. The town is home to Hemenway State Forest in the north and White Lake State Park in the southeast.
History
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 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...
, this town was named in honor of his close friend, British
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...
Admiral Washington Shirley, Viscount Tamworth. The admiral's daughter, Selina Shirley, was instrumental in the founding of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. The village of Whittier, like Mount Whittier in Ossipee
Ossipee, New Hampshire
Ossipee is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,345 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County...
, is named for the poet John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is usually listed as one of the Fireside Poets...
.
The Chinook Kennels here raised sled dogs for the Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
expeditions and the Army's
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
search-and-rescue units. The Barnstormers Theatre
Barnstormers Theatre
The Barnstormers Theatre is located in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and is the oldest ongoing professional summer theatre in the country. It was founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the son of twenty-second president Grover Cleveland...
summer playhouse was established here in 1931 by Francis Grover Cleveland, son of President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. He supported the theatre until his death in 1995. Barnstormers is hailed as the oldest continuously running professional theatre in the state.
Notable inhabitants
- Grover ClevelandGrover ClevelandStephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
(1837–1908), president of the U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(summer resident) - William JamesWilliam JamesWilliam James was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher who was trained as a physician. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and on the philosophy of pragmatism...
(1842–1910), psychologist and philosopher (ChocoruaChocorua, New HampshireChocorua is a village within the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. It is located in the general area where Routes 16 and 113 meet, south of Mount Chocorua and Chocorua Lake....
)
Geography
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 60.7 square miles (157.2 km²), of which 59.7 square miles (154.6 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.59% of the town. Tamworth is drained by the Bearcamp
Bearcamp River
The Bearcamp River is a 26.3 mile long river at the southern edge of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the United States. It is the largest tributary of Ossipee Lake, part of the Saco River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
, Chocorua
Chocorua River
The Chocorua River is a river located in eastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Bearcamp River, part of the Ossipee Lake / Saco River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
and Wonalancet
Wonalancet River
The Wonalancet River is a 7.6-mile long river located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the southern Swift River, part of the Bearcamp River / Ossipee Lake / Saco River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean.The Wonalancet River rises in the heart...
rivers. Chocorua Lake
Chocorua Lake
Chocorua Lake is a picturesque lake in northeast New Hampshire with commanding views of the summit of Mount Chocorua. It is approximately 1.1 miles long with a maximum width of 3,500 ft , covering 222 acres , with a maximum depth of 27 feet .The lake is most noted for its serene setting...
is to the north. The highest point in Tamworth is the summit of Black Snout Mountain at 2689 feet (819.6 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...
, located precisely at the southwest corner of the town, within the Ossipee Mountain range.
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 2,510 people, 1,074 households, and 675 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 41.9 people per square mile (16.2/km²). There were 1,662 housing units at an average density of 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.05% White, 0.16% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.36% 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 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,074 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,200, and the median income for a family was $41,121. Males had a median income of $30,389 versus $23,352 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 $17,961. About 7.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
In popular culture
The 1942 epic Look to the Mountain, by LeGrand Cannon, Jr., takes place in Tamworth as 19-year-old Whit Livingston and his new wife, 16-year-old Melissa Butler, become the first white pioneer family to settle the area.Sites of interest
- Barnstormers TheatreBarnstormers TheatreThe Barnstormers Theatre is located in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and is the oldest ongoing professional summer theatre in the country. It was founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the son of twenty-second president Grover Cleveland...
- Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm