Unity, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Unity is a town
in Sullivan County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 1,671 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Unity, East Unity, Quaker City, and West Unity.
, the town has a total area of 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²), of which 36.9 sq mi (95.6 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.65% of the town. The highest point in Unity is an unnamed summit along the town's northern boundary, with an elevation of 2011 feet (613 m) above sea level
.
Unity is drained by the Little Sugar River
.
, the Connecticut River
valley was populated by bands of the Western Abenaki, who lived in sometimes-large villages of longhouses. Depending on the season, they would either remain near their villages to fish, gather plants, engage in sugaring
, and trade or fight with their neighbors, or head to nearby fowling and hunting grounds. Later, they also farmed tobacco
and the "three sisters
": corn, beans, and squash.
Colonization eventually resulted in the establishment of the Province of New Hampshire
. Within that province, the area known as modern-day Unity was part of a territory chartered in 1753 and named "Buckingham" after John Hobart
, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire
. Grants in the area were given by both the early Massachusetts government
and by Governor Benning Wentworth
, which led to disputes. The town was incorporated as "Unity" in 1764 after amicable resolutions of the disputes were reached.
In the 1790 census, the town had 538 residents. Unity was on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, an important trade route chartered in 1799 that connected Amherst, New Hampshire
to Claremont
. By 1810, the town had 1,044 inhabitants, with two grain mills
, five sawmill
s, a clothing mill and a distillery. Sheep farming was a principal business.
On June 27, 2008, Presidential candidate Barack Obama
and former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton
appeared together in Unity at their first public event since Clinton pulled out of the race to be the Democratic presidential candidate. Unity was reportedly chosen because of the town's name and because, in the 2008 primary
, Obama and Clinton each received 107 votes from Unity citizens.
of 2000, there were 1,530 people, 504 households, and 385 families residing in the town. The population density
was 41.4 people per square mile (16.0/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 16.1 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.35% White, 0.07% African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 504 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 66.5% were married couples
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 17.1% 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 2.59, and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,594, and the median income for a family was $47,045. Males had a median income of $31,199 versus $24,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,908. About 6.8% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% 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 Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,458 people, 16,530 households, and 11,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 29/; . There were 20,158 housing units at an average density of 38 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 1,671 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Unity, East Unity, Quaker City, and West Unity.
Geography
According to the U.S. 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 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²), of which 36.9 sq mi (95.6 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.65% of the town. The highest point in Unity is an unnamed summit along the town's northern boundary, with an elevation of 2011 feet (613 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...
.
Unity is drained by the Little Sugar River
Little Sugar River (New Hampshire)
The Little Sugar River is a river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound...
.
History
Prior to British colonizationBritish colonization of the Americas
British colonization of the Americas began in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas...
, 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...
valley was populated by bands of the Western Abenaki, who lived in sometimes-large villages of longhouses. Depending on the season, they would either remain near their villages to fish, gather plants, engage in sugaring
Sugaring
Sugaring is a food preservation method similar to pickling. Sugaring is the process of desiccating a food by first dehydrating it, then packing it with pure sugar...
, and trade or fight with their neighbors, or head to nearby fowling and hunting grounds. Later, they also farmed tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and the "three sisters
Three Sisters (agriculture)
The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of various Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans ....
": corn, beans, and squash.
Province of New Hampshire
The Province of New Hampshire is a name first given in 1629 to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. It was formally organized as an English royal colony on October 7, 1691, during the period of English colonization...
. Within that province, the area known as modern-day Unity was part of a territory chartered in 1753 and named "Buckingham" after John Hobart
John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire
John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire, KB, PC was a British peer.Hobart was the son of Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet and he inherited his father's title when the latter was killed in a duel in 1698...
, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire
Earl of Buckinghamshire
Earl of Buckinghamshire is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1746 for John Hobart, 1st Baron Hobart. The Hobart family descends from Henry Hobart, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Intwood in the...
. Grants in the area were given by both the early Massachusetts government
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
and by 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...
, which led to disputes. The town was incorporated as "Unity" in 1764 after amicable resolutions of the disputes were reached.
In the 1790 census, the town had 538 residents. Unity was on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, an important trade route chartered in 1799 that connected Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake....
to Claremont
Claremont, New Hampshire
There were 5,685 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had...
. By 1810, the town had 1,044 inhabitants, with two grain mills
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, five sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, a clothing mill and a distillery. Sheep farming was a principal business.
2008 presidential politics
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
appeared together in Unity at their first public event since Clinton pulled out of the race to be the Democratic presidential candidate. Unity was reportedly chosen because of the town's name and because, in the 2008 primary
New Hampshire Democratic primary, 2008
The 2008 New Hampshire Democratic primary on January 8, 2008 was the first primary in the United States in 2008. Its purpose was to determine the number of delegates from New Hampshire that would represent a certain candidate at the National Convention. In a primary, members of a political party—in...
, Obama and Clinton each received 107 votes from Unity citizens.
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 1,530 people, 504 households, and 385 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 41.4 people per square mile (16.0/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 16.1 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.35% White, 0.07% African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 504 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 66.5% 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, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 17.1% 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 2.59, and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,594, and the median income for a family was $47,045. Males had a median income of $31,199 versus $24,833 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 $17,908. About 6.8% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.