Hinsdale, New Hampshire
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| Hinsdale, New Hampshire |
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| Country | United States | |
| State | New Hampshire | |
| County | Cheshire County | |
| Incorporated | 1753 | |
| Board of Selectmen | Robert M. Johnson
John D. Smith |
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| Area | ||
| - City | 59.0 km² (22.8 sq mi) | |
| - Land | 53.6 km² (20.7 sq mi) | |
| - Water | 5.4 km² (2.1 sq mi) 9.22% | |
| Elevation | 66 m (217 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| - City (2000) | 4,082 | |
| - Density | 76.2/km² (197.4/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| Website: www.town.hinsdale.nh.us | ||
Hinsdale is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 4,082 at the 2000 census. Hinsdale is home to part of Pisgah State Park in the northeast, and part of Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest in the northwest.
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[edit] History
Tucked into the farthest southwestern corner of the state, Hinsdale was chartered in 1753 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. It was named for Colonel Ebenezer Hinsdale, member of a prominent Deerfield, Massachusetts family, whose mother had been taken captive in the famed Deerfield Massacre of 1704. Graduated from Harvard College, Hinsdale ordained to become a missionary for Indians of the Connecticut River Valley. Instead, he would serve as chaplain at Fort Dummer, an important trading post on the Connecticut River, later enlisting as an officer in the army. Then, in 1742, he established Fort Hinsdale, including a trading post and gristmill, reportedly at his own expense. The town's earliest history recounts Indian assaults, raids and captivities.
Located beside the Connecticut River, Hinsdale contains excellent farmland, but has been a significant center of industry as well, especially in the manufacture of paper. In a machine shop here, George A. Long built a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1875, for which he received one of the nation's earliest automobile patents.
 General View in 1908 |
 The Old Checkered House in c. 1900 |
 Haile & Frost Mill in 1907 |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.0 km² (22.8 mi²). 53.6 km² (20.7 mi²) of it is land and 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is water, comprising 9.22% of the town. The southeastern part of Hinsdale is drained by the Ashuelot River. The highest point in town is Wantastiquet Mountain (1,378 feet / 420 meters above sea level), located on the town's northern boundary and overlooking the Connecticut River and Brattleboro, Vermont to the west.
[edit] Demographics
This article describes the town of Hinsdale as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here. See: Hinsdale (CDP), New Hampshire.
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,082 people, 1,622 households, and 1,088 families residing in the town. The population density was 76.2/km² (197.4/mi²). There were 1,714 housing units at an average density of 32.0 persons/km² (82.9 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.50% White, 0.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,622 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.9% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,124, and the median income for a family was $43,413. Males had a median income of $31,440 versus $23,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,611. 6.4% of the population and 3.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.1% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- Hinsdale Public Library
- Pisgah State Park
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
