North Conway, New Hampshire

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North Conway is a census-designated place (CDP) located in eastern Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,069 at the 2000 census. A year-round resort area, North Conway is a village within the town of Conway, which is bounded on the east by the Maine state line. The White Mountain National Forest is to the west and north. Conway is home to Cathedral Ledge (popular with climbers), Echo Lake State Park, and Mount Cranmore. North Conway is known for its large amount of outlet shops.

1 History
- 1.1 Notable inhabitants
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Saco River in 1907

Chartered in 1765 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, the town is named for Henry Seymour Conway, ambitious son of a prominent English family, who was elected to the House of Commons at age twenty, fought at Culloden, and became Secretary of State. Early settlers had named the area "Pequawket" (known colloquially as "Pigwacket"), after the local Abenaki tribe whose community astride the Saco River once stretched to Fryeburg, Maine.

The picturesque small village is nestled directly in the heart of the White Mountains, and has long been popular with tourists and artists, particularly after the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad extended service in 1872 from Conway to North Conway. In 1874, the company built an extraordinary Second Empire depot, designed by Nathaniel J. Bradlee of Boston. In 1932, "snow trains" began carrying enthusiasts to "the birthplace of American skiing," as North Conway is known.

Railroad Station in 1909

But increasing automobile travel brought the decline of trains. The railroad, then part of the Boston & Maine, abandoned passenger service to the area in 1961, and freight service in 1972. Subsequently, the Conway Scenic Railroad was established. Today, the line offers visitors a tour of this spectacularly beautiful region, including Crawford Notch. The landmark station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] Notable inhabitants

Benjamin Champney, artist
Gordon Clapp, actor
Hannes Schneider, ski instructor
John Shea, actor

[edit] Geography

North Conway is located at 44°3′6″N, 71°7′22″W (44.051534, -71.122752)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²). 11.1 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.70%) is water. North Conway is drained by the Saco River.

[edit] Demographics

Cathedral Ledge & Echo Lake in 1914

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,069 people, 1,002 households, and 487 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 186.6/km² (483.9/mi²). There were 1,602 housing units at an average density of 144.5/km² (374.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.07% White, 0.39% African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.27% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 1,002 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.3% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.75.

Forest Glenn Inn in c. 1920

In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,406, and the median income for a family was $40,294. Males had a median income of $27,679 versus $23,017 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,493. About 17.1% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over.