Hollis, New Hampshire
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| Hollis, New Hampshire | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Hillsborough County | ||
| Incorporated | 1746 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Board of Selectmen | Peter Band, Chairman Melinda Willis Vahrij Manoukian Raymond Lindsay Don Ryder |
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| Area | |||
| - Town | 32.3 sq mi (83.7 km²) | ||
| - Land | 31.8 sq mi (82.2 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 404 ft (123 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Town | 7,015 | ||
| - Density | 221.0/sq mi (85.3/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| Website: www.hollis.nh.us | |||
Hollis is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 7,015 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Hollis was incorporated by colonial governor Benning Wentworth in 1746. The name comes from a Wentworth ancestor, John Holles, Earl of Clare.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 83.7 km² (32.3 mi²). 82.2 km² (31.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water, comprising 1.76% of the town. The highest point in Hollis is Birch Hill (821 feet / 250 meters above sea level), located near the town's western border.
The Nashua River flows through the southern end of the town out of Pepperell, Massachusetts and into Nashua.
[edit] Demographics
As with many of the towns on the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts, Hollis is rapidly changing from mixed-use farmland (apple orchards, corn, pumpkins, and other vegetables) to a bedroom community for the many commuters who work in Massachusetts but choose to live in New Hampshire; new major development projects continue to be started, to the concern of some of the longer-term residents. This has led to pressure on the town's school system and conflicts between the proponents of high government services and those advocating low taxes.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 7,015 people, 2,440 households, and 2,025 families residing in the town. The population density was 85.3/km² (221.0/mi²). There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of 30.3/km² (78.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.59% White, 0.44% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 2,440 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $92,847, and the median income for a family was $104,737. Males had a median income of $76,025 versus $46,161 for females. The per capita income for the town was $44,936. About 2.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
There are four schools in Hollis, two of which are part of the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District. Hollis Primary School serves kindergarten through third grade and Hollis Upper Elementary School serves grades four through six. Hollis/Brookline Middle School serves seventh and eighth grade and Hollis/Brookline High School serves grades nine through twelve. For many years, the current Primary school was known as Hollis Elementary School and served kindergarten through grade six. The current Middle School (known as Hollis/Brookline Junior High School until 2001) was formerly Hollis/Brookline High School but proved far too small for the number of students attending. A new building was built and became the Hollis/Brookline Junior High School. However, the three buildings were still insufficient and a new high school was opened in 1998. The former high school became the current middle school, the former middle school became Hollis Upper Elementary, and the former Hollis Elementary became Hollis Primary. There is still ongoing debate about the future of the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District.
The historic Farley Building (formerly known as simply the "White Building") is the original Hollis High School built in 1877 and has just stopped being used during the 2005-2006 school year. During this last year for the Farley Building, it contained classrooms for English, social studies, art, French, and Spanish.
[edit] Culture
Hollis has a number of town traditions and celebrations characteristic of old New England towns. Because several farms in Hollis grow strawberries, every June, the town holds its annual Strawberry Festival on the Common to celebrate its successful harvest. Hundreds of tourists descend on the Common to enjoy games and music, and plenty of strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie, and innumerable other strawberry desserts. Similarly, given the many apple orchards in the own, there is the annual Apple Festival in the fall, where apple desserts and festivities are equally abundant. There is also a popular apple pie contest.
The most popular Hollis tradition is Old Home Day, which is held on a Saturday during September. There is often an Old Home Day Dance the Friday night before that is very popular with students on Nichols Field. There are often carnival rides and attractions set up the night of the of the dance in preparation for the following day. On Old Home Day itself, there are dozens of booths and pavilions set up like traditional New England fairs, including old-fashioned games, animal demonstrations, live music, and plenty of food. Many of the pavilions are sponsored by local organizations, schools, and teams. Weather permitting, there are often hot air balloon rides and an evening "balloon glow" where the balloons are grounded and lit up from the inside. The day concludes with a fireworks show. Fireworks are also set of on the Fourth of July at Nichols Field as well.
[edit] Trivia
Hollis's principal (and for a long time, only) traffic light is located at the center of town at the intersection of NH Route 130 and NH Route 122, known as the "Four Corners." Many traffic accidents have occurred at this intersection, prompting the addition of more lights in more visible locations around the intersection. Now, two additional traffic lights have been added on NH Route 111 on the southern edge of the town.
[edit] External links
- Hollis, NH Official Website
- The Hollis Historical Society
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District
- Hollis Brookline High School
