Meredith, New Hampshire
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| Meredith, New Hampshire | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Belknap County | ||
| Incorporated | 1768 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Board of Selectmen | Peter Miller, Chair Frank Michel Peter Brothers Colette Worsman Miller Lovett |
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| Area | |||
| - Town | 54.1 sq mi (140.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 30.2 sq mi (104.1 km²) | ||
| - Water | 13.9 sq mi (36.1 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 508 ft (155 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Town | 5,943 | ||
| - Density | 147.9/sq mi (57.1/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| Website: www.meredithnh.org | |||
Meredith is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 5,943 at the 2000 census. Meredith is situated beside Lake Winnipesaukee. It is home to Stonedam Island Natural Area and the Hobo Railroad.
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[edit] History
Meredith was first known as "Palmer's Town," in honor of Samuel Palmer, a teacher of surveying and navigation, who had laid out much of the land surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee. One of the first towns to have a charter granted by the Masonian Proprietors, many new settlers were from Salem, Massachusetts, and the town was renamed "New Salem." In 1768, the land was regranted by Colonial Governor John Wentworth and named after Sir William Meredith, a member of Parliament who opposed taxation on the colonies.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.1 square miles (140.2 km²), of which, 40.2 square miles (104.1 km²) of it is land and 13.9 square miles (36.1 km²) of it is water or 25.73%. The highest point in Meredith is Leavitt Mountain, elevation 1,414 feet (431 m) above sea level, in the southwestern part of town.
[edit] Notable inhabitants
- Bradford Anderson, actor
[edit] Demographics
This article describes the town as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available that describes only the more densely populated main settlement. That detail, however, is included in the aggregate values reported here. See: Meredith (CDP), New Hampshire.
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,943 people, 2,447 households, and 1,698 families residing in the town. The population density was 147.9 persons per square mile (57.1/km²). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 104.3 per square mile (40.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.91% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,447 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,758, and the median income for a family was $54,764. Males had a median income of $35,766 versus $26,772 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,867. 6.6% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.0% are under the age of 18 and 9.9% are 65 or older.
[edit] Education
Meredith's Inter-Lakes High School is home to the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium, which plays host to the popular Lakes Region Summer Theater every summer. The school competes in NHIAA Class M, and has teams in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, soccer, basketball, tennis and girls' volleyball, as well as a math team that competes in the Small School Division.
[edit] Sites of Interest
Museums
Orchestras
Other
Meredith is home to four hotels and inns: The Inn at Mill Falls (part of the Mill Falls Marketplace), The Inn at Bay Point, The Chase House, and The Church Landing featuring the Cascade Spa. Meredith also features several restaurants belonging to the Common Man Restaurants: Lago Trattitoria at Bay Point, Camp at the Chase House, Lakehouse Grille at Church Landing, and The Town Docks.
In addition to the inns and hotels that cater to summer vacation visitors, Meredith is home to several summer camps, including Camp Menotomy, run by the former Patriot's Trail Girl Scout Council based in Boston since the early 1920s.
[edit] External links
- Meredith, NH Official Website
- Lake Winnipesaukee Live -- Official Lake Winnipesaukee site
- Meredith Chamber of Commerce
- Various Lake Winnipesaukee Webcams
- Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Meredith, NH - Index of Marriages and Deaths
