Campton, New Hampshire

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Campton, New Hampshire
Official seal of Campton, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 43°51′53″N 71°38′12″W / 43.86472, -71.63667
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Grafton
Incorporated 1767
Government
 - Board of Selectmen Charles W. Cheney, Chairman
Charles Wheeler
James D. McGarr
Jon Homer
Sharon Davis
Area
 - Total 52.5 sq mi (136.0 km²)
 - Land 51.9 sq mi (134.5 km²)
 - Water 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)  1.12%
Elevation 676 ft (206 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 2,719
 - Density 52.4/sq mi (20.2/km²)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 03223
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-08660
GNIS feature ID 0873556
Website: www.camptonnh.org

Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,719 at the 2000 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest. It is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the northeast.

Contents

[edit] History

Bird's-eye View in 1908
Bird's-eye View in 1908

The town was originally granted in 1761 to General Jabez Spencer of East Haddam, Connecticut. It was first settled about 1765, but General Spencer died before the terms of charter, which required settlement by 50 families, each farming 5 acres for every 50 received, was complete. Therefore, his heirs and others were given a new grant in 1767. Campton may take its name from Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington. Compton was a friend of colonial governor Benning Wentworth, and had been influential in Wentworth's attaining his post in 1741.

Sylvester Marsh, builder of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, had his boyhood home in Campton. The town has 3 covered bridges, including Blair Bridge, which is 292 feet, 10 inches long, the second longest of those entirely within the state.

[edit] Sites of Interest

  • Blair Bridge (1829, rebuilt 1870)
  • Town House (1855), Campton Historical Society

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136 km²), of which 51.9 sq mi (134 km²) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.12% of the town. The highest point in Campton is Mount Weetamoo, at 2,548 feet (777 m) above sea level. The town is drained by the Mad River and Pemigewasset River. Campton lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[1]

[edit] Demographics

West Campton in 1907
West Campton in 1907

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 2,719 people, 1,128 households, and 759 families residing in the town. The population density was 52.4 people per square mile (20.2/km²). There were 1,759 housing units at an average density of 33.9/sq mi (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.01% White, 0.04% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 1,128 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

The Pemigewasset River at Livermore Falls, near the southern border of Campton
The Pemigewasset River at Livermore Falls, near the southern border of Campton

In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,213, and the median income for a family was $46,492. Males had a median income of $30,640 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,189. About 5.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; and Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey. 
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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