Derry, New Hampshire
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| Derry, New Hampshire | |||
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| Nickname: "Spacetown" | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Rockingham | ||
| Incorporated | 1827 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Town Council | Brent Carney Kevin Coyle Craig W. Bulkley Janet Fairbanks Rick Metts Beverly Ferrante Brian Chirichiello |
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| Area | |||
| - Total | 36.7 sq mi (94.9 km²) | ||
| - Land | 35.8 sq mi (92.7 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) 2.40% | ||
| Elevation | 282 ft (86 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 34,021 | ||
| - Density | 950.7/sq mi (367.0/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 03038 | ||
| Area code(s) | 603 | ||
| FIPS code | 33-17940 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0873578 | ||
| Website: www.derry-nh.org | |||
Derry is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 34,021 at the 2000 census. Although it is a town and not a city, Derry is the fourth most-populous community in New Hampshire.
The primary settlement in town, where over 66% of the population resides, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Derry census-designated place (CDP) and includes the densely-populated portions of the town centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Routes 28 and 102.
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[edit] History
Although it was first settled by Scottish-Irish (also known as Ulster-Scots) families in 1719, Derry was not incorporated until 1827. It was for a long time part of Londonderry, which included Windham and portions of Manchester, Salem and Hudson. The town was named for the city of Derry, Northern Ireland, the Irish word "Doire" meaning "oak woods." The first potato planted in the United States was planted here in 1719. The town is the location of two of America's oldest private schools, Pinkerton Academy, founded in 1814 and still in operation, and the closed Adams Female Seminary.
Derry was once a linen-making center until New England textile industries moved south in the 20th century. As recently as World War II, Derry was also a sleepy farming community. The post-war suburban boom, the town's proximity to Boston in the south and Manchester to the northwest, and the construction of Interstate 93 through town led to a huge population boom. Although this growth has slowed somewhat, the population of Derry still increased by 15 percent during the 1990s.
[edit] Notable inhabitants
- Samantha Brown, host of numerous shows on the Travel Channel
- Tricia Dunn-Luoma, US Olympic ice hockey player
- Charles Miller Floyd, former governor of New Hampshire (1907–1909)
- Robert Frost, poet
- Alan B. Shepard Jr., astronaut, first American in space
- Pamela Smart, convicted in 1991 of conspiracy to commit murder[1]
- General John Stark, Revolutionary War hero, born in Derry when it was part of the town of Londonderry
- Aaron Fletcher Stevens, Brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War, as well as a two-term U.S. Congressman
- Nikki Tilroe, American performer and puppeteer
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.7 square miles (95 km²), of which 35.8 sq mi (93 km²) is land and 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) is water, comprising 2.40% of the town. Derry is drained by Beaver Brook. The highest point in the town is Warner Hill, at 605 feet (184 m) above sea level, where from the top one can see the Boston skyline on a clear day. Derry lies almost fully within the Merrimack River watershed, with a small section along the northern border of town lying in the Piscataqua River watershed.[2]
The urban part of the town, defined as a census-designated place (CDP), covers an area of 15.7 square miles (41 km²), about 42.8% of the area of the town. 15.4 sq mi (40 km²) of the CDP is land, and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km²) of it is water, about 1.60% of the total area of the CDP.
[edit] Climate
| Weather averages for Derry, New Hampshire | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 72 (22) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 96 (36) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 80 (27) | |
| Average high °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 38 (3) | 48 (9) | 60 (16) | 72 (22) | 81 (27) | 86 (30) | 82 (28) | 75 (24) | 64 (18) | 52 (11) | 41 (5) | 57.5 (14) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 10 (-12) | 13 (-11) | 20 (-7) | 34 (1) | 50 (10) | 58 (14) | 62 (17) | 58 (14) | 52 (11) | 41 (5) | 28 (-2) | 18 (-8) | 35.2 (2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | -36 (-38) | -22 (-30) | -18 (-28) | 4 (-16) | 21 (-6) | 32 (0) | 40 (4) | 32 (0) | 24 (-4) | 18 (-8) | -4 (-20) | -25 (-32) | |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.7 (68.6) | 2.5 (63.5) | 2.7 (68.6) | 3.2 (81.3) | 3.5 (88.9) | 3.6 (91.4) | 3.7 (94) | 3.5 (88.9) | 3.1 (78.7) | 3.4 (86.4) | 3.9 (99.1) | 3.4 (86.4) | 39.3 (998.2) |
| Source: Weatherbase[3] 2007-08-11 | |||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,021 people, 12,327 households, and 8,789 families residing in the town. The population density was 950.7 people per square mile (367.0/km²). There were 12,735 housing units at an average density of 137.4 persons/km² (355.9 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 96.05% White, 0.90% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,327 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 28.7% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,634, and the median income for a family was $61,625. Males had a median income of $41,271 versus $30,108 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,315. 4.6% of the population and 3.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.0% are under the age of 18 and 7.1% are 65 or older.
[edit] Town center
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,661 people, 8,670 households, and 5,739 families residing in the CDP (census-designated place), the urban center of Derry. The population density was 1,469.3 people per square mile (567.4/km²). There were 8,942 housing units at an average density of 223.9 persons/km² (579.8 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 95.58% White, 1.05% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 2.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,670 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household is $49,792, and the median income for a family was $56,332. Males had a median income of $40,185 versus $28,580 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,938. 6.0% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.9% are under the age of 18 and 7.6% are 65 or older.
[edit] Education
[edit] Private Schools
[edit] Public Schools
- Elementary:
[edit] Media
Derry has two media sources, the twice-weekly Derry News, which is owned by The Eagle-Tribune, and WZMY-TV.
[edit] Sites of Interest
- Derry Historical Society & Museum
- Robert Frost Homestead, a National Historic Landmark
- Taylor Mill, a reconstructed water-powered sawmill
[edit] References
- ^ Pawula, Larissa, "Sex, Lies, and Murder", Portsmouth Herald, March 27, 1991. Retrieved on July 28, 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Weatherbase. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
[edit] External links
- Town website
- Derry Public Library
- Community TV
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
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