Laconia, New Hampshire

Laconia is a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,411 at the 2000 census, which makes it the 9th-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Belknap County.^[1] Laconia, situated near Lake Winnipesaukee, includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June for nine days beginning on the Saturday of the weekend before Father's Day and ending on Father's Day, the city hosts Laconia Motorcycle Week, also more simply known as 'bike week', one of the country's largest rallies, and each winter, the Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby. Laconia includes a branch of the New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges.

1 History
2 Notable residents
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 Education
6 Sites of interest
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

A large Abenaki Indian settlement called Acquadocton Village once existed at the point now known as The Weirs, named by colonists for fishing weirs discovered at the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River. Early explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada mentioned in Indian lore. About 1652, the Endicott surveying party visited the area, an event commemorated by Endicott Rock, a local landmark. A fort would be built at Laconia in 1746. But ongoing hostilities between the English, French, and their respective Native American allies prevented settlement until 1761, after which it remained for many years a part of Meredith and Gilford called Meredith Bridge.

Beginning in 1765, lumber and grist mills were established on Mill Street, with taverns built soon thereafter on Parade Street. About 1822, the courthouse was built, which would become county seat at the creation of Belknap County in 1840. In 1832, the Belknap Mill was built to manufacture textiles; largely unaltered, the structure is today a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local industry produced lumber, textiles, shoes, hosiery, knitting machinery and needles. But the city's largest employer would be the Laconia Car Company, builder of rail, trolley and subway cars. Started in 1848, it lasted until the 1930s. The railroad entered town in 1849, carrying both freight and an increasing number of summer tourists to popular Weirs Beach.

In 1855, Laconia was incorporated as a town from land in Meredith Bridge, Lakeport, Weirs and part of Gilmanton. The name was probably derived from the old Laconia Company, formed by Captain John Mason and the Masonian Proprietors to sell parcels of land during the colonial era. The Great Fire of 1860 destroyed most of Main Street from Mill to Water streets, followed by the Great Lakeport Fire of 1903, a blaze so fierce that fire companies were brought by train from as far away as Dover. Laconia was incorporated as a city in 1893.

Courthouse in 1906

Church Street c. 1912

R. R. Station c. 1910

Panorama of central business district, c. 1910

[edit] Notable residents

Doris Haddock, better known as "Granny D", activist who walked across the United States in 1999 and 2000 to advocate for campaign finance reform
Fletcher Hale, member of the United States House of Representatives, serving the sixty-ninth through seventy-second terms in Congress
Joseph Oliva Huot, member of the United States House of Representatives, serving the eighty-ninth Congress
Thomas J. McIntyre, member of the United States Senate who served from 1962 - 1979
Penny Pitou, the first United States Olympic skier to win a medal in an Olympic downhill event in 1960
Claude Rains, actor, died here in 1967
Paul W. K. Rothemund, 2007 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship

[edit] Geography

Laconia is located at 43°33′3″N, 71°28′5″W (43.550769, -71.467935).^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.6 square miles (68.9 km²), of which 20.3 sq mi (52.6 km²) is land and 6.3 sq mi (16.3 km²) is water, comprising 23.70% of the town. Laconia is drained by the Winnipesaukee River. It is bounded in the southwest by Winnisquam Lake, and by Lake Winnipesaukee in the northeast. Laconia lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.^[3] The highest point in Laconia is an unnamed 960-foot (290 m) hill in the northern part of the city, southwest of Weirs Beach.

[edit] Demographics

Shore Path c. 1915

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.3 people per square mile (312.4/km²). There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8/sq mi (162.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.79% White, 0.55% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 6,724 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.

Webster Square c. 1915

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,796, and the median income for a family was $45,307. Males had a median income of $31,714 versus $22,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,540. About 7.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Laconia High School, seen from Union Ave.

Laconia's public school system is run by the Laconia School District, School Administrative Unit 30.

Public Schools

Laconia School District has one public high school, one middle school and three elementary schools:

Laconia High School
Memorial Middle School
Elm Street Elementary School
Pleasant Street Elementary School
Woodland Heights Elementary School

Private schools

There are two parochial schools within the city limits of Laconia:

Laconia Christian School, serving grades K-12
Holy Trinity Catholic School, serving grades K-8

Post-secondary schools

There is one area institution of higher education with a total enrollment of approximately 1000 students:

New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges, Laconia branch

[edit] Sites of interest

Belknap Mill Society Museum
Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum
Funspot Family Fun Center, home of the International Classic Video & Pinball Tournament

[edit] References

^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ 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.
^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Laconia, New Hampshire is at coordinates 43°31′40″N 71°28′15″W / 43.527778, -71.47083 (Laconia, New Hampshire)Coordinates: 43°31′40″N 71°28′15″W / 43.527778, -71.47083 (Laconia, New Hampshire)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Belknap County, New Hampshire

County seat: Laconia

City	Laconia

Towns	Alton \| Barnstead \| Belmont \| Center Harbor \| Gilford \| Gilmanton \| Meredith \| New Hampton \| Sanbornton \| Tilton

Villages	Lakeport \| Tilton-Northfield \| Weirs Beach