Richmond, New Hampshire

The town was first chartered in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts. Granted to soldiers returning from the war in Canada, it was named "Sylvester-Canada" in honor of Captain Joseph Sylvester of Scituate, Massachusetts, who was killed in 1690 during an attempt to capture Quebec. After New Hampshire became a separate colony, the town would be incorporated in 1752 as "Richmond" by Governor Benning Wentworth. He named it after his friend, Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, a staunch advocate of colonial independence.

Hosea Ballou was born in Richmond. He was a leading 19th century champion of religious liberalism, and is considered the father of Universalism in the United States. Eliza Ballou Garfield, mother of the 20th president, James A. Garfield, was born here.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.8 square miles (98 km²), of which 37.6 sq mi (97 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km²) is water, comprising 0.53% of the town. Little Monadnock Mountain, elevation 1,883 feet (574 m) above sea level, is within a mile of the eastern boundary, in the town of Fitzwilliam. The highest point in Richmond is one mile northwest of Little Monadnock, on an unnamed hill whose elevation is 1,624 feet (495 m) above sea level. The Franconia Mountain Range (not to be confused with the much higher ridge in the White Mountains to the north) is a 1,300-foot (400 m) high chain of hills in the western part of town.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,077 people, 379 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 28.7 people per square mile (11.1/km²). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 11.5/sq mi (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.68% White, 0.37% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 379 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,141, and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $37,083 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,174. About 4.6% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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

County seat: Keene

City	Keene

Towns	Alstead \| Chesterfield \| Dublin \| Fitzwilliam \| Gilsum \| Harrisville \| Hinsdale \| Jaffrey \| Marlborough \| Marlow \| Nelson \| Richmond \| Rindge \| Roxbury \| Stoddard \| Sullivan \| Surry \| Swanzey \| Troy \| Walpole \| Westmoreland \| Winchester

Villages	Chesham \| Poocham \| Spofford \| West Swanzey