Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Hillsborough, New Hampshire
—  Town  —

Seal
Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Hillsborough
Incorporated 1772
Government
 • Board of Selectmen Robert I. Buker, Chairman
Lou Ann Rousseau
Russell Galpin
Area
 • Total 44.6 sq mi (115.6 km2)
 • Land 43.6 sq mi (113.0 km2)
 • Water 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)  2.24%
Elevation 636 ft (194 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 6,011
 • Density 134.8/sq mi (52/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 03244
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-36180
GNIS feature ID 0873625
Website www.town.hillsborough.nh.us

Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census.[1] The town is home to Fox State Forest and part of Low State Forest.

The main village of the town, where 1,976 people resided at the 2010 census,[1] is defined as the Hillsborough census-designated place (CDP), and encompasses the central urban area of the town, located along the Contoocook River at the junction of New Hampshire Route 149 with Henniker Street and Main Street. The town also includes the villages of Hillsborough Center, Hillsborough Upper Village, Hillsborough Lower Village, and Emerald Lake Village.

Contents

History

The town was first granted in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher as "Number Seven," one in a line of nine towns set up as defense barriers against Indian attacks. The towns were renamed following the 1741 establishment of New Hampshire as a separate province. Settled in 1741, the town was granted in 1748 by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Hillsborough," named for Sir Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough. It would be incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth.

Hillsborough is the birthplace in 1804 of Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, and the only president from New Hampshire. The Pierce Homestead was built in 1804 by his father, Benjamin Pierce, a general in the Revolutionary War, and twice governor of New Hampshire. Restored in 1925, the home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house is today a museum owned by the state, and operated by the Hillsborough Historical Society.

Notable inhabitants

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles (116 km2), of which 43.6 sq mi (113 km2) is land and 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) is water, comprising 2.24% of the town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town center, or census-designated place, has a total area of 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2).

The highest point in Hillsborough is Thompson Hill, at 1,768 feet (539 m) above sea level, in the northern part of town. Hillsborough is drained by the Contoocook River, in addition to Beard's and Sand brooks. Part of Franklin Pierce Lake is in the southwest. The town lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[2]

Hillsborough is bordered by Windsor to the southwest, Washington to the northwest, Bradford to the north, Henniker to the east, and Antrim and Deering to the south.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,928 people, 1,922 households, and 1,312 families residing in the town. The population density was 112.9 people per square mile (43.6/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 53.3 per square mile (20.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.46% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 1,922 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,500, and the median income for a family was $50,445. Males had a median income of $37,016 versus $24,795 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,122. About 6.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Town center

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,842 people, 760 households, and 455 families residing in the primary settlement, or census-designated place (CDP). The population density was 1,130.5 people per square mile (436.3/km²). There were 809 housing units at an average density of 496.5 per square mile (191.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.29% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.

There were 760 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% 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 3.01.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,855, and the median income for a family was $47,438. Males had a median income of $38,077 versus $22,813 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,125. About 10.6% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Hillsborough is part of School Administrative Unit (SAU) 34. Public schools serving the community of Hillsboro include:

Sites of interest

References

  1. ^ a b United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ^ 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. http://nh.water.usgs.gov/Publications/nh.intro.html. 
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links