Gilmanton, New Hampshire
| Gilmanton, New Hampshire | ||
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| Coordinates: 43°25′26″N 71°24′49″W / 43.42389°N 71.41361°WCoordinates: 43°25′26″N 71°24′49″W / 43.42389°N 71.41361°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | New Hampshire | |
| County | Belknap | |
| Incorporated | 1727 | |
| Government | ||
| • Board of Selectmen | Rachel Frechette Hatch, Chair Ralph Lavin Brett Currier Lois Dionne |
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| Area | ||
| • Total | 59.0 sq mi (152.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 57.2 sq mi (148.2 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (4.6 km2) 2.98% | |
| Elevation | 988 ft (301 m) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 3,777 | |
| • Density | 64/sq mi (25/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 03237 | |
| Area code(s) | 603 | |
| FIPS code | 33-28980 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873604 | |
| Website | www.gilmantonnh.org | |
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census.[1] Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks. The town became well known in the 1950s after it was rumored that the popular novel Peyton Place, written by resident Grace Metalious, was based on the town.[2]
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History [edit]
Gilmanton was incorporated in 1727. First known as Gilmantown, the town was home to the Gilman family, originally settled at Exeter.[3] Twenty-four members of the Gilman family received land grants in the new town of Gilmanton. (Other families related to the Gilmans also received grants in the new town, including the Dudleys, the Leavitts, the Folsoms and the Coffins.)[4] At one time it was the second-largest town in the state, following Portsmouth. The original town was larger than it is now, with villages and parishes including Belmont, Gunstock Parish (Gilford), Hurricane, Tioga, Factory Village and Lakeport. A parish first called Averytown, the site of an unprofitable iron-mining enterprise, is still known as Gilmanton Iron Works.[5]
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Iron Works bridge in 1910
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"The Pines" in 1910
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Crystal Lake in 1909
Geography [edit]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.0 square miles (153 km2), of which 57.2 square miles (148 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) is water, comprising 2.98% of the town.[6] The highest point in Gilmanton is Mount Mack, at 1,945 feet (593 m) above sea level, on the town line with Gilford. Crystal Lake is in the east, and Shellcamp Pond is in the west. Gilmanton lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[7]
The town is served by state routes 106, 107 and 140. The town has two major villages. Gilmanton Corner (or simply "Gilmanton", as shown on topographic maps) is located in the western part of the town at the crossroads of NH 107 and NH 140. It is the location of several historic buildings, including Gilmanton Academy and Centre Congregational Church. Gilmanton Ironworks is located in the eastern part of town along NH 140, near the outlet of Crystal Lake.
Demographics [edit]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 3,060 people, 1,165 households, and 900 families residing in the town. The population density was 53.6 people per square mile (20.7/km²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 32.4 per square mile (12.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.10% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.
There were 1,165 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.2% 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 2.62 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,542, and the median income for a family was $51,712. Males had a median income of $37,077 versus $27,727 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,163. About 3.3% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Sites of interest [edit]
- Carpenter Museum of Antique Outboard Motors
- Crystal Lake (Gilmanton, New Hampshire)
- Camp Bell, Boy Scouts of America, Scouting in New Hampshire
- Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire
Notable people [edit]
- John B. Bachelder, painter, photographer and historian
- William Badger, mill owner and 15th governor of New Hampshire
- David Cote, author and New York theater critic
- Ira Allen Eastman, US congressman
- Nehemiah Eastman, US congressman
- John R. French, US congressman
- Charles A. Gilman, 9th lieutenant governor of Minnesota
- H. H. Holmes, serial killer
- Grace Metalious, author of Peyton Place
- Charles H. Peaslee, US congressman
- John Sewell Sanborn, educator, judge and Canadian politician
- Ainsworth Rand Spofford, journalist and publisher
- Henry M. Spofford, judge
References [edit]
- ^ United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ People Magazine, September 28, 1981, "25 Years After Peyton Place, Her New Hampshire Town Has Not Forgiven Grace Metalious." [1]
- ^ The History of Gilmanton: Embracing the Proprietary, Civil, Literary, etc., Daniel Lancaster, Gilmanton, Alfred Prescott, 1845
- ^ The History of Gilmanton, Daniel Lancaster, 1845
- ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 500–502.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Gilmanton town, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau American Factfinder. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ 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 2008-01-31.
External links [edit]
- Town of Gilmanton official website
- Gilmanton Year-Round Library ("Barn Library")
- Gilmanton Corner Library
- Gilmanton Historical Society
- Gilmanton Snowmobile Association
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
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