Littleton, New Hampshire

Littleton, New Hampshire
—  Town  —
Littleton Courthouse and Post Office
Seal
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 44°18′22″N 71°46′12″W
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Grafton
Incorporated	1784
Government
• Board of Selectmen	Ronald J. Bolt Edward C. Boynton Marghie Seymour
Area
• Total	54.1 sq mi (140.1 km2)
• Land	50.1 sq mi (129.8 km2)
• Water	4 sq mi (10.4 km2)  7.41%
Elevation	820 ft (250 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	5,928
• Density	109.6/sq mi (42.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	03561
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-42580
GNIS feature ID	0873649
Website	www.townoflittleton.org

Littleton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,928 at the 2010 census. Situated at the edge of the White Mountains, Littleton is bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River.

The primary settlement in town, where 4,412 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Littleton census-designated place (CDP), and is centered around the intersection of U.S. Route 302 with New Hampshire Route 116, along the Ammonoosuc River.

History

Called Chiswick (Saxon for "Cheese Farm") in 1764, the area was settled in 1769. The town was part of Lisbon until 1770, when it was granted as Apthorp in honor of George Apthorp, head of one of the wealthiest mercantile establishments in Boston, Massachusetts. The land was later passed to the Apthorp family's associates from Newburyport, Massachusetts, headed by Colonel Moses Little. Colonel Little held the post of Surveyor of the King's Woods, and the town was named in his honor when it was incorporated in 1784, the same year New Hampshire became a state.

Located along the banks of the Ammonoosuc River is the Littleton Grist Mill. The historic mill first opened in 1798, and has been fully restored to its original appearance. Between 1867 and 1909, the local Kilburn Brothers factory published photographs, stereoviews, and sold stereoscopes, double-picture viewers popular in the Victorian age.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²), of which 50.1 square miles (129.8 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²) is water, comprising 7.41% of the town. The main village of Littleton, a census-designated place, has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22 km²), of which 0.12% is water.

Littleton is drained by the Ammonoosuc River. The Moore Dam on the Connecticut River forms Moore Reservoir in the north. The highest point in the town is the summit of Towns Mountain, at 2,203 feet (671 m) above sea level.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,845 people, 2,514 households, and 1,588 families residing in the town. The population density was 116.3 people per square mile (44.9/km²). There were 2,746 housing units at an average density of 21.1 persons/km² (54.7 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 0.38% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,514 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,887, and the median income for a family was $49,915. Males had a median income of $29,081 versus $21,335 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,803. 11.4% of the population and 8.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.7% are under the age of 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older.

Town center

Downtown on Main Street looking east

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,431 people, 1,956 households, and 1,169 families residing in the main village, or census-designated place, of Littleton. The population density was 514.8 people per square mile (198.7/km²). There were 2,093 housing units at an average density of 93.9 persons/km² (243.2 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 96.12% White, 0.32% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,956 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,674, and the median income for a family was $50,478. Males had a median income of $28,000 versus $20,576 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,843. 12.4% of the population and 8.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.8% are under the age of 18 and 22.3% are 65 or older.

• 

  Bird's-eye view c. 1910

• 

  Main Street in 1908

• 

  Thayer's Hotel in 1908

Sites of interest

Town Building and Opera House in 1908

• Bronze statue of Eleanor H. Porter's famous creation, Pollyanna. Downtown; unveiled 2002^{[citation needed]}
• Chutters Candy Store - claims to have "The Longest Candy Counter in the World"
• Kilburn Brothers Building - Where stereo view cards were made
• The River Walk and Covered Bridge^{[citation needed]}
• Downtown Historical Walk (marked by plaques on or near various buildings along Main Street)^{[citation needed]}
• Littleton Opera House^{[citation needed]}
• The Littleton Grist Mill^{[citation needed]}
• Littleton Coin Company
• Littleton Farmers Market, July to October, on Sundays

Transportation

The center of Littleton is accessible from three exits of Interstate 93, and a fourth exit serves the western end of town near the Vermont border. U.S. Route 302 runs east-west through the town center as its Main Street. As of January 2006 Littleton is also served by a public transportation bus route connecting with Whitefield and Lancaster.

Notable inhabitants

• GG Allin, shock rocker; buried in Littleton
• Rich Gale, major league pitcher
• Hugh Gallen, 74th governor of New Hampshire
• Geoffrey Hendricks, artist
• Benjamin W. Kilburn, machinist, veteran, photographer, stereoscopic publisher
• Eleanor H. Porter, author of Pollyanna and Pollyanna Grows Up

External links

• Town website
• Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce
• Littleton Information and Activities
• Littleton Public Library
• Families of the White Mountain Railroad, images and genealogy
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile