Loudon, New Hampshire
Loudon, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Loudon village | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Merrimack County, New Hampshire | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Merrimack |
| Incorporated | 1773 |
| Government | |
| • Board of Selectmen | Dustin Bowles, Chair Steven R. Ives Robert P. Krieger |
| Area | |
| • Total | 47.5 sq mi (123.0 km2) |
| • Land | 46.8 sq mi (121.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km2) 1.41% |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,317 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03307 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-43380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873652 |
| Website | www.loudonnh.org |
Loudon is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,317 at the 2010 census.[1] Loudon is the home of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The primary settlement in town, where 559 people resided at the 2010 census,[1] is defined as the Loudon census-designated place and is located along the Soucook River at the southern terminus of New Hampshire Route 129.
History
The town of Loudon was originally incorporated by Governor John Wentworth on January 23, 1773.[2] Loudon was originally formed of territory taken from Canterbury. The new town was named in honor of John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, a Scottish soldier and aide-de-camp to King George II during the French and Indian War. Loudoun also helped to establish an independent company of colonial militia, called Roger's Rangers, who were attached to the British Army during the French and Indian War. One of Lord Loudoun's aides, John Loudon McAdam, invented a new process called macadamizing for building roads that were more durable and less muddy than soil-based roads.[3]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.5 square miles (123 km2), of which 46.8 sq mi (121 km2) is land and 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) is water, comprising 1.41% of the town. The town's highest point is near its northern border, where an unnamed summit just north of the location known as Sabattus Heights reaches 1,050 feet (320 m) above sea level.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 4,481 people, 1,611 households, and 1,256 families residing in the town. The population density was 95.7 people per square mile (37.0/km²). There were 1,684 housing units at an average density of 36.0 per square mile (13.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.24% White, 0.25% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 1,611 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,185, and the median income for a family was $59,096. Males had a median income of $39,216 versus $25,694 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,673. About 4.2% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
- The town of Loudon sends children to Loudon Elementary School for kindergarten through 5th grade.
- Children in grades 6, 7, and 8 attend Merrimack Valley Middle School in Penacook.
- Children in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 attend Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook.
Sites of interest
Loudon is home to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is home to the Camping World RV Sales 301 and the Sylvania 300, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series the New England 200, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series the Sylvania 150, and is also home to the Loudon Classic, America's Oldest Motorcycle Race.
References
- ^ a b United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Hammond, Isaac W. (1883). Documents Relating To Towns In New Hampshire. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ "Loudon, NH" (PDF). Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |