Chester, New Hampshire
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| Chester, New Hampshire | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Incorporated | 1722 |
| Government | |
| - Board of Selectmen | Mike Weider Stephen Landau Jack Cannon Mark Harris James Hassam |
| Area | |
| - Total | 26.0 sq mi (67.4 km²) |
| - Land | 25.9 sq mi (67.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) 0.42% |
| Elevation | 467 ft (142 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 3,792 |
| - Density | 146.4/sq mi (56.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 03036 |
| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-12100 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873564 |
| Website: www.chesternh.org | |
Chester is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,792 at the 2000 census. It is home to Chester College (formerly White Pines College).
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[edit] History
Incorporated in 1722, Chester once included Candia, set off in 1763. First called "the chestnut country," it may have been the first of the settlement grants by Massachusetts selected for expansion of growing populations in the seacoast. The name may be derived from Cheshire, Chester being the county seat of Cheshire in England. Earl of Chester is a title held by the Prince of Wales. Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was a summer resident and took Chester as his middle name because of his love for the town.[citation needed]
 Town Hall in 1913 |
 Blacksmith Shop in 1909 |
 Chester Street c. 1910 |
[edit] Notable Residents
- Charles H. Bell, governor
- John Bell, governor
- Samuel Bell, governor
- Samuel Dana Bell, jurist
- Samuel Newell Bell, congressman
- Isaac Blasdel, clockmaker
- "Lord" Timothy Dexter, eccentric early American businessman
- Daniel Chester French, sculptor (summer resident)
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.0 square miles (67 km²), of which 25.9 sq mi (67 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km²) (0.42%) is water. The Exeter River rises in Chester. The highest point in town is an unnamed summit, reaching 639 feet (195 m) above sea level, near the town's southwest corner. Chester lies mostly within the Piscataqua River (Coastal) watershed, though the western edge of town is in the Merrimack River watershed.[1]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,792 people, 1,214 households, and 1,011 families residing in the town. The population density was 146.4 people per square mile (56.5/km²). There were 1,247 housing units at an average density of 48.1/sq mi (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 0.26% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,214 households out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.3% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,571, and the median income for a family was $75,092. Males had a median income of $44,056 versus $35,382 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,842. About 3.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
According to the most recent figures Chester has the third highest median property values in the state, and Chester residents have the highest median income.[citation needed]
[edit] Education
Preschools: Chester Pre-School (Private), Chester Academy (Public), Country Christian Daycare (Private)
Elementary School / Middle School: Chester Academy (Public)
High School: Pinkerton Academy, Derry (Private)
Pinkerton Academy is technically a private school, but it contracts with Derry, Chester, and Hampstead. Those three towns pay the Academy with tax money.
[edit] References
- ^ 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 on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Town website
- Chester Historical Society
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
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