Meredith, New Hampshire
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| Meredith, New Hampshire | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Belknap | ||
| Incorporated | 1768 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Board of Selectmen | Peter Miller, Chair Frank Michel Peter Brothers Colette Worsman Miller Lovett |
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| Area | |||
| - Total | 54.1 sq mi (140.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 30.2 sq mi (104.1 km²) | ||
| - Water | 13.9 sq mi (36.1 km²) 25.73% | ||
| Elevation | 508 ft (155 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 5,943 | ||
| - Density | 147.9/sq mi (57.1/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 03253 | ||
| Area code(s) | 603 | ||
| FIPS code | 33-47140 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0873662 | ||
| Website: www.meredithnh.org | |||
Meredith is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 5,943 at the 2000 census. Meredith is situated beside Lake Winnipesaukee. It is home to Stonedam Island Natural Area and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.
The primary village in town, where over 29% of the population resides, is defined as the Meredith census-designated place (CDP), and is located at the junction of U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 25 at the head of Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.
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[edit] History
Meredith was first known as "Palmer's Town," in honor of Samuel Palmer, a teacher of surveying and navigation, who had laid out much of the land surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee. One of the first towns to have a charter granted by the Masonian Proprietors, many new settlers were from Salem, Massachusetts, and the town was renamed "New Salem." In 1768, the land was regranted by Colonial Governor John Wentworth and named after Sir William Meredith, a member of Parliament who opposed taxation on the colonies.
Meredith was the home of Dudley Leavitt, whose Leavitt's Farmers Almanacks became a staple of early New England life. Leavitt, born in Exeter, New Hampshire and named for his ancestor Rev. Samuel Dudley, began publishing the well-known almanacs in 1797, and continued publishing them when he removed to Meredith.[1] A self-educated farmer and scholar, Leavitt aimed the almanacs at the general population of New England. Leavitt died in Meredith at age 80 on Sept. 20, 1851.[2]
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.1 square miles (140 km²), of which 40.2 sq mi (104 km²) is land and 13.9 sq mi (36 km²) is water or 25.73%. The highest point in Meredith is the summit of Leavitt Mountain, elevation 1,414 feet (431 m) above sea level, in the southwestern part of town.
Meredith village, or the Meredith census-designated place (CDP), has a total area of 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²). 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 sq mi (0.78 km²) of it (18.38%) is water.
[edit] Notable inhabitants
- Bradford Anderson, actor
- Bob Montana, illustrator of original Archie Comics
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,943 people, 2,447 households, and 1,698 families residing in the town. The population density was 147.9 persons per square mile (57.1/km²). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 104.3 per square mile (40.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.91% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,447 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,758, and the median income for a family was $54,764. Males had a median income of $35,766 versus $26,772 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,867. 6.6% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.0% are under the age of 18 and 9.9% are 65 or older.
[edit] Meredith village
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,739 people, 710 households, and 445 families residing in Meredith village, a census-designated place (CDP). The population density was 1,148.0 people per square mile (444.7/km²). There were 832 housing units at an average density of 212.7 persons/km² (549.3 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.12% White, 0.40% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 710 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 37.2% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% 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 2.83.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household is $35,298, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $32,679 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,903. 4.6% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.5% are under the age of 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older.
[edit] Education
Meredith's Inter-Lakes High School is home to the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium, which plays host to The Summer Theatre in Meredith Village (formerly the Lakes Region Summer Theater) every summer. The school competes in NHIAA Class M, and has teams in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, softball and girls' volleyball, as well as a math team that competes in the Small School Division.
[edit] Sites of interest
Museums
Regional theatres and summer stock
Orchestras
Islands
Other
In addition to the inns and hotels that cater to summer vacation visitors, Meredith is home to several summer camps, including Camp Menotomy, run by the former Patriot's Trail Girl Scout Council based in Boston since the early 1920s.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Town website
- Meredith Chamber of Commerce
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Vital Records of Meredith and other NH Towns
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