Lincoln, New Hampshire

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lincoln, New Hampshire
nickname =
motto =


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imagesize =
image_caption =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
settlement_type = Town


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Hampshire
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Grafton
government_type =
leader_title = Board of Selectmen
leader_name = Deanna Huot, Chair Peter Moore Patricia McTeague
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1764
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 339.1
area_total_sq_mi = 130.9
area_land_km2 = 338.5
area_land_sq_mi = 130.7
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
area_water_percent = 0.17
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 1271
population_density_km2 = 3.8
population_density_sq_mi = 9.7
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 44 |latm = 02 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 40 |longs = 14 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 247
elevation_ft = 811
website = [http://www.lincolnnh.org/ www.lincolnnh.org]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03251
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-41860
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873646
footnotes =

Lincoln is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,271 at the 2000 census. Lincoln, the second-largest town by area in New Hampshire, includes the village of North Lincoln and the former village site of Stillwater. The town is home to the New Hampshire Highland Games and to a portion of Franconia Notch State Park. Large portions of the town are covered by the White Mountain National Forest. The Appalachian Trail crosses in the northeast. Lincoln is the location of the Loon Mountain ski resort and associated recreation-centered development.

History

In 1764, Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth granted convert|32456|acre|km2 to a group of approximately 70 land investors from Connecticut. "Lincoln" was named after Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle, 9th Earl of Lincoln — a cousin of the Wentworth governors. He held the position of Comptroller of Customs for the port of London under George II and George III, which was important to trade between America and England.

The town was settled about 1782. The 1790 census indicates that it had 22 inhabitants. Rocky soil yielded poor farming, but the area's abundant timber, combined with water power to run sawmills on the Pemigewasset River and its East Branch, helped Lincoln develop into a center for logging. By 1853, the Merrimack River Lumber Company was operating. The railroad transported freight, and increasingly brought tourists to the beautiful mountain region. In 1892, James E. Henry bought approximately convert|100000|acre|km2 of virgin timber and established a logging enterprise at what is today the center of Lincoln. In 1902, he built a pulp and paper mill. He erected the "Lincoln House" hotel in 1903, although a 1907 fire would nearly raze the community. Until he died in 1912, Henry controlled his company town, installing relatives in positions of civic authority.

In 1917, Henry's heirs sold the business to the Parker Young Company, which in turn sold it to the Marcalus Manufacturing Company in 1946. Franconia Paper took over in 1950, producing 150 tons of paper a day until bankruptcy in 1971, at which time new river classification standards discouraged further paper-making in Lincoln.

Tourism is today the principal business. Nearby Loon Mountain ski area has long drawn winter tourism, and in recent years has attempted to convert itself into a four-season attraction. "The Flume" is one of the most visited attractions in the state. Discovered in 1808, it is a natural gorge extending convert|800|ft|m at the base of Mount Liberty. Walls of Conway granite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet (21 to 27 m) and are only 12 to 20 feet (2.5 to 6.0 m) apart.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|130.9|sqmi|km2. convert|130.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on of it is land and convert|0.2|sqmi|km2|abbr=on of it is water, comprising 0.17% of the town. It is the second-largest town in area in New Hampshire (after Pittsburg).

Lincoln is drained by the Pemigewasset River and its East Branch. Lincoln lies almost fully within the Merrimack River watershed, with the western edge of town in the Connecticut River watershed.cite book |title=Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers |url=http://nh.water.usgs.gov/Publications/nh.intro.html |last=Foster |first=Debra H. |coauthors=Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; and Medalie, Laura |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey |year=1995] Kancamagus Pass, elevation convert|2860|ft|m, is on the Kancamagus Highway at the eastern boundary. The highest point in Lincoln is either the summit of Mount Carrigain, at convert|4700|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=4 above sea level, plus or minus convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on, or the summit of Mount Bond at convert|4698|ft|m|abbr=on.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,271 people, 583 households, and 324 families residing in the town. The population density was 9.7 people per square mile (3.8/km²). There were 2,339 housing units at an average density of 17.9/sq mi (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.40% White, 0.39% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 583 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,523, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $25,263 versus $22,784 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,999. About 3.4% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

* Clark's Trading Post
* Hobo Railroad
* [http://www.indianheadresort.com/ Indian Head Resort]
* [http://papermilltheatre.org Papermill Theatre, North Country Center for the Arts]
* [http://nhscot.org/index New Hampshire Highland Games]
* Upper Pemigewasset Historical Society Museum
* Whale's Tale Water Park

References

External links

* [http://www.lincolnnh.org/ Lincoln, NH Official Website]
* [http://www.flumegorge.com/ The Flume Gorge & Visitor Center]
* [http://www.logginginlincoln.com/Page4.html History of Lincoln, New Hampshire]
* [http://www.lincoln.lib.nh.us Lincoln Public Library]
* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/lincoln.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]