Jaffrey, New Hampshire

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


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imagesize =
image_caption =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Cheshire 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 = Cheshire
government_type =
leader_title = Board of Selectmen
leader_name = G. Clay Hollister
Donald MacIsaac
Franklin Sterling
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1773
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 103.7
area_total_sq_mi = 40.0
area_land_km2 = 99.2
area_land_sq_mi = 38.3
area_water_km2 = 4.5
area_water_sq_mi = 1.7
area_water_percent = 4.32
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 5476
population_density_km2 = 55.2
population_density_sq_mi = 143.0
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 48 |lats = 50 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 01 |longs = 23 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 302
elevation_ft = 991
website = [http://town.jaffrey.nh.us/ town.jaffrey.nh.us]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03452
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-38500
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873633
footnotes =

Jaffrey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,476 at the 2000 census.

The primary settlement in town, where over 51% of the population resides, is defined as the Jaffrey census-designated place (CDP) and is located along the Contoocook River at the junction of U.S. Route 202 and New Hampshire Routes 124 and 137.

History

First granted in 1736 to soldiers from Rowley, Massachusetts, returning from the war in Canada, the town was known as "Rowley-Canada". In 1749, the town was re-chartered by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as "Monadnock No. 2", sometimes called "Middle Monadnock" or "Middletown". It was one of the first towns established under the New Hampshire proprietors' purchase of undivided lands under the Masonian claim.

Settled about 1758, the town was regranted in 1767. It would be incorporated in 1773 by Governor John Wentworth, and named for George Jaffrey, member of a prominent Portsmouth family. Jaffrey's son was a life trustee of Dartmouth College, and designer of the official college seal. The Contoocook River provided water power for mills. Village prosperity would be expressed in fine antique architecture, including the Town Meetinghouse, built in 1775.

Beginning in the 1840s, the area's scenic beauty attracted tourists, and several summer hotels were built at the base of Mount Monadnock, enduringly popular with hikers. Some who scaled the summit were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Rudyard Kipling. The experience inspired Emerson in 1845 to write the poem, "Monadnoc".

Jaffrey was the setting for a 1950 biography by Elizabeth Yates entitled "Amos Fortune, Free Man", winner of the 1951 Newbery Medal. Amos Fortune was an African-born slave who purchased his freedom and that of his wife, and established a tannery in the village. He is buried in the local cemetery, together with bandbox craftswoman, Hannah Davis, and author, Willa Cather, who was a summer resident.

Jaffrey was the inspiration for a chapter in "Parliament of Whores" by PJ O'Rourke, who was a resident for several years.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|40.0|sqmi|km2, of which convert|38.3|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is land and convert|1.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is water, comprising 4.32% of the town. The town center, or census-designated place, has a total area of convert|2.6|sqmi|km2|abbr=on. convert|2.5|sqmi|km2|abbr=on of it is land and convert|0.1|sqmi|km2|abbr=on of it (3.83%) is water.

Thorndike Pond is in the north, and Contoocook Lake is on the southern boundary. Mount Monadnock, elevation convert|3165|ft|m above sea level and the highest point in Jaffrey, is in the northwest. Jaffrey lies mostly within the Merrimack River watershed, via the Contoocook River in the eastern part of the town, with the northwest corner of town lying in the Ashuelot River watershed, part of the larger 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]

Located in southeast Cheshire County, the town of Jaffrey is bordered by Dublin to the north, Peterborough and Sharon to the east (both part of Hillsborough County), Rindge to the south, and Troy and Marlborough to the west.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,476 people, 2,120 households, and 1,464 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.0 people per square mile (55.2/km²). There were 2,352 housing units at an average density of 23.7 persons/km² (61.4 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.42% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,120 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,033, and the median income for a family was $48,703. Males had a median income of $35,349 versus $26,773 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,412. 7.8% of the population and 3.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.2% are under the age of 18 and 10.0% are 65 or older.

Town center

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,802 people, 1,157 households, and 730 families residing in the town center, or census-designated place. The population density was 1,114.2 people per square mile (431.0/km²). There were 1,217 housing units at an average density of 187.2 persons/km² (483.9 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% White, 0.29% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.68% Asian, and 1.39% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,157 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 13.4% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household is $35,880, and the median income for a family was $45,343. Males had a median income of $29,606 versus $26,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,781. 10.8% of the population and 5.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.8% are under the age of 18 and 10.2% are 65 or older.

chool system

Jaffrey, along with the town of Rindge, is part of the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District, also known as SAU 47. The public schools in the town are Jaffrey Grade School (grades K–5), Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School (6–8), and Conant High School (9–12). There is also a parochial school, St. Patrick School (K–8), as well as a private high school, Victory High School (9–12).

Since 1997, there has been debate over the necessity of a new high school due to increasing enrollment. [http://town.jaffrey.nh.us/] Overcrowding is said to be a problem, but voters have failed to pass votes for a new one. Six modular classrooms (two at the high school, four at the middle school) are currently rented to accommodate students. In 2005, voters passed a bill to add an addition onto the existing middle school, update the science laboratories in the high school, and construct a running track in place of existing wetlands. The whole project is scheduled to be completed in 2008.cite news |last=Town of Jaffrey |url=http://town.jaffrey.nh.us/ |title=2004 Economic Development Plan |date=2004 |accessdate=2006-02-28 ]

References

External links

* [http://town.jaffrey.nh.us Town website]
* [http://www.keenenh.com/jaffrey/library.asp Jaffrey Public Library]
* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/jaffrey.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]