Westmoreland, New Hampshire

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Westmoreland, 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 = David R. Putnam, Chairman
Elaine M. Moore
Wesley I. Staples
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1752
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 95.5
area_total_sq_mi = 36.9
area_land_km2 = 92.9
area_land_sq_mi = 35.9
area_water_km2 = 2.6
area_water_sq_mi = 1.0
area_water_percent = 2.71
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 1747
population_density_km2 = 18.8
population_density_sq_mi = 48.7
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 57 |lats = 43 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 26 |longs = 32 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 127
elevation_ft = 417
website = [http://www.westmorelandtown.com/ www.westmorelandtown.com/]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03467
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-82660
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873753
footnotes =

Westmoreland is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,747 at the 2000 census. Westmoreland is historically an agricultural town, with much arable farmland.

History

Once known as "Great Meadows", this town was first granted in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as "Number 2", second in a line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When New Hampshire became an independent province, the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Westmoreland", named for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland.

The Park Hill Meeting House in Westmoreland, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779, and renovated in 1826.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|36.9|sqmi|km2|lk=on|1, of which convert|35.9|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|1 is land and convert|1.0|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|1, or 2.71%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River. Hyland Hill, elevation convert|1510|ft|m|lk=on above sea level and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and is a local hiking and hunting destination. The working fire tower has loud practice drills that can be heard from all over the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 families residing in the town. The population density was 48.7 people per square mile (18.8/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2/sq mi (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.

There were 576 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,875, and the median income for a family was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.westmorelandtown.com Town website]
* [http://www.westmorelandtown.com/Town%20library.htm Westmoreland Public Library]
* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/westmoreland.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]