Ashland, New Hampshire

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


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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 = Glenn Dion, Chair
Daniel P. Golden
Richard Bagge
Beth G. Bartlett
Jeanette I Stewart
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1868
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 30.3
area_total_sq_mi = 11.7
area_land_km2 = 29.1
area_land_sq_mi = 11.2
area_water_km2 = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.4
area_water_percent = 3.84
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 1955
population_density_km2 = 67.1
population_density_sq_mi = 173.7
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 43 |latm = 41 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 37 |longs = 54 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 170
elevation_ft = 558
website = [http://www.ashland.nh.gov/ ashland.nh.gov]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03217
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-02020
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873534
footnotes =

Ashland is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,955 at the 2000 census. Located near the geographical center of the state, Ashland is home to Scribner-Fellows State Forest.

History

Ashland was once the southwestern corner of Holderness, chartered in 1751 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. But hostilities during the French and Indian War delayed settlement, and in 1761, it was regranted as "New Holderness" (although "New" would be dropped in 1816). Settled in 1763, the town was predominantly agricultural except for "Holderness Village" on the Squam River, with falls that drop about 112 feet before meeting the Pemigewasset River. The falls provided water power for mills, and in 1770-1771, a sawmill and gristmill were built. The Squam Lake Woolen Mill was established in 1840. Goods manufactured at local factories included hosiery, gloves, sporting equipment, wood products and paper.

The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad entered in 1849, carrying freight but also tourists bound for hotels on the Squam Lakes, to which they traveled by steamer up the Squam River. The interests of the industrialized settlement increasingly diverged from those of the farming community, however, and in 1868 "Holderness Village" was set off as "Ashland," named for Ashland, the Kentucky estate of Henry Clay. The last textile mill, the L.W. Packard Company, would close in 2002, and Ashland is today a residential and resort community.

Notable Inhabitants

* Oren B. Cheney, founder of Bates College
* Person C. Cheney, U.S. Senator & governor
* George Hoyt Whipple, pathologist & Nobel Prize winner

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|11.7|sqmi|km2, of which convert|11.2|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is land and convert|0.4|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is water, comprising 3.84% of the town. Bounded on the west by the Pemigewasset River, Ashland is drained by the Squam River and Owl Brook. Little Squam Lake is on the eastern boundary. The highest point in Ashland is Hicks Hill, at convert|1386|ft|m above sea level. Ashland lies fully within the Merrimack 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]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,955 people, 853 households, and 515 families residing in the town. The population density was 173.7 people per square mile (67.1/km²). There were 1,149 housing units at an average density of 102.1/sq mi (39.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.44% White, 0.36% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 853 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,345, and the median income for a family was $38,487. Males had a median income of $29,630 versus $23,242 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,450. About 7.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of Interest

* Ashland Train Depot (c. 1869, 1891)
* Pauline E. Glidden Toy Museum (c. 1810)
* St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1899
* Whipple House Museum (1837)

References

External links

* [http://www.ashland.nh.gov Town website]
* [http://www.ashlandnh.org/histsoc.html Ashland Historical Society]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6447/history.html History of Ashland, New Hampshire]
* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/ashland.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]