Campton, New Hampshire

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


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imagesize =
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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 = Charles W. Cheney, Chairman
Charles Wheeler
James D. McGarr
Jon Homer
Sharon Davis
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1767
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 136.0
area_total_sq_mi = 52.5
area_land_km2 = 134.5
area_land_sq_mi = 51.9
area_water_km2 = 1.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.6
area_water_percent = 1.12
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 2719
population_density_km2 = 20.2
population_density_sq_mi = 52.4
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 43 |latm = 51 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 38 |longs = 12 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 206
elevation_ft = 676
website = [http://www.camptonnh.org/ www.camptonnh.org]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03223
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-08660
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873556
footnotes =

Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,719 at the 2000 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest. It is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the northeast.

History

The town was originally granted in 1761 to General Jabez Spencer of East Haddam, Connecticut. It was first settled about 1765, but General Spencer died before the terms of charter, which required settlement by 50 families, each farming convert|5|acre|m2 for every 50 received, was complete. Therefore, his heirs and others were given a new grant in 1767. Campton may take its name from Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington. Compton was a friend of colonial governor Benning Wentworth, and had been influential in Wentworth's attaining his post in 1741.

Sylvester Marsh, builder of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, had his boyhood home in Campton. The town has three covered bridges, including Blair Bridge, which is convert|292|ft|m, 10 inches long, the second longest of those entirely within the state.

Sites of Interest

* Blair Bridge (1829, rebuilt 1870)
* Town House (1855), Campton Historical Society

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|52.5|sqmi|km2, of which convert|51.9|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is land and convert|0.6|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is water, comprising 1.12% of the town. The highest point in Campton is Mount Weetamoo, at convert|2548|ft|m above sea level. The town is drained by the Mad River and Pemigewasset River. Campton 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 2,719 people, 1,128 households, and 759 families residing in the town. The population density was 52.4 people per square mile (20.2/km²). There were 1,759 housing units at an average density of 33.9/sq mi (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.01% White, 0.04% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 1,128 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% 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 2.89.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,213, and the median income for a family was $46,492. Males had a median income of $30,640 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,189. About 5.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.camptonnh.org Town website]
* [http://www.watervillevalleyregion.com/HistoricalSociety/ Campton Historical Society]
* [http://www.camptonpubliclibrary.com/ Campton Public Library]
* [http://www.camptonnhpd.org/ Campton Police Department]
* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/campton.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7072483/ National Public Radio profile of bus drivers in Campton, NH]