Newfields, New Hampshire

Newfields, New Hampshire
—  Town  —
Swamscott Street
Location in Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 43°02′13″N 70°56′18″W / 43.03694°N 70.93833°W / 43.03694; -70.93833Coordinates: 43°02′13″N 70°56′18″W / 43.03694°N 70.93833°W / 43.03694; -70.93833
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Rockingham
Incorporated	1849
Government
- Board of Selectmen	Rosanne Gilbert Wes Moore Michael Woodworth
Area
- Total	7.2 sq mi (18.6 km2)
- Land	7.0 sq mi (18.2 km2)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)  2.23%
Elevation	75 ft (23 m)
Population (2010)
- Total	1,680
- Density	233.3/sq mi (90.1/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	03856
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-51380
GNIS feature ID	0873678
Website	www.newfieldsnh.gov

Newfields is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,680 at the 2010 census.^[1] The primary village in town, where 301 people resided at the 2010 census,^[1] is defined as the Newfields census-designated place (CDP), and is located along New Hampshire Route 85 and the Squamscott River. It is a quaint village of handsome old houses.

History

Incorporated in 1849, Newfields was part of Exeter until 1727, when it became part of Newmarket. Settled in 1638, it was called Newfield Village as early as 1681, and later South Newmarket, a parish of that town. Garrison houses, built as protection against Indian attack, were not uncommon. Among the earliest tithingmen in the village were Jonathan Robinson (1678), Abraham and Jeremiah Folsom (1720), Andrew Glidden (1721), Trueworthy Leavitt (1725), Samuel Edgerly (1728), Nathaniel Gilman (1729) and Nathaniel Webster (1729).^[2]

In 1775, a bridge was built across the Squamscott River connecting the community with Stratham. This shortened the journey to Exeter, established that year as the Revolutionary capital. But the new route bypassed the center of town, built on either side of an ancient Squamscot Indian trail. This preserved old Newfields.

Wesleyan Academy was established here in 1817, a Methodist school of 5 boys and 5 girls under the tutelage of Reverend John Brodhead and others. Coeducation was then rather advanced. Unfortunately, the academy struggled financially from the start because of, as administrators would conclude, "...its location in a setting of relatively few Methodists, of limited means..." And so, in 1825, it removed to Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The academy's site is now occupied by the Newfields Elementary School.

In 1841, the Boston and Maine Railroad extended service to the community. In 1880, Dr. John M. Brodhead presented his own library and $10,000 to the town on condition that it be renamed Newfields. The town was so incorporated in 1895.

Gallery

• 

  Main Street

• 

  Newfields Country Store

• 

  Town landing

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which 7.0 sq mi (18.1 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²) is water, comprising 2.23% of the town. It is drained by the Piscassic River, a tributary of the Lamprey River, and bounded to the east by the Squamscott River. The highest point in Newfields is the summit of Oakland Hill at 240 feet (73 m) above sea level, on the town's southern border.

The town is crossed by New Hampshire Route 85, New Hampshire Route 87 and New Hampshire Route 108.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,551 people, 516 households, and 431 families residing in the town. The population density was 220.9 people per square mile (85.3/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 75.8 per square mile (29.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.94% White, 0.13% African American, 0.84% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.

There were 516 households out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 9.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $71,375, and the median income for a family was $75,078. Males had a median income of $50,417 versus $31,607 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,687. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Notable inhabitants

• William Badger, master shipbuilder
• John Brodhead, congressman
• Harriet and Isabel Paul, major contributors to build the Paul Creative Arts Center (dedicated in 1960) at the University of New Hampshire and the Paul Memorial Library (established in 1954), the Newfields town library, which is on the site of the former residence of the Paul sisters
• James Pike, congressman

References

1. ^ ^{a b} United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
2. ^ History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638–1911, James Hill Fitts, Printed by J. Lane Fitts, Concord, New Hampshire, 1912
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Town website
• Newfields Public Library
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
• History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911, James Hill Fitts,1912