Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Town in New Hampshire, United States

Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Town

Houses in historic Hillsborough Center

Seal

Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

Coordinates: 43°06′53″N 71°53′42″W﻿ / ﻿43.11472°N 71.89500°W﻿ / 43.11472; -71.89500
Country| United States
State| New Hampshire
County| Hillsborough
Incorporated| 1772
Villages|

* Hillsborough
* Hillsborough Center
* Hillsborough Lower Village
* Hillsborough Upper Village
* Emerald Lake Village

Government

• Board of Selectmen|

* James C. Bailey III, Chair
* Iris Campbell
* Richard Pelletier

• Town Administrator| Laura Buono[1]
Area

[2]

• Total

| 44.7 sq mi (115.8 km2)
• Land| 43.7 sq mi (113.2 km2)
• Water| 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)  2.24%
Elevation

| 636 ft (194 m)
Population

(2020)[3]

• Total

| 5,939
• Density| 136/sq mi (52.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code|

03244

Area code| 603
FIPS code| 33-36180
GNIS feature ID| 0873625
Website| www.town.hillsborough.nh.us

Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,939 at the 2020 census.[3] The town is home to Fox State Forest and part of Low State Forest.

The main village of the town, where 2,156 people resided at the 2020 census,[4] is defined as the Hillsborough census-designated place (CDP), and is located along the Contoocook River at the junction of New Hampshire Route 149 with Henniker Street and Main Street. The town also includes the villages of Hillsborough Center, Hillsborough Upper Village, Hillsborough Lower Village, and Emerald Lake Village.

## History

[edit]

School Street in 1907

The town was first granted in 1735 by Jonathan Belcher, colonial governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as "Number Seven", one in a line of nine Massachusetts towns set up as defense barriers against Indian attacks. The towns were renamed after the border between the two provinces was fixed in 1739, placing the towns in New Hampshire. Settled in 1741, the town was granted in 1748 by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Hillsborough", named for Sir Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough.[5] It would be incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth.

Hillsborough was the birthplace of Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States and the only president from New Hampshire. The Pierce Homestead was built in 1804 (the year of his birth) by his father, Benjamin Pierce, a general in the Revolutionary War, and twice governor of New Hampshire. Restored in 1925, the home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house is today a museum owned by the state and operated by the Hillsborough Historical Society.

Pierce Homestead c. 1922

A cluster of five stone arch bridges built during the 19th century in Hillsborough is designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Railroad service was supplied to Hillsborough by the Boston and Maine Railroad from 1878 to 1972. Rail service north to Henniker ceased in 1942, and Hillsborough became the end point on a line that once stretched in an arc from Nashua to Concord, New Hampshire. The rails in Hillsborough were torn up in 1979. Hillsborough was once home to an iconic railroad covered bridge and a curved wooden trestle. The bridge burned due to arson in 1985, and the trestle was dismantled shortly thereafter. The Hillsborough Branch now ends at Bennington; the line from Bennington to Hillsborough is a rail trail.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.7 square miles (115.8 km2), of which 43.7 square miles (113.2 km2) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) are water, comprising 2.24% of the town.[2] The town center, or census-designated place, has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km2). [6]

The highest point in Hillsborough is Thompson Hill, at 1,768 feet (539 m) above sea level, in the northern part of town. Hillsborough is drained by the Contoocook River and its tributaries, Beards and Sand brooks. Part of Franklin Pierce Lake is in the southwest. The town lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[7]

### Adjacent municipalities

[edit]

* Bradford (north)
* Henniker (east)
* Deering (southeast)
* Antrim (south)
* Windsor (west)
* Washington (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 798| | —
1800| 1,311| | 64.3%
1810| 1,592| | 21.4%
1820| 1,982| | 24.5%
1830| 1,792| | −9.6%
1840| 1,808| | 0.9%
1850| 1,685| | −6.8%
1860| 1,623| | −3.7%
1870| 1,595| | −1.7%
1880| 1,646| | 3.2%
1890| 2,120| | 28.8%
1900| 2,254| | 6.3%
1910| 2,168| | −3.8%
1920| 2,229| | 2.8%
1930| 2,160| | −3.1%
1940| 2,269| | 5.0%
1950| 2,179| | −4.0%
1960| 2,310| | 6.0%
1970| 2,775| | 20.1%
1980| 3,437| | 23.9%
1990| 4,498| | 30.9%
2000| 4,928| | 9.6%
2010| 6,011| | 22.0%
2020| 5,939| | −1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
Contoocook Mills in 1907

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,011 people, 2,392 households, and 1,614 families residing in the town. The population density was 137.9 inhabitants per square mile (53.2/km2). There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 66.4 per square mile (25.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.[9]

There were 2,392 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were headed by married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 2.98.[9]

Gov. John Butler Smith Mansion, now the Community Building

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.[9]

For the period 2007–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $54,386, and the median income for a family was $67,621. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,583 versus $32,030 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,232. About 7.1% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.[10]

## Education

[edit]

Hillsborough is part of School Administrative Unit (SAU) 34. Public schools serving the community of Hillsboro include:

* Hillsboro-Deering Elementary School
* Hillsboro-Deering Middle School
* Hillsboro-Deering High School

## Sites of interest

[edit]

* Contoocook Mills Industrial District
* DAR Museum Room, in the Fuller Public Library
* Five Stone Arch Bridges
* Franklin Pierce Homestead (1804)
* Railroad Bridge (1903–1985)
* Union Chapel (1887)

## Notable people

[edit]

* Christopher Columbus Andrews (1829–1922), soldier, diplomat, newspaperman, author, forester
* David Bailey, abolitionist in Abraham Lincoln legal case Cromwell vs. Bailey and militia officer in the Black Hawk War (1832)[11]
* Wilson Bethel (born 1984), actor
* James Frankland Briggs (1827–1905), politician
* Benjamin Pierce Cheney (1815–1895), a founder of American Express
* James Hill (1825–1897), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate
* Benjamin Franklin Keith (1846–1914), vaudeville theater owner
* Timothy G. O'Connell (1868–1955), architect
* Benjamin Pierce (1757–1839), governor of New Hampshire and father of President Franklin Pierce
* Benjamin Kendrick Pierce (1790–1850), United States Army officer, son of Benjamin Pierce, brother of Franklin Pierce
* Franklin Pierce (1804–1869), 14th President of the United States
* John Butler Smith (1838–1914), manufacturer, 44th governor of New Hampshire
* Gertrude Bass Warner (1863–1951), art collector, pioneer of museum studies
* Ethan Zohn (1973), reality television contestant

## References

[edit]

* New Hampshire portal

1. ^ "Town Administration". Retrieved April 21, 2019.
2. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
3. ^ a b "Hillsborough town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
4. ^ "Hillsborough CDP, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
5. ^ Browne, George Waldo (1921). The History of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1: History and Description. Published by the town. p. 88.
6. ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files (Places) – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
7. ^ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
9. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Hillsborough town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
10. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Hillsborough town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
11. ^ Moore, William F. and Jane Anne, Collaborators for Emancipation: Abraham Lincoln and Owen Lovejoy, pg. 53

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

* Official website
* Greater Hillsborough Area Chamber of Commerce
* Fuller Public Library
* New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

Places adjacent to Hillsborough, New Hampshire

| Washington | Bradford | Henniker

|
|

|  |
Windsor |

Hillsborough

| Henniker
|  |
Antrim | Antrim | Deering

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States

County seats: Manchester and Nashua

Cities|

* Manchester
* Nashua

Map of New Hampshire highlighting Hillsborough County

Towns|

* Amherst
* Antrim
* Bedford
* Bennington
* Brookline
* Deering
* Francestown
* Goffstown
* Greenfield
* Greenville
* Hancock
* Hillsborough
* Hollis
* Hudson
* Litchfield
* Lyndeborough
* Mason
* Merrimack
* Milford
* Mont Vernon
* New Boston
* New Ipswich
* Pelham
* Peterborough
* Sharon
* Temple
* Weare
* Wilton
* Windsor

CDPs|

* Amherst
* Antrim
* Bennington
* East Merrimack
* Francestown
* Goffstown
* Greenville
* Hancock
* Hillsborough
* Hudson
* Klondike Corner
* Milford
* New Boston
* Peterborough
* Pinardville
* Wilton

Other villages|

* Grasmere
* Reeds Ferry
* West Peterborough

* New Hampshire portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Merrimack River watershed

Tributaries|

| Massachusetts|

* Artichoke River
* Assabet River
* Back River
* Beaver Brook
* Cochichewick River
* Concord River
* Little River
* Merrimack River
* Nashua River
* Nissitissit River
* North Nashua River
* Phillips Brook
* Powwow River
* Quinapoxet River
* Salmon Brook
* Shawsheen River
* South Branch Souhegan River
* South Nashua River
* Spicket River
* Squannacook River
* Stillwater River
* Stony Brook
* Sudbury River
* Trout Brook
* Vine Brook
* Whitman River

|

New Hampshire|

* Baboosic Brook
* Back River
* Baker River
* Bear Brook
* Beards Brook
* Beaver Brook
* Beebe River
* Big River
* Black Brook
* Blackwater River
* Cockermouth River
* Cohas Brook
* Contoocook River
* East Branch Baker River
* East Branch Pemigewasset River
* Fowler River
* Frazier Brook
* Gridley River
* Gunstock River
* Lane River
* Little River (Big River)
* Little River (Merrimack River)
* Little Massabesic Brook-Sucker Brook
* Little Suncook River
* Lost River
* Mad River
* Melvin River
* Merrimack River
* Merrymeeting River
* Middle Branch Piscataquog River
* Moosilauke Brook
* Nashua River
* Newfound River
* Nissitissit River
* North Branch Contoocook River
* North Fork East Branch Pemigewasset River
* Nubanusit Brook
* Pemigewasset River
* Pennichuck Brook
* Piscataquog River
* Powwow River
* Purgatory Brook
* Red Hill River
* Salmon Brook
* Shedd Brook
* Smith River
* Soucook River
* Souhegan River
* South Branch Baker River
* South Branch Piscataquog River
* South Branch Souhegan River
* Spicket River
* Squam River
* Stony Brook
* Suncook River
* Tioga River
* Turkey River
* Warner River
* West Branch Mad River
* West Branch Souhegan River
* West Branch Warner River
* Winnipesaukee River

Lakes|

| Massachusetts|

* Lake Attitash
* Lake Boon
* Lake Cochichewick
* Lake Cochituate
* Fairhaven Bay
* Haggetts Pond
* Lost Lake
* Lake Saltonstall
* Tuxbury Pond
* Wachusett Reservoir
* Walden Pond

|

New Hampshire|

* Arlington Mill Reservoir
* Ayers Island Reservoir
* Baboosic Lake
* Canobie Lake
* Cobbetts Pond
* Contoocook Lake
* Country Pond
* Crystal Lake (Gilmanton)
* Crystal Lake (Manchester)
* Deering Reservoir
* Franklin Pierce Lake
* Great Pond
* Halfmoon Lake
* Harrisville Pond
* Highland Lake
* Hopkins Pond (Adder Pond)
* Island Pond (Derry)
* Island Pond (Stoddard)
* Jenness Pond
* Lake Kanasatka
* Little Squam Lake
* Locke Lake
* Lonesome Lake
* Massabesic Lake
* Lake Massasecum
* Merrymeeting Lake
* Mirror Lake
* Newfound Lake
* Northwood Lake
* Nubanusit Lake
* Opechee Bay
* Paugus Bay
* Pemigewasset Lake
* Penacook Lake
* Pleasant Lake (Deerfield)
* Pleasant Lake (New London)
* Potanipo Pond
* Powder Mill Pond
* Powwow Pond
* Profile Lake
* Sebbins Pond
* Silver Lake (Hollis)
* Skatutakee Lake
* Lake Solitude
* Squam Lake
* Stinson Lake
* Suncook Lakes
* Sunset Lake
* Thorndike Pond
* Turkey Ponds
* Tuxbury Pond
* Lake Waukewan
* Weare Reservoir
* Webster Lake
* Lake Wentworth
* White Oak Pond
* Lake Wicwas
* Willard Pond
* Lake Winnipesaukee
* Lake Winnisquam

Towns|

| Massachusetts|

* Acton
* Amesbury
* Andover
* Ashland
* Bedford
* Billerica
* Burlington
* Chelmsford
* Clinton
* Concord
* Dracut
* Fitchburg
* Framingham
* Groton
* Groveland
* Haverhill
* Hopkinton
* Hudson
* Lawrence
* Leominster
* Lexington
* Lowell
* Lunenburg
* Marlborough
* Maynard
* Merrimac
* Methuen
* Newburyport
* North Andover
* Northborough
* Pepperell
* Salisbury
* Sudbury
* Tewksbury
* Tyngsborough
* West Newbury
* Westborough
* Westford

|

New Hampshire|

* Allenstown
* Amherst
* Ashland
* Atkinson
* Bedford
* Belmont
* Boscawen
* Bow
* Bridgewater
* Bristol
* Campton
* Canterbury
* Concord
* Derry
* Franklin
* Gilford
* Goffstown
* Hampstead
* Hill
* Hillsborough
* Holderness
* Hollis
* Hooksett
* Hopkinton
* Hudson
* Kingston
* Laconia
* Lincoln
* Litchfield
* Londonderry
* Manchester
* Meredith
* Merrimack
* Milford
* Nashua
* New Hampton
* Northfield
* Pelham
* Pembroke
* Penacook
* Peterborough
* Plaistow
* Plymouth
* Salem
* Sanbornton
* Suncook
* Thornton
* Tilton
* Weare
* Windham
* Wolfeboro
* Woodstock

Landmarks|

* Amoskeag Falls
* Bear Brook State Park
* Belknap Mountains
* Blackwater Dam
* Egg Rock
* Franconia Notch State Park
* Franklin Falls Dam
* Gunstock Mountain
* Hannah Duston Memorial
* Hobo Railroad
* Lakes Region
* Lost River Reservation
* Middlesex Canal
* Minute Man National Historical Park
* Mount Major
* Mount Monadnock
* Mount Pemigewasset
* Mount Rowe
* Pawtucket Falls
* Pemigewasset Wilderness
* Sculptured Rocks Natural Area
* Wellington State Park
* White Mountains

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany

Other|

* Yale LUX

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*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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