Strafford, New Hampshire

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Strafford
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location within Strafford 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 = Strafford
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_title = Settled
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date =
established_date2 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 51.4
area_total_km2 = 33.2
area_land_sq_mi = 49.2
area_land_km2 = 127.3
area_water_sq_mi = 2.2
area_water_km2 = 5.8
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 4,047
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 31.8
population_density_sq_mi = 82.3
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 43 |latm = 16 |lats = 13 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 07 |longs = 34 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 181
elevation_ft = 595
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 03884
area_code = 603
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 33-73860
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0873726
footnotes = Strafford is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,626 at the 2000 census. Strafford includes the village of Bow Lake.

History

Once part of Barrington, Strafford was set off due to the lengthy travel required to attend town meetings. Settled prior to the Revolution, the town incorporated in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Strafford County had been organized in 1773 during the administration of Colonial Governor John Wentworth, and named in honor of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford.

The Bow Lake Grange Hall, originally built in 1829 as a steam-operated mill, is now maintained by the [http://www.bowlakecc.org/ Bow Lake Community Club] and home to [http://www.lakesideplayers.org/ The Lakeside Players] , a theatre group.

Notable inhabitants

* Charles Simic, U.S. Poet Laureate (2007- )

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|51.4|sqmi|km2|lk=on, of which convert|49.2|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is land and convert|2.2|sqmi|km2|abbr=on is water, comprising 4.38% of the town. Bow Lake, popular with fishermen, covers convert|1160|acre|ha|lk=on. Strafford is drained by the Isinglass, Big, and Berrys rivers.

The Blue Hills Range divides the town in half, running southwest to northeast. Parker Mountain, the highest point in the range and in Strafford, rises to convert|1420|ft|m|lk=on above sea level.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,626 people, 1,281 households, and 1,022 families residing in the town. The population density was 73.7 people per square mile (28.5/km²). There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 31.8/sq mi (12.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.48% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 1,281 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $59,044, and the median income for a family was $62,238. Males had a median income of $40,423 versus $30,524 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,500. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/htmlprofiles/strafford.html New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]