Barnstead, New Hampshire

Barnstead is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,593 at the 2010 census.[1] Home to the Suncook Lakes, Barnstead includes the villages of Center Barnstead, Barnstead Parade (identified as "Barnstead" on topographic maps) and South Barnstead.

Barnstead, New Hampshire
Town
Barnstead Parade
Coordinates: 43°20′26″N 71°15′39″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyBelknap
Incorporated1767
VillagesBarnstead (Barnstead Parade)
Center Barnstead
South Barnstead
Government
 • Board of SelectmenLori Mahar, Chair
Edward Tasker
Diane Beijer
Gary Madden
Rick Therrien
Area
 • Total44.0 sq mi (114.0 km2)
 • Land42.0 sq mi (108.8 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)  4.58%
Elevation
505 ft (154 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,593
 • Density109/sq mi (42.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP codes
03218 (Barnstead)
03225 (Center Barnstead)
Area code(s)603
FIPS code33-03220
GNIS feature ID0873537
Websitewww.barnstead.org

History

The town was granted by Governor William Dummer on 20 May 1727[2] to the Reverend Joseph Adams and others. Settlement commenced in 1765, and two years later Barnstead was incorporated as a town by Governor John Wentworth. Many of the settlers came from Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Hempstead, New York - the name is taken from these two.[3]

Although not mountainous, the terrain forms large swells, good for grazing. By 1830, when the population was 2,047, the town contained about 2,500 sheep.[4] Farmers found the soil easy to cultivate and productive. The Suncook River and its tributaries provided water power for mills. By 1859, industries included a woolen cloth factory, seven sawmills, four shingle mills, four clapboard mills, one grooving machine, one turning machine, and two tanneries. Barnstead manufactured large amounts of lumber, which it supplied to neighboring towns.[5]

Barnstead was served in 1874 by the Concord and Rochester Railroad, and an extension of the Suncook Valley Railroad was being planned.[2]

Geography
Center Barnstead in 1909

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.0 square miles (114.0 km2), of which 42.0 sq mi (108.8 km2) is land and 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2) is water, comprising 4.58% of the town. The highest point in Barnstead is 1,190 feet (360 m) above sea level along the town's northern border, near the community of Locke's Corner. Drained by the Suncook River, Barnstead lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[6]

New Hampshire Route 28 traverses the town from north to south, connecting Alton and Wolfeboro to the north with Pittsfield and Suncook to the south. New Hampshire Route 126 begins in Center Barnstead and travels southeast to Strafford and Barrington. New Hampshire Route 107 cuts through the western corner of Barnstead, leading from Pittsfield in the south to Laconia in the north.

Adjacent municipalities

Demographics
Center Barnstead in 2018
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1790807—
18001,16143.9%
18101,47727.2%
18201,80522.2%
18302,04713.4%
18401,945−5.0%
18501,848−5.0%
18601,8852.0%
18701,543−18.1%
18801,296−16.0%
18901,264−2.5%
19001,072−15.2%
19101,0810.8%
1920873−19.2%
1930791−9.4%
19408041.6%
19508465.2%
19608500.5%
19701,11931.6%
19802,292104.8%
19903,10035.3%
20003,88625.4%
20104,59318.2%
2016 (est.)4,639[7]1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 3,886 people, 1,422 households, and 1,096 families residing in the town. The population density was 92.7 people per square mile (35.8/km2). There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of 47.6 per square mile (18.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.74% White, 0.62% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 1,422 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,449, and the median income for a family was $49,404. Males had a median income of $34,130 versus $24,904 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,773. About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the New Hampshire Senate, Barnstead is in the 6th District, represented by Republican James Gray. On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Barnstead is in the 2nd District, represented by Democrat Andru Volinsky. In the United States House of Representatives, Barnstead is in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, represented by Democrat Chris Pappas.

Education

Barnstead has one elementary school (Barnstead Elementary School), serving pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. High school students go to Prospect Mountain High School, a regional high school in the neighboring town of Alton.

Notable people

References
  1. United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. Article in Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire (1875)
  3. "Barnstead, New Hampshire". Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  4. Hayward's New England Gazetteer of 1839
  5. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 415–416. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
  6. 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.
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Minor Civil Divisions – New Hampshire". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. "Russell Banks's Tale of Family Violence Hits Close to Home". People. November 13, 1989. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
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