Westmoreland, New Hampshire

Westmoreland, New Hampshire
Town

Union Church c. 1915

Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 42°57′43″N 72°26′32″W / 42.96194°N 72.44222°W / 42.96194; -72.44222Coordinates: 42°57′43″N 72°26′32″W / 42.96194°N 72.44222°W / 42.96194; -72.44222
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Cheshire
Incorporated 1752
Government
 • Board of Selectmen June Hammond, Chair
Russ Austin
Jack Zeller
 • Town Administrator Jo Ann LaBarre
Area
 • Total 36.9 sq mi (95.5 km2)
 • Land 35.9 sq mi (92.9 km2)
 • Water 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)  2.71%
Elevation 417 ft (127 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,874
 • Density 51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 03467
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-82660
GNIS feature ID 0873753
Website www.westmorelandnh.com

Westmoreland is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,874 at the 2010 census.[1] Westmoreland is historically an agricultural town, with much arable farmland.

History

Once known as Great Meadow, this town was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as Number 2, second in a line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When the border between Massachusetts and the Province of New Hampshire was fixed (with Number 2 on the New Hampshire side), the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as Westmoreland, named for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland.[2]

The Park Hill Meetinghouse, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779, and renovated in 1826.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km2), of which 35.9 sq mi (93.0 km2) is land and 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2), or 2.71%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River. Hyland Hill, elevation 1,510 feet (460 m) above sea level and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and although it is now private land, it is a local hiking and hunting destination.

Westmoreland is served by state routes 12 and 63.

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 families residing in the town. The population density was 48.7 people per square mile (18.8/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.

There were 576 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,875, and the median income for a family was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ↑ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 677.
  3. ↑ History of Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
  4. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

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