Lebanon, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 Buildings along Park Street in downtown Lebanon | |
 Seal | |
 Location inGrafton County, New Hampshire | |
  Lebanon Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:43°38.5′N72°15′W / 43.6417°N 72.250°W /43.6417; -72.250[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Grafton |
| Incorporated | 1761 |
| City | 1958 |
| Population centers | Lebanon East Wilder Mascoma West Lebanon |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Douglas Whittlesey |
| • Assistant Mayor | Devin R. Wilkie |
| • City Council | Members
|
| • City Manager | Jack Wozmak (Interim) |
| Area | |
• Total | 41.27 sq mi (106.90 km2) |
| • Land | 40.31 sq mi (104.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2) 2.35% |
| Elevation | 581 ft (177 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,282 |
| • Density | 354.3/sq mi (136.81/km2) |
| • μSA | 223,471[3] |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes | 03756, 03766 (Lebanon) 03784 (West Lebanon) |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-41300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0867976 |
| Website | lebanonnh |
Lebanon (/ˈlɛbənən/LEB-ən-ən) is the only city inGrafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,282 at the2020 census,[4] up from 13,151 at the2010 census.[5] Lebanon is in westernNew Hampshire, south ofHanover, near theConnecticut River. It is the home toDartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College'sGeisel School of Medicine, together comprising the largest medical facility betweenBoston, Massachusetts, andBurlington, Vermont.
Lebanon is a core city of theLebanon–Claremont micropolitan area, comprising four counties in the upperConnecticut River valley, two in New Hampshire and two in Vermont.
Lebanon was chartered as a town bycolonial governorBenning Wentworth on July 4, 1761, one of 16 along the Connecticut River. It was named forLebanon, Connecticut, from where many early settlers had come or would come, including the Rev.Eleazar Wheelock, who arrived in 1770 and foundedDartmouth College. Lebanon, Connecticut, was the original home ofMoor's Charity School, the antecedent of Dartmouth College.
Early settlement concentrated along theConnecticut River in what is nowWest Lebanon, and in theMascoma Lake region nearEnfield. In the mid-19th century, a mill district developed at falls on theMascoma River. Industries included, at various times, furniture mills, atannery, several machine shops, awoolentextile mill, and a clothing factory. In the mid-19th century, this district attracted manyFrench workers fromCanada'sQuebec province. This became the center of town, although West Lebanon grew into arailroad hub with a separate identity after lines entered from Boston. This rail center would become known as "Westboro" after two trains collided when West Lebanon was mistaken for Lebanon.
The mill district, like the railroad, declined into the 1950s and 1960s. The town suffered two major fires; the second, in 1964, destroyed a large portion of the old mill district. Reconstruction resulted in a controversialurban renewal project featuring a closed-off district, called The Mall, built to replace the destroyed Hanover Street area. Partly in defiance of economic decline, and partly to counter a movement by West Lebanon to declare itself an independent town, Lebanon re-incorporated as a city in 1958.[6]
The routing of Interstates89 and91 through Lebanon and nearbyWhite River Junction, Vermont, in addition to the growth ofDartmouth College, led to the area's economic revival. The formermill town now has a mixed economy based on education, medical services, high-technology and retail. Just south of the village of West Lebanon, a major shopping district has sprung up at the intersection ofRoute 12A and I-89. Lebanon has undertaken improvements to its recreational facilities, including miles ofhiking trails, a municipalski area, a swimming pool and several sports fields.
In 1991, theDartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, along with most departments ofDartmouth Medical School, moved from Hanover to a new campus just south of the Lebanon-Hanover town line. A number of medical and high-tech firms have located facilities near the medical center campus.TomTom, a leading worldwide developer of mapping databases, has its North American headquarters in Lebanon.Novo Nordisk andMicrosoft also have major facilities here.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.3 square miles (106.9 km2), of which 40.3 square miles (104.4 km2) are land and 0.97 square miles (2.5 km2) are water, comprising 2.35% of the city.[7] The western boundary of Lebanon is theConnecticut River, which is also the state boundary withVermont. The village ofWest Lebanon occupies the western part of the city, along the Connecticut River. Downtown Lebanon is 3 miles (5 km) to the east, along theMascoma River, a tributary of the Connecticut. The city is fully within the Connecticut Riverwatershed.[8] The southern end ofMoose Mountain is in the northeast. The highest point in Lebanon is the northern end of Shaker Mountain, at 1,657 feet (505 m) abovesea level, on the eastern border of the city.
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Lebanon has awarm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Lebanon was 100 °F (37.8 °C) on June 24, 2025,[9] while the coldest temperature recorded was −34 °F (−36.7 °C) on January 14, 1957.[10]
| Climate data for Lebanon, New Hampshire, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 68 (20) | 85 (29) | 91 (33) | 96 (36) | 100 (38) | 99 (37) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 87 (31) | 80 (27) | 69 (21) | 100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 50.9 (10.5) | 52.0 (11.1) | 62.7 (17.1) | 80.5 (26.9) | 88.3 (31.3) | 91.8 (33.2) | 92.9 (33.8) | 90.8 (32.7) | 88.0 (31.1) | 77.4 (25.2) | 65.8 (18.8) | 55.2 (12.9) | 94.7 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 33.9 (1.1) | 43.0 (6.1) | 56.6 (13.7) | 69.7 (20.9) | 77.9 (25.5) | 82.7 (28.2) | 81.1 (27.3) | 72.9 (22.7) | 59.8 (15.4) | 46.8 (8.2) | 35.5 (1.9) | 57.5 (14.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 44.3 (6.8) | 56.7 (13.7) | 65.1 (18.4) | 70.3 (21.3) | 68.6 (20.3) | 60.7 (15.9) | 48.6 (9.2) | 37.2 (2.9) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 46.0 (7.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 9.3 (−12.6) | 11.0 (−11.7) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 43.7 (6.5) | 52.4 (11.3) | 57.8 (14.3) | 56.2 (13.4) | 48.6 (9.2) | 37.4 (3.0) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 18.1 (−7.7) | 34.6 (1.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.5 (−26.4) | −12.4 (−24.7) | −2.7 (−19.3) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 38.4 (3.6) | 46.9 (8.3) | 44.4 (6.9) | 34.4 (1.3) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 13.0 (−10.6) | −5.6 (−20.9) | −19.4 (−28.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −30 (−34) | −26 (−32) | 2 (−17) | 20 (−7) | 30 (−1) | 38 (3) | 30 (−1) | 20 (−7) | 13 (−11) | −10 (−23) | −27 (−33) | −34 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.29 (58) | 2.10 (53) | 2.70 (69) | 2.99 (76) | 3.32 (84) | 3.80 (97) | 3.99 (101) | 3.62 (92) | 3.44 (87) | 4.00 (102) | 2.98 (76) | 2.84 (72) | 38.07 (967) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 19.0 (48) | 17.1 (43) | 11.5 (29) | 3.4 (8.6) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 4.4 (11) | 16.4 (42) | 72.1 (182.36) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 14.8 (38) | 17.7 (45) | 13.2 (34) | 3.5 (8.9) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 3.2 (8.1) | 9.7 (25) | 19.0 (48) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.5 | 10.3 | 10.9 | 12.1 | 13.9 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.5 | 13.5 | 11.4 | 12.4 | 150.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 7.5 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 6.8 | 28.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[10] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,180 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,574 | 33.4% | |
| 1810 | 1,808 | 14.9% | |
| 1820 | 1,710 | −5.4% | |
| 1830 | 1,868 | 9.2% | |
| 1840 | 1,754 | −6.1% | |
| 1850 | 2,127 | 21.3% | |
| 1860 | 2,322 | 9.2% | |
| 1870 | 3,094 | 33.2% | |
| 1880 | 3,354 | 8.4% | |
| 1890 | 3,703 | 10.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,965 | 34.1% | |
| 1910 | 5,718 | 15.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,162 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 7,073 | 14.8% | |
| 1940 | 7,590 | 7.3% | |
| 1950 | 8,495 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 9,299 | 9.5% | |
| 1970 | 9,725 | 4.6% | |
| 1980 | 11,134 | 14.5% | |
| 1990 | 12,183 | 9.4% | |
| 2000 | 12,568 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 13,151 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 14,282 | 8.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 15,005 | [12] | 5.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[4][13] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010,[14] there were 13,151 people, 6,186 households, and 3,269 families residing in the city. The population density was 326.2 inhabitants per square mile (125.9/km2). There were 6,649 housing units at an average density of 164.9 per square mile (63.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4%White, 1.6%African American, 0.30%Native American, 6.8%Asian, 0.00%Pacific Islander, 0.80%some other race, and 2.10% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
There were 6,186 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% weremarried couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.2% were non-families. Of all households, 36.8% were made up of individuals, and 12.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10, and the average family size was 2.76.[14]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.5% from age 0-19, 6.3% from 20 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. The male population was 47.4% of the total, while the female population was 52.6%.[14]
For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $53,004, and the median income for a family was $75,511. Male full-time workers had a median income of $51,735 versus $48,836 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $36,370. About 8.7% of families and 12.3% of the entire population were below thepoverty line, including 22.6% of those under 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 and over.[15]
The city government consists of acouncil–manager system. The city council consists of nine members elected to two-year terms. Six members are elected from three wards, each electing two members, and the other three are elected at large.
Politically the city is strongly Democratic.Joe Biden received 74% of the vote toDonald Trump's 25% in the2020 United States presidential election.
Lebanon has its own elementary schools, middle school, andhigh school. Students from neighboring towns (Grantham andPlainfield[16]) attend high school in Lebanon. On October 15, 2010, the city broke ground on a new middle school for grades 5–8 to replace an aging junior high facility and overcrowded elementary school facilities.[17] Lebanon Middle School was completed in 2012.
Located on the downtown pedestrian mall is the Lebanon campus ofClaremont-basedRiver Valley Community College. Also downtown, the Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA)[18] offers classes in arts and crafts in aLEED-certified former factory building, which houses a ground floor gallery space. Many departments ofDartmouth College'sGeisel School of Medicine are additionally located just north of downtown atDartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center.
Lebanon is served byInterstate 89, which meetsInterstate 91 just across theConnecticut River in White River Junction. It is 58 miles (93 km) southeast along I-89 toConcord, the state capital, and 60 miles (97 km) northwest along I-89 toMontpelier, the capital of Vermont.U.S. Route 4 passes east–west through the centers of Lebanon and West Lebanon, leading east toEnfield and eventually Concord, and west towardsRutland, Vermont.New Hampshire Route 10 leads south from Lebanon along Interstate 89, eventually diverging to go toNewport. Route 10 leads north from West Lebanon intoHanover and points north along the Connecticut River.New Hampshire Route 120 passes north–south through downtown Lebanon, leading north into Hanover and south toClaremont.New Hampshire Route 12A begins in West Lebanon and heads south along the Connecticut River to Claremont. Near the eastern border of the city,New Hampshire Route 4A leaves US 4 to travel southeast towardsWilmot and central New Hampshire.
Lebanon Airport, adjacent to West Lebanon, has passenger service toBoston andNew York City provided byCape Air. Free public bus service for the major towns in the area including Lebanon is provided byAdvance Transit, with weekday service to destinations such asDartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, shopping plazas in West Lebanon, the villages of Lebanon and West Lebanon, as well as Hanover and White River Junction.Southeast Vermont Transit also provides a peak direction commuter bus route between DHMC toBellows Falls, Vermont that also runs on weekdays.
The closestGreyhound bus terminal andAmtraktrain station are both located inWhite River Junction, Vermont.[19][20] Dartmouth Coach offers daily express bus service to Boston's Logan Airport and to New York City.
Downtown Lebanon is a cultural hub with attractions such as the Lebanon Opera House (in City Hall), the AVA Gallery, seasonal Farmers' Market and summer concerts on the green.Opera North, based in the city, is the region's oldest professional opera company.
Lebanon Public Library, located downtown on East Park Street, is the primary library in the city, and the Kilton Public Library branch serves West Lebanon. Kilton was the first library in the U.S. to host a node of theTor anonymity network.[21]
The Carter Community Building Association (CCBA) operates an after-school activity center for primary school children and a fitness center for teens and adults. Salt Hill Pub frequently features live musical performances.
TheColburn Park Historic District is at the heart of Lebanon, consisting of Colburn Park and buildings around it—and many 19th-century buildings immediately adjacent to these. The district was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1986. The land that later developed into the park was donated in 1792 by Robert Colburn as the site for the community's meeting house, serving the purposes of church and town hall.Arterial roads were built to the area, and it began to develop as a commercial and civic center in the early 19th century. A weeklyfarmers' market is held there between June and September along with many community activities throughout the year.
Places adjacent to Lebanon, New Hampshire | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGrafton County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
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