Lincoln, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Main Street (NH Route 112) | |
 Seal | |
 Location inGrafton County, New Hampshire | |
| Coordinates:44°02′42″N71°40′14″W / 44.04500°N 71.67056°W /44.04500; -71.67056 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Grafton |
| Incorporated | 1764 |
| Government | |
| • Board of Selectmen |
|
| • Town Manager | Carina Park |
| Area | |
• Total | 131.0 sq mi (339.3 km2) |
| • Land | 130.5 sq mi (337.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.54 sq mi (1.4 km2) 0.43% |
| Elevation | 810 ft (247 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 1,631 |
| • Density | 12/sq mi (4.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Code | 03251 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-41860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873646 |
| Website | www |
Lincoln is atown inGrafton County, New Hampshire, United States. It is the second-largest town by area inNew Hampshire. The population was 1,631 at the2020 census.[2] The town is home to the New Hampshire Highland Games and to a portion ofFranconia Notch State Park. Set in theWhite Mountains, large portions of the town are within theWhite Mountain National Forest. TheAppalachian Trail crosses the western and northeastern parts of the town. Lincoln is the location ofLoon Mountain Ski Resort and associated recreation-centered development.
The primary settlement in town, where 969 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as theLincoln census-designated place (CDP) and is located alongNew Hampshire Route 112 east ofInterstate 93. The town also includes the former village sites of Stillwater and Zealand (sometimes known as Pullman) in the town's remote eastern and northern sections respectively, which are now within the White Mountain National Forest.
In 1764, colonial GovernorBenning Wentworth granted 32,456 acres (131.34 km2) to a group of approximately 70 land investors fromConnecticut. Lincoln was named afterHenry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle, 9thEarl of Lincoln – a cousin of the Wentworth governors. He held the position ofcomptroller ofcustoms for the port ofLondon under KingGeorge II andGeorge III, which was important to trade betweenAmerica and England.[3]
The town was settled about 1782. The 1790 census indicates that it had 22 inhabitants. Rocky soil yielded poor farming, but the area's abundanttimber, combined withwater power to runsawmills on thePemigewasset River and itsEast Branch, helped Lincoln develop into a center for logging. By 1853, the Merrimack River Lumber Company was operating. The railroad transported freight, and increasingly brought tourists to the beautiful mountain region. In 1892, James Everell Henry (1831–1912) bought approximately 100,000 acres (400 km2) of virgin timber and established a logging enterprise at what is today the center of Lincoln. In 1902, he built a pulp andpaper mill. He erected the Lincoln House hotel in 1903, although a 1907 fire would nearly raze the community. Until he died in 1912, Henry controlled hiscompany town, installing relatives in positions of civic authority.[4]
In 1917, Henry's heirs sold the business to the Parker Young Company, which in turn sold it to the Marcalus Manufacturing Company in 1946. Franconia Paper took over in 1950, producing 150 tons of paper a day untilbankruptcy in 1971, at which time new river classification standards discouraged furtherpapermaking in Lincoln.[4]
Tourism is today the principal business. NearbyLoon Mountain has long drawnskiers, and in recent years has attempted to convert itself into a four-season attraction.The Flume is one of the most visited attractions in the state. Discovered in 1808, it is a naturalcanyon extending 800 feet (240 m) at the base ofMount Liberty. Walls of Conwaygranite rise to a height of 70 to 90 feet (21 to 27 m) and are only 12 to 20 feet (3.7 to 6.1 m) apart.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 131.0 square miles (339.3 km2), of which 130.5 square miles (337.9 km2) are land and 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2) are water, comprising 0.43% of the town.[1] It is the second-largest town in area in New Hampshire, afterPittsburg.
Lincoln is drained by thePemigewasset River and itsEast Branch. Lincoln lies almost fully within theMerrimack Riverwatershed, with the western edge of town in theConnecticut River watershed.[5] Kancamagus Pass, elevation 2,860 feet (870 m), is on theKancamagus Highway at the eastern boundary. The highest point in Lincoln is the summit ofMount Bond at 4,698 ft (1,432 m) abovesea level.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 22 | — | |
| 1800 | 41 | 86.4% | |
| 1810 | 100 | 143.9% | |
| 1820 | 32 | −68.0% | |
| 1830 | 50 | 56.3% | |
| 1840 | 76 | 52.0% | |
| 1850 | 57 | −25.0% | |
| 1860 | 71 | 24.6% | |
| 1870 | 71 | 0.0% | |
| 1880 | 65 | −8.5% | |
| 1890 | 110 | 69.2% | |
| 1900 | 541 | 391.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,278 | 136.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,473 | 15.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,548 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,560 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,415 | −9.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,228 | −13.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,341 | 9.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,313 | −2.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,229 | −6.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,271 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,662 | 30.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,631 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][6] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 1,662 people, 794 households, and 439 families residing in the town. There were 2,988 housing units, of which 2,194, or 73.4%, were vacant. 2,083 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 96.9%white, 0.3%African American, 0.1%Native American, 1.7%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, and 0.6% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[7]
Of the 794 households, 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were headed bymarried couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. Of all households, 37.0% were made up of individuals, and 13.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.75.[7]
In the town, 18.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% were from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 34.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.3 males.[7]
For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $37,095, and the median income for a family was $55,326. Male full-time workers had a median income of $31,106 versus $27,381 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $24,109. 21.0% of the population and 9.1% of families were below the poverty line. 20.2% of the population under the age of 18 and 8.6% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[8]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Places adjacent to Lincoln, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofGrafton County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Township | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
