Wilton, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Stony Brook near the town center | |
 Seal | |
 Location inHillsborough County,New Hampshire | |
| Coordinates:42°50′36″N71°44′06″W / 42.84333°N 71.73500°W /42.84333; -71.73500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Incorporated | 1762 |
| Villages |
|
| Government | |
| • Select Board |
|
| • Town Administrator | Nick Germain |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.70 sq mi (66.57 km2) |
| • Land | 25.61 sq mi (66.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) 0.35% |
| Elevation | 384 ft (117 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 3,896 |
| • Density | 152/sq mi (58.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03086 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-85220 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873756 |
| Website | www |
Wilton is atown inHillsborough County,New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,896 at the2020 census.[2] Like many smallNew England towns, it grew up around water-poweredtextile mills, but is now a ruralbedroom community with some manufacturing and service employment. Wilton is home to theHigh Mowing School, a private preparatory school.
The main village in town, where 1,324 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as theWilton census-designated place and is located near the junction of New Hampshire Routes31 and101, at the confluence ofStony Brook with theSouhegan River.
The town was first part of a township chartered as "Salem-Canada" in 1735 byColonial GovernorJonathan Belcher ofMassachusetts, which then claimed this area. It was granted to soldiers fromSalem, Massachusetts, who had served in 1690 under SirWilliam Phips in the war againstCanada. "Salem-Canada" was one of the towns on the state's borders intended to provide protection againstIndian attack.[3]
The area was regranted in 1749 by New Hampshire colonial GovernorBenning Wentworth as "Number Two", before being incorporated in 1762 as "Wilton".[4] It was either named forWilton in England, or for SirJoseph Wilton, a famous Englishsculptor. Sir Wilton'scoach design for KingGeorge III's coronation was later used as a model for theConcord coach. The town ofWilton, Maine, would later be named for Wilton, New Hampshire.[5]
The first Sunday school was established in May 1816, and was connected with the Congregational church of which the Rev. Thomas Beede was pastor. It was held in the Centre schoolhouse. Two women, Phebe Abbot, the mother of Prof.Ezra Abbot ofHarvard University, andSarah White Livermore, the hymnist, were leaders in this enterprise. This school was one of the first, if not the first, in the U.S. to be devoted especially and wholly to religious instruction. Seventy children attended the first season. The only book used was the Bible.[6]
TheSouhegan River originally providedwater power for mills. Today, Wilton is a rural town withorchards, farms and woodlands.
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According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.7 square miles (66.6 km2), of which 25.6 square miles (66.3 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.35%, is water.[1] Wilton is drained by theSouhegan River and its tributaries,Stony Brook and Blood Brook. Via the Souhegan, the entire town is part of theMerrimack River watershed. The town's highest point is 1,140 feet (350 m) above sea level, where the east slope of Fisk Hill touches the town's western border.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,105 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,010 | −8.6% | |
| 1810 | 1,017 | 0.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,070 | 5.2% | |
| 1830 | 1,041 | −2.7% | |
| 1840 | 1,033 | −0.8% | |
| 1850 | 1,161 | 12.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,369 | 17.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,974 | 44.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,747 | −11.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,850 | 5.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,696 | −8.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,490 | −12.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,546 | 3.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,724 | 11.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,855 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,952 | 5.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,025 | 3.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,276 | 12.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,669 | 17.3% | |
| 1990 | 3,122 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,743 | 19.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,677 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,896 | 6.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][7] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 3,677 people, 1,418 households, and 1,015 families residing in the town. There were 1,530 housing units, of which 112, or 7.3%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 97.1%White, 0.5%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[8]
Of the 1,418 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were headed bymarried couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.02.[8]
In the town, 23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% were from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.[8]
For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $71,066, and the median income for a family was $90,134. Theper capita income for the town was $33,824. 4.3% of the population and 1.0% of families were below the poverty line. 7.1% of the population under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[9]
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Places adjacent to Wilton, New Hampshire | |
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Municipalities and communities ofHillsborough County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
