Atkinson, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 Main Street | |
 Seal | |
 Location inRockingham County and the state ofNew Hampshire. | |
  Atkinson Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°50′18″N71°08′49″W / 42.83833°N 71.14694°W /42.83833; -71.14694 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Incorporated | 1767[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | SB2 |
| • Board of Selectmen |
|
| • Town Administrator | John Apple |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.4 sq mi (29.4 km2) |
| • Land | 11.2 sq mi (28.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.5 km2) 1.61% |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Population (2020)[3] | |
• Total | 7,087 |
| • Density | 635/sq mi (245.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03811 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-02340 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873535 |
| Website | www |
Atkinson is atown inRockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,087 at the2020 census.[3] It is located 34 miles north ofBoston, and part of theGreater Boston region.
Atkinson's history dates back to theAmerican Revolution. The community was incorporated September 3,[4][5] 1767,[6] and was named after Colonel Theodore Atkinson,[4] a local landowner.[7]
Atkinson Academy, the second-oldest co-educational school in the country,[8] was founded as a boys' school in 1787 by Reverend Stephen Peabody, GeneralNathaniel Peabody and Doctor William Cogswell; it began admitting girls in 1791. The school building burned to the ground in 1802, and was rebuilt in 1803 at a cost of $2,500. That building remains a part of the academy, which has since been expanded, with only four classrooms.
The Kimball House Museum occupies a structure that was built in 1772 by the Reverend Stephen Peabody. In April 1907, Rev. Joseph A. Kimball, a summer resident, purchased the building from the Maddocks family in order to create a library for the town.[9]
Atkinson's history can be read about in the bookAtkinson Then and Now, which can be purchased at the Atkinson Public Library on Academy Avenue.
Atkinson celebrated its 250th anniversary on Labor Day weekend 2017.[10]
Atkinson is in southeasternNew Hampshire, in the southwestern part of Rockingham County. It is bordered to the south by the city ofHaverhill inEssex County, Massachusetts.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.4 km2), of which 11.2 square miles (28.9 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) are water, comprising 1.61% of the town.[2] The highest point in Atkinson is Hog Hill, north of the town center, at 430 feet (130 m) abovesea level. Atkinson is drained to the west by tributaries of theSpicket River and to the east by tributaries of theLittle River, both southward-flowing tributaries of theMerrimack River.[11]
In 2011 the New Hampshire Scenic and Cultural Byways program named 3.74 miles (6.02 km) of Main Street the "Stage Coach Byway".[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 479 | — | |
| 1800 | 474 | −1.0% | |
| 1810 | 556 | 17.3% | |
| 1820 | 563 | 1.3% | |
| 1830 | 555 | −1.4% | |
| 1840 | 567 | 2.2% | |
| 1850 | 600 | 5.8% | |
| 1860 | 546 | −9.0% | |
| 1870 | 488 | −10.6% | |
| 1880 | 502 | 2.9% | |
| 1890 | 483 | −3.8% | |
| 1900 | 442 | −8.5% | |
| 1910 | 440 | −0.5% | |
| 1920 | 413 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 407 | −1.5% | |
| 1940 | 434 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 492 | 13.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,017 | 106.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,291 | 125.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,397 | 91.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,188 | 18.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,178 | 19.1% | |
| 2010 | 6,751 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 7,087 | 5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[3][13] | |||
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 6,178 people, 2,317 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.2 inhabitants per square mile (214.4/km2). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 218.5 per square mile (84.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62%White, 0.26%African American, 0.06%Native American, 1.18%Asian, 0.21% fromother races, and 0.66% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 2,317 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% weremarried couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,729, and the median income for a family was $77,631. Males had a median income of $53,229 versus $34,760 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $30,412. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.
TwoNew Hampshire state routes cross Atkinson.
The nearest airport isManchester–Boston Regional Airport along the border of Londonderry and Manchester. The nearest rail service is theHaverhill Line of theMBTA Commuter Rail atHaverhill station in Massachusetts, which also serves as theAmtrak station.
Atkinson Public Schools are part of theTimberlane Regional School District. The district serves the communities of Atkinson,Danville,Plaistow andSandown. The district has five elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Students in Atkinson attendAtkinson Academy (claimed to be the oldest co-educational school still standing in the United States),Timberlane Regional Middle School, andTimberlane Regional High School.[15][16]
Places adjacent to Atkinson, New Hampshire | |
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Municipalities and communities ofRockingham County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
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