Bradford, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 Bradford Town Hall | |
 Seal | |
 Location inMerrimack County and the state ofNew Hampshire. | |
| Coordinates:43°16′12″N71°57′36″W / 43.27000°N 71.96000°W /43.27000; -71.96000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Merrimack |
| Incorporated | 1787 |
| Villages |
|
| Government | |
| • Select Board |
|
| Area | |
• Total | 35.9 sq mi (93.1 km2) |
| • Land | 35.3 sq mi (91.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.69 sq mi (1.8 km2) 1.92% |
| Elevation | 686 ft (209 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 1,662 |
| • Density | 47/sq mi (18.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03221 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-06980 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873549 |
| Website | www |
Bradford is atown inMerrimack County,New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,662 at the 2020 census.[2] The main village of the town, where 372 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as theBradford census-designated place (CDP), and is located in the northeast part of the town, west of the junction of New Hampshire routes103 and114. The town also includes the village of Bradford Center.
Granted by GovernorBenning Wentworth in 1765[3] to John Pierce and George Jaffrey ofPortsmouth, it was settled in 1771 by Deacon William Presbury and family.[4] Three years later other settlers arrived, several of them fromBradford, Massachusetts, after which the town was named "New Bradford". Later, it was called "Bradfordton", but upon incorporation by theGeneral Court on September 27, 1787, it was officially named Bradford.[5]
Parts of the town are hilly, but the largest portion is in a valley with varied soil. Streams providedwater power forwatermills. By 1859, when Bradford's population reached 1,341, industries included onewoolen mill, onesash,blind anddoor factory, onewheelwright shop, twosawmills, onegristmill, onetannery, and oneclothing mill.[5] In 1850, theConcord & Claremont Railroad opened fromConcord to Bradford, which would remain itsterminus until the line was extended toClaremont in 1871–1872.[6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93.1 km2), of which 35.3 square miles (91.3 km2) are land and 0.69 square miles (1.8 km2) are water, comprising 1.92% of the town.[1] The village of Bradford is located near the northern border of the town, at the intersection of routes103 and114, just north of theWarner River and adjacent to the outlet of Todd Lake. The largest water body in the town isLake Massasecum, near the town's eastern border. The Warner River and its tributaries drain the northern and central parts of town, while the southern part is drained by tributaries of theContoocook River. Bradford lies fully within theMerrimack Riverwatershed.[7]
The highest point in Bradford is an unnamed 2,096-foot (639 m) summit overlooking Ayers Pond on the town's western border. Knights Hill (1,910 ft or 580 m) and Rowes Hill (1,950 ft or 590 m) constitute a large, hilly mass occupying the southern portion of town.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 217 | — | |
| 1800 | 740 | 241.0% | |
| 1810 | 1,034 | 39.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,318 | 27.5% | |
| 1830 | 1,285 | −2.5% | |
| 1840 | 1,331 | 3.6% | |
| 1850 | 1,341 | 0.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,180 | −12.0% | |
| 1870 | 1,081 | −8.4% | |
| 1880 | 950 | −12.1% | |
| 1890 | 810 | −14.7% | |
| 1900 | 805 | −0.6% | |
| 1910 | 695 | −13.7% | |
| 1920 | 580 | −16.5% | |
| 1930 | 587 | 1.2% | |
| 1940 | 661 | 12.6% | |
| 1950 | 606 | −8.3% | |
| 1960 | 508 | −16.2% | |
| 1970 | 679 | 33.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,115 | 64.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,405 | 26.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,454 | 3.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,650 | 13.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,662 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][8] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 1,650 people, 667 households, and 471 families residing in the town. There were 917 housing units, of which 250, or 27.3%, were vacant. 203 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational uses. The racial makeup of the town was 97.5%white, 0.1%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.2%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[9]
Of the 667 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were headed bymarried couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 2.86.[9]
In the town, 20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% were from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 38.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.[9]
For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $59,783, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Male full-time workers had a median income of $55,119 versus $40,000 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $28,152. 7.1% of the population and 4.8% of families were below the poverty line. 7.8% of the population under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[10]
Places adjacent to Bradford, New Hampshire | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMerrimack County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
