Deerfield, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
 Town Hall | |
 Seal | |
 Location inRockingham County and the state ofNew Hampshire. | |
| Coordinates:43°08′46″N71°12′59″W / 43.14611°N 71.21639°W /43.14611; -71.21639 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Incorporated | 1766 |
| Villages |
|
| Government | |
| • Board of Selectmen |
|
| • Town Administrator | Karen Clement |
| Area | |
• Total | 52.10 sq mi (134.93 km2) |
| • Land | 50.76 sq mi (131.46 km2) |
| • Water | 1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2) 2.57% |
| Elevation | 515 ft (157 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 4,855 |
| • Density | 96/sq mi (36.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03037 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-17460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873576 |
| Website | www |
Deerfield is atown inRockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,855 at the2020 census,[2] up from 4,280 in2010. Deerfield is the location of the annual Deerfield Fair.
Deerfield has been served by a full-time police department since 1982; today it offers 24/7 services with a complement of eight full-time officers. Fire and Rescue services are covered by a volunteer Fire Department, and its ambulance service is provided by Raymond Ambulance, Inc. out of Raymond, NH. The town's emergency services are dispatched by the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center.
Deerfield falls within Troop A of theNew Hampshire State Police.
Deerfield was originally part ofNottingham. In 1756, residents petitioned for organization of a separate parish, but were denied. In 1765, while a second petition was pending, two local hunters presented colonial governorBenning Wentworth with adeer. Permission was granted, and "Deerfield" was incorporated in 1766. The incorporation act for Deerfield was signed by three members of the Leavitt family, includingCapt. Samuel Leavitt who later was one of the town's first selectmen. Leavitts Hill in Deerfield was named for the family, who had first settled in nearbyExeter.[3]
"Deerfield Parade", a hilltop district first settledcirca 1740, was located on the early postal route betweenConcord andPortsmouth. Here, themilitia of theRevolutionary andCivil wars trained and "paraded" on the villagecommon. The "Parade" was then a professional, cultural and trade center. About 1798, citizens founded Deerfield Academy, a high school. It burned in 1842.
Once a thriving farm community which was disappointed when bypassed byrailroads, the town in 1876 established the Deerfield Fair. Now billed as "New England's Oldest Family Fair", the four-day event draws huge crowds each autumn to admire animals, produce and crafts, or to enjoyamusement park rides.
Deerfield is in southeasternNew Hampshire, on the western side of Rockingham County. The town's western border is theMerrimack County line. The highest point in Deerfield as well as in Rockingham County is the summit of Nottingham Mountain, at 1,345 feet (410 m) abovesea level, near the town's western border. Portions of the Pawtuckaway Mountains, including a small portion ofPawtuckaway State Park, are along the eastern border of the town. A part ofBear Brook State Park, including the campground area at Spruce Pond and Beaver Pond, is in the southwestern corner of the town.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.1 square miles (134.9 km2), of which 50.8 square miles (131.5 km2) are land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2) are water, comprising 2.57% of the town.[1] Deerfield is primarily drained by theLamprey River and its tributary theNorth Branch River, within thePiscataqua River (Coastal)watershed, while the western edge and northernmost section of town is in theMerrimack River watershed.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,619 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,878 | 16.0% | |
| 1810 | 1,851 | −1.4% | |
| 1820 | 2,133 | 15.2% | |
| 1830 | 2,086 | −2.2% | |
| 1840 | 1,953 | −6.4% | |
| 1850 | 2,022 | 3.5% | |
| 1860 | 2,066 | 2.2% | |
| 1870 | 1,768 | −14.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,569 | −11.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,220 | −22.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,162 | −4.8% | |
| 1910 | 917 | −21.1% | |
| 1920 | 746 | −18.6% | |
| 1930 | 635 | −14.9% | |
| 1940 | 749 | 18.0% | |
| 1950 | 706 | −5.7% | |
| 1960 | 714 | 1.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,178 | 65.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,979 | 68.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,124 | 57.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,678 | 17.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,280 | 16.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,855 | 13.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][5] | |||
At the 2000census,[6] there were 3,678 people, 1,225 households and 986 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 72.2 per square mile (27.9/km2). There were 1,406 housing units at an average density of 27.6 per square mile (10.7/km2). The racial make-up was 98.53%White, 0.16%African American, 0.14%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.22% fromother races and 0.82% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,225 households, of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% weremarried couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.27.
Age distribution was 30.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
Themedian household income was $61,367 and the median family income was $64,737. Males had a median income of $40,568 and females $30,682. Theper capita income was $24,160. About 1.3% of families and 3.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
In 2022, themedian household income was $119,375.00."SRF Annual Median Household Income"(PDF).State of NH. RetrievedJuly 15, 2024.
TwoNew Hampshire state routes cross Deerfield.
There is one public school in Deerfield, the Deerfield Community School on North Road, which serves students in grades Pre-K–8. The current[when?] principal is Kristen Withee. Deerfield Community School was opened in 1990 and replaced the George B. White School. The George B. White Building is now commercial space and houses, among other things, the town offices and the police department. Deerfield students have attended various local high schools over the years, as there is no high school in the town. Starting with the DCS graduating class of 1995, the town has sent students graduating from Deerfield Community School toConcord High School. Other options have includedCoe-Brown Northwood Academy in Northwood,Central High School in Manchester,West High School in Manchester,Pembroke Academy in Pembroke, andOyster River High School in Durham. The students graduating from Deerfield community school still continue to go to Concord high unless given opportunities to go to other schools.
Places adjacent to Deerfield, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofRockingham County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
