Bennington, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Great Falls,Contoocook River, c. 1905 | |
 Location inHillsborough County,New Hampshire | |
| Coordinates:43°00′11″N71°55′28″W / 43.00306°N 71.92444°W /43.00306; -71.92444 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Incorporated | 1842 |
| Government | |
| • Board of Selectmen |
|
| • Town Administrator | Debra Davidson |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.6 sq mi (30.0 km2) |
| • Land | 11.4 sq mi (29.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) 1.94% |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 1,501 |
| • Density | 132/sq mi (51.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03442 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-04900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873543 |
| Website | www |
Bennington is atown inHillsborough County,New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,501 at the2020 census.[2]
The main village of the town, where 338 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as theBennington census-designated place (CDP) and is located on theContoocook River at the intersection of New Hampshire routes31 and47.
Situated in an area once called "Society Land", the town was formed from parts ofDeering,Francestown,Greenfield andHancock.[3] It was named to commemorate the 1777Battle of Bennington, anAmerican Revolutionary War battle fought inNew York nearBennington, Vermont. The Vermont town in turn derived its name from New Hampshire governorBenning Wentworth. The town was incorporated in 1842.[3] The first census, taken in 1850, recorded 541 residents.
Located at the Great Falls of theContoocook River, which drop 70 feet (21 m) over 1.2 miles (1.9 km), Bennington providedwater power formills. The firstgristmill was built in 1782, with acotton mill in 1810. Atannery and tool manufacturing industry would follow. A factory withpaper-making machinery was established in 1835, located at or near the site of the present-day Monadnock Paper Mill. In 1858, the town's industries included acutlery manufacturer, a gristmill, two paper mills, and asawmill. Bennington also had quite a number of farms.
In 1874, plans were underway to build the Peterborough and Hillsborough railroad through Bennington.[3]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.0 km2), of which 11.4 square miles (29.4 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) are water, comprising 1.94% of the town.[1] Bennington is drained by the north-flowingContoocook River, which formsPowder Mill Pond on the southern boundary. The highest point in Bennington is 2,020 feet (620 m) abovesea level onCrotched Mountain, whose 2,066-foot (630 m) summit lies just east inFrancestown. Bennington lies fully within theMerrimack Riverwatershed.[4]
The town is crossed byU. S. Route 202 and state routes31 and47. It is bordered by the towns ofDeering to the northeast,Francestown to the east,Greenfield to the south,Hancock to the southwest, andAntrim to the west and north.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 541 | — | |
| 1860 | 450 | −16.8% | |
| 1870 | 401 | −10.9% | |
| 1880 | 443 | 10.5% | |
| 1890 | 542 | 22.3% | |
| 1900 | 667 | 23.1% | |
| 1910 | 690 | 3.4% | |
| 1920 | 568 | −17.7% | |
| 1930 | 552 | −2.8% | |
| 1940 | 655 | 18.7% | |
| 1950 | 593 | −9.5% | |
| 1960 | 591 | −0.3% | |
| 1970 | 639 | 8.1% | |
| 1980 | 890 | 39.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,236 | 38.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,401 | 13.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,476 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,501 | 1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][5] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 1,476 people, 564 households, and 386 families residing in the town. There were 666 housing units, of which 102, or 15.3%, were vacant. 43 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 97.4%white, 0.4%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 1.1% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[6]
Of the 564 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were headed bymarried couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, and the average family size was 3.08.[6]
In the town, 25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6% were from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.[6]
For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $65,481, and the median income for a family was $75,278. Male full-time workers had a median income of $47,000 versus $39,659 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $28,071. 4.5% of the population and 4.5% of families were below the poverty line. 2.0% of the population under the age of 18 and 2.4% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[7]
Bennington is the home of theMonadnock Paper Mills as well asCrotched Mountain Ski & Ride, a medium-sized ski resort on the Francestown line.
Bennington is part of SAU (School Administrative Unit) #1, which is a school district that includes 9 towns, better known as the Contoocook Valley Regional School District.[8] Students from Bennington attend the following schools:
Places adjacent to Bennington, 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 | |
