Holderness, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location inGrafton County,New Hampshire | |
| Coordinates:43°43′52″N71°35′18″W / 43.73111°N 71.58833°W /43.73111; -71.58833 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Grafton |
| Incorporated | 1761 |
| Named after | Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness |
| Villages | Holderness East Holderness |
| Government | |
| • Select Board |
|
| • Town Administrator | Michael Capone |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.7 sq mi (92.5 km2) |
| • Land | 30.3 sq mi (78.6 km2) |
| • Water | 5.4 sq mi (13.9 km2) 15.05% |
| Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 2,004 |
| • Density | 66/sq mi (25.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 03245 |
| Area code | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-36900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873627 |
| Website | www |
Holderness is atown inGrafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,004 at the2020 census.[2] An agricultural and resort area, Holderness is home to theSquam Lakes Natural Science Center and is located onSquam Lake. Holderness is also home toHolderness School, a co-educational college-preparatory boarding school.
The Squam Lakes were a trade route for theAbenaki and early European settlers, who traveled theSquam River to thePemigewasset River, then to theMerrimack River and seacoast. In 1751, Thomas Shepard submitted a petition on behalf of 64 grantees tocolonial GovernorBenning Wentworth for 6 miles square on the Pemigewasset River. The governing council accepted, and the town was named afterRobert Darcy,4th Earl of Holderness. TheFrench and Indian War, however, prevented settlement until after the 1759Fall of Quebec. The land was regranted as "New Holderness" in 1761 to a group ofNew England families, and first settled in 1763. As proprietor of half the town,Samuel Livermore intended to create at New Holderness a great estate patterned after those of theEnglish countryside. By 1790, the town had 329 residents, and in 1816, "New" was dropped from its name.[3]
Holderness became afarming andfishing community, except for the "business or flat iron area" located on the Squam River, which has falls that drop about 112 feet (34 m) before meeting the Pemigewasset River. Withwater power to operate mills, the southwestern corner of town developed into an industrial center, to which the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad entered in 1849. But the mill village would be at odds with the agricultural community, especially when denied civic amenities including gaslights and sidewalks. Consequently, in 1868, it was set off asAshland.[3]
Tourists in the 19th century discovered the region's scenic mountains and lakes. Before the age of automobiles, they would depart the train in Ashland and board asteamer, which traveled up the Squam River to rustic fishing camps or hillside hotels beside Squam Lake. Today, Holderness remains a popular resort area, where in 1981 the movieOn Golden Pond was filmed.
In 1924, pioneer ornithologistKatharine (Clark) Harding Day studied a breeding population of theveery (Catharus fuscescens) in Holderness.[4][5]
![Asquam House in 1912. A "high-class modern hotel on Shepherd Hill on the shores of Asquam Lakes".[6]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aThe_Asquam_House%2c_Holderness%2c_NH.jpg)
Holderness is in centralNew Hampshire along the southeastern border of Grafton County. According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.7 square miles (92.5 km2), of which 30.3 square miles (78.6 km2) are land and 5.4 square miles (13.9 km2) are water, comprising 15.05% of the town.[1] Bounded on the northwest by thePemigewasset River, Holderness is drained by Owl Brook and the Squam River. Part ofSquam Lake is in the east, andLittle Squam Lake is in the center. Mount Prospect, with an elevation of 2,064 feet (629 m) abovesea level, is in the north. The highest point in Holderness is Mount Webster in the northeast part of the town, elevation 2,076 feet (633 m) and part of the Squam Range. Via the Pemigewasset River, Holderness lies fully within theMerrimack Riverwatershed.[7]
The town is served byU.S. Route 3 and state routes25,113 and175.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 329 | — | |
| 1800 | 531 | 61.4% | |
| 1810 | 835 | 57.3% | |
| 1820 | 1,160 | 38.9% | |
| 1830 | 1,429 | 23.2% | |
| 1840 | 1,528 | 6.9% | |
| 1850 | 1,744 | 14.1% | |
| 1860 | 1,765 | 1.2% | |
| 1870 | 793 | −55.1% | |
| 1880 | 703 | −11.3% | |
| 1890 | 595 | −15.4% | |
| 1900 | 662 | 11.3% | |
| 1910 | 652 | −1.5% | |
| 1920 | 602 | −7.7% | |
| 1930 | 644 | 7.0% | |
| 1940 | 735 | 14.1% | |
| 1950 | 731 | −0.5% | |
| 1960 | 749 | 2.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,048 | 39.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,586 | 51.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,694 | 6.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,930 | 13.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,108 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,004 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2][8] | |||
As of thecensus[9] of 2000, there were 1,930 people, 768 households, and 546 families residing in the town. The population density was 63.5 inhabitants per square mile (24.5/km2). There were 1,208 housing units at an average density of 39.8 per square mile (15.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.88%White, 0.47%African American, 0.05%Native American, 0.36%Asian, 0.10% fromother races, and 1.14% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 768 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% weremarried couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,895, and the median income for a family was $55,526. Males had a median income of $36,500 versus $26,116 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $27,825. About 2.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Holderness is governed in the traditional New England style, with a five-member board of selectmen as its executive branch, and the traditionaltown meeting as its legislative branch. Municipal elections and town meetings are customarily held in March.
The town has multiple properties listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Places adjacent to Holderness, New Hampshire | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGrafton County, New Hampshire,United States | ||
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