Richmond, New Hampshire

Richmond, New Hampshire
—  Town  —
Fitzwilliam Road in 1911
Seal
Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 42°45′17″N 72°16′18″W / 42.75472°N 72.27167°W / 42.75472; -72.27167Coordinates: 42°45′17″N 72°16′18″W / 42.75472°N 72.27167°W / 42.75472; -72.27167
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Cheshire
Incorporated	1752
Government
• Board of Selectmen	Deborah Boncal Sandra Gillis Lori Scanlan
Area
• Total	37.8 sq mi (97.8 km2)
• Land	37.6 sq mi (97.3 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.53%
Elevation	1,063 ft (324 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,155
• Density	31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	03470
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-64420
GNIS feature ID	0873706
Website	www.richmond.nh.gov

Richmond is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,155 at the 2010 census.^[1]

History

The town was first chartered in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts. Granted to soldiers returning from the war in Canada, it was named Sylvester-Canada in honor of Captain Joseph Sylvester of Scituate, Massachusetts, who was killed in 1690 during an attempt to capture Quebec. After New Hampshire became a separate colony, the town was incorporated in 1752 as Richmond by Governor Benning Wentworth. He named it after Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, a staunch advocate of colonial independence. It was settled about 1757 by emigrants from Rhode Island and Massachusetts.^[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.8 square miles (98 km²), of which 37.6 sq mi (97 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km²) is water, comprising 0.53% of the town. Little Monadnock Mountain, elevation 1,883 feet (574 m) above sea level, is within a mile of the eastern boundary, in the town of Fitzwilliam. The highest point in Richmond is one mile northwest of Little Monadnock, on an unnamed hill whose elevation is 1,624 feet (495 m) above sea level. The Franconia Mountain Range (not to be confused with the much higher ridge in the White Mountains to the north) is a 1,300-foot (400 m) high chain of hills in the western part of town.

Richmond is served by state routes 32 and 119.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,077 people, 379 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 28.7 people per square mile (11.1/km²). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 11.5 per square mile (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.68% White, 0.37% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 379 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,141, and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $37,083 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,174. About 4.6% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Richmond was the only town in New Hampshire to vote for Ron Paul in the 2008 primary.^[4]

Religious institutions

At the center of town, called Richmond Four Corners, is the Richmond Community United Methodist Church, a brick Greek revival-style edifice built in 1837.

Since 1988, Richmond has been the home of Saint Benedict Center, a traditionalist Catholic community with monastery, convent, chapel, and school.

Notable people

• Hosea Ballou, clergyman and theologian
• Horatio Admiral Nelson, merchant and politician in Quebec
• Joseph Weeks, US congressman

References

External links

• Town of Richmond official website
• Richmond Public Library
• The Richmond Rooster
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

v t e Municipalities and communities of Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States County seat: Keene City Keene Towns Alstead Chesterfield Dublin Fitzwilliam Gilsum Harrisville Hinsdale Jaffrey Marlborough Marlow Nelson Richmond Rindge Roxbury Stoddard Sullivan Surry Swanzey Troy Walpole Westmoreland Winchester Villages Ashuelot Chesham Drewsville East Swanzey Munsonville North Walpole Poocham Spofford West Swanzey