Woodsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Haverhill in Grafton County, New Hampshire, U.S., along the Connecticut River at the mouth of the Ammonoosuc River. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census. Although North Haverhill is officially the county seat of Grafton County,[1] the village of Woodsville has traditionally been considered the county seat, as the county courthouse was originally located there. The county buildings are now located halfway between Woodsville and the village of North Haverhill to the south.
History
Woodsville was named for John L. Woods, a figure in its early development. He arrived from Wells River, Vermont, a village across the Connecticut River narrows in Newbury, and in 1829 purchased a sawmill which had been operating on the Ammonoosuc River since 1811. He manufactured pine lumber, and opened a store in his house. [2] The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad opened at Woodsville in 1853 and built its division offices and a branch repair shop. It replaced the original 1805 bridge between the states with a two-level span, featuring a toll highway below and railroad tracks on the roof. [3] The village boomed into an important railway town and junction, endowed with fine examples of Victorian architecture. It also became a center for legal affairs. In 1889, the Grafton County Court moved from Haverhill Corner to Woodsville, where it remained until moving halfway to North Haverhill in 1972. [4]
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Elementary School in 1907
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Geography
Woodsville is located at 44°9′08″N 72°2′13″W / 44.15222°N 72.03694°W / 44.15222; -72.03694 (44.1522, -72.0369).[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), of which 1.10% is water. Woodsville is drained by the Ammonoosuc River, which reaches its confluence with the Connecticut River in the village.
Woodsville is crossed by U.S. Route 302, New Hampshire Route 10, and New Hampshire Route 135.
Demographics
Free Public Library in 1907
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,081 people, 457 households, and 283 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,209.4 people per square mile (469.0/km²). There were 517 housing units at an average density of 578.4/sq mi (224.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.06% White, 0.83% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 457 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.
The Parker House and The Hotel Wentworth in c. 1908
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,771, and the median income for a family was $37,857. Males had a median income of $27,180 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,145. About 14.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
References
External links
