| Whitefield, New Hampshire | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Coos |
| Incorporated | 1804 |
| Government | |
| - Board of Selectmen | Kenneth Jordan, Jr. Wendy Hersom Jay Hartnett |
| Area | |
| - Total | 34.7 sq mi (89.8 km²) |
| - Land | 34.2 sq mi (88.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²) 1.24% |
| Elevation | 948 ft (289 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 2,038 |
| - Density | 59.5/sq mi (23.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 03598 |
| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-84420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873754 |
| Website: www.whitfieldnh.org | |
Whitefield is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, USA, in the White Mountains Region. The population was 2,038 at the 2000 census. Situated on the northern edge of the White Mountains, Whitefield is home to the Mount Washington Regional Airport and the White Mountains Regional High School. The town is traversed by U.S. Highway 3 and New Hampshire Routes 116 and 142.
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History
The last town to be granted under the English provincial government, Whitefield was chartered on July 4, 1774, exactly two years before adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It was named for George Whitefield, a famous English evangelist, and a friend of William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth, the patron of Dartmouth College. Early grantees included Jeremy Belknap, historian, and John Langdon, who succeeded John Wentworth as governor. It would be incorporated in 1804. Whitefield has many fine examples of Victorian architecture, including a landmark bandstand built in 1875 on the picturesque common. With the entrance of the railroad in the 19th century, tourists discovered the town and its cool, clean mountain air. They sought relief from the heat, humidity and pollution of coal-era summers in Boston, Hartford, New York and Philadelphia. Several inns and hotels were built to accommodate their increasing numbers. On a hilltop facing the Presidential Range is the grandest, The Mountain View House, established in 1866. The historic hotel recently underwent an expensive renovation, and is now one of the most luxurious in New Hampshire.
 Main Street in 1907 |
 King's Square in 1905 |
 Fiske House in c. 1910 |
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.7 square miles (89.8 km²), of which, 34.2 square miles (88.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.24%) is water. Whitefield is drained by Bog Brook and the Johns River, which runs through the center of town. Forest Lake and the Forest Lake State Park are located along Route 116, west of the town center. The two highest points in Whitefield are Howland Hill and Kimball Hill, both of which top 1,712 feet (522 meters) above sea level.
Demographics
This article describes the town of Whitefield as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available that describes only the central settlement within the town, although those values are included here. See: Whitefield (CDP), New Hampshire.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,038 people, 819 households, and 547 families residing in the town. The population density was 59.5 people per square mile (23.0/km²). There were 1,158 housing units at an average density of 13.1 persons/km² (33.8 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.20% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 819 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $41,528. Males had a median income of $29,293 versus $21,378 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,070. 9.8% of the population and 6.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.8% are under the age of 18 and 13.5% are 65 or older.
Sites of interest
- Old Mill Studio
- Whitefield Historical Society Museum
- The Weathervane Theatre
External links
- Whitefield, NH Official Website
- History of The Mountain View House
- Twin Mountain Fish Hatchery, Whitefield
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
