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Atkinson, New Hampshire
Main Street
Main Street
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Rockingham
Incorporated 1767
Government
 • Type SB2
Area
 • Total 11.4 sq mi (29.4 km2)
 • Land 11.2 sq mi (28.9 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  1.61%
Elevation
302 ft (92 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,087
 • Density 635/sq mi (245.3/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03811
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-02340
GNIS feature ID 0873535

Atkinson is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,087 at the 2020 census.

History

Atkinson has a rich history, dating back to the American Revolution. The community was incorporated 3 September 1767, and was named after Colonel Theodore Atkinson, a local landowner.

Atkinson Academy, the second-oldest co-educational school in the country, was founded as a boys' school in 1787 by Reverend Stephen Peabody, General Nathaniel Peabody and Doctor William Cogswell; it began admitting girls in 1791. The school building burnt to the ground in 1802, and was rebuilt in 1803 at a cost of $2,500. That building remains a part of the Academy, with only four classrooms. Other historic buildings, such the Atkinson Historical Society and Library, Rockwell School (current police station), and many more, grace this southern New Hampshire town with their rich historical value and education of the history of the area.

Relatives of former President John Quincy Adams live in Atkinson, along with famous politicians and businessmen. Atkinson’s history can be read about in depth in the book Atkinson Then and Now, which can be purchased at the Atkinson Public Library on Academy Avenue.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29 km2), of which 11.1 sq mi (29 km2) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) is water, comprising 1.42% of the town. The highest point in Atkinson is Hog Hill, at 430 feet (130 m) above sea level. Atkinson lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.

In 2011 the New Hampshire Scenic and Cultural Byways program named 3.74 miles of Main Street the "Stage Coach Byway".

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 479
1800 474 −1.0%
1810 556 17.3%
1820 563 1.3%
1830 555 −1.4%
1840 567 2.2%
1850 600 5.8%
1860 546 −9.0%
1870 488 −10.6%
1880 502 2.9%
1890 483 −3.8%
1900 442 −8.5%
1910 440 −0.5%
1920 413 −6.1%
1930 407 −1.5%
1940 434 6.6%
1950 492 13.4%
1960 1,017 106.7%
1970 2,291 125.3%
1980 4,397 91.9%
1990 5,188 18.0%
2000 6,178 19.1%
2010 6,751 9.3%
2020 7,087 5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,178 people, 2,317 households, and 1,777 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.2 people per square mile (214.3/km2). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 218.5 per square mile (84.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 2,317 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $69,729, and the median income for a family was $77,631. Males had a median income of $53,229 versus $34,760 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,412. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Museums and other points of interest

The Kimball House Museum was built in 1772 by Reverend Stephen Peabody. It served as a medical office and town library before becoming a museum.

Education

Atkinson Public Schools are part of the Timberlane Regional School District. The district serves the communities of Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow and Sandown. The district has five elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Students in Atkinson attend Atkinson Academy (claimed to be the oldest co-educational school still standing in the United States), Timberlane Regional Middle School, and Timberlane Regional High School.

Transportation

Two New Hampshire state routes cross Atkinson.

  • NH 111 crosses the extreme northern part of the town, passing just to the south of Island Pond. It connects with Windham to the southwest and Hampstead to the east.
  • NH 121 is Atkinson's Main Street, crossing the center of town from north to southeast. It connects Hampstead in the north to Plaistow in the south, before ending in the northern part of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

The nearest airport is Manchester–Boston Regional Airport along the border of Londonderry and Manchester. The nearest rail service is the Haverhill Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail at Haverhill station in Massachusetts, which also serves as the Amtrak station.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Atkinson (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños

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