Auburn, New Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Auburn, New Hampshire
Massabesic Lake and the east shore in 1920
Seal
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Rockingham
Incorporated	1845
Villages	Auburn Severance
Area
• Total	28.81 sq mi (74.62 km2)
• Land	25.35 sq mi (65.66 km2)
• Water	3.46 sq mi (8.96 km2)  12.01%
Elevation	253 ft (77 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,946
• Density	235/sq mi (90.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	03032
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-02820
GNIS feature ID	0873536

Auburn is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. It is located in the southern part of the state.

In 2020, about 5,946 people lived in Auburn. This was an increase from 4,953 people in 2010.

History of Auburn

Auburn was first settled by Native Americans in 1624. They called it "Massabesic," which is now the name of the town's largest lake.

British settlers arrived in the area around 1720. They lived peacefully with the Native Americans until the French and Indian War. During this war, the Massabesic settlement was destroyed.

The nearby town of Chester then claimed the land. It was known by different names like "Chester Woods" and "Long Meadow."

Auburn officially became its own town on June 25, 1845. At that time, about 1,200 people lived there. The town's name comes from a famous poem from the 1700s called "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith. The poem starts with these lines:

Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,

Where health and plenty cheered the labouring swain

Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid,

And parting summer's lingering blooms delayed

Auburn used to have a railroad that connected it to other towns. It was part of the Boston & Maine Railroad. There was a small station for passengers, but most trains just passed through. The last freight trains ran in the early 1980s. The tracks were removed between 1983 and 1985.

Geography and Nature

Auburn covers about 74.6 square kilometers (28.8 square miles). Most of this area is land, but about 9.0 square kilometers (3.5 square miles) is water.

Massabesic Lake is the biggest body of water in Auburn. It is located partly in Auburn and partly in Manchester. This lake is very important because it provides drinking water for the city of Manchester.

Many smaller streams flow into Massabesic Lake. One important stream is Sucker Brook, which drains other lakes like Tower Hill Pond. Another stream, Cohas Brook, flows through Auburn and eventually joins the Merrimack River. All the water in Auburn flows into the Merrimack River watershed.

Auburn has three hills that offer views of Massabesic Lake. These include Mount Miner, Mine Hill, and Mount Misery, all standing over 580 feet (177 meters) above sea level.

Nearby Towns

Auburn is surrounded by several other towns:

• Candia (to the north)
• Chester (to the east)
• Derry (to the southeast)
• Londonderry (to the southwest)
• Manchester (to the west)
• Hooksett (to the northwest)

Climate in Auburn

Auburn has a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Auburn was 105°F (41°C) on August 3, 1988. The coldest temperature was -43°F (-42°C) on February 16, 1943.

People of Auburn

In 2000, there were 4,682 people living in Auburn. These people lived in 1,580 households, with 1,322 of them being families.

Many households (44.4%) had children under 18 living with them. Most families (75.1%) were married couples living together.

The average household had about 3 people, and the average family had about 3.2 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 28.9% were under 18 years old.
• 6.2% were between 18 and 24.
• 33.0% were between 25 and 44.
• 25.8% were between 45 and 64.
• 6.1% were 65 years or older.

The average age in Auburn was 37 years.

Auburn has an agreement with the city of Manchester. Because Manchester and other nearby towns use Massabesic Lake for their water, they pay Auburn about $3 million each year.

Fun Things to Do

Massabesic Lake is a major attraction. It covers over 2,500 acres (10 square kilometers) in Auburn and Manchester. While it's a public water source, half of the lake is open for certain types of boating. You can enjoy activities like kayaking and sailboating. However, swimming or direct contact with the water is not allowed to keep the drinking water clean.

• Devil's Den: This is a small cave located east of Massabesic Lake.
• Massabesic Audubon Center: This center is in central Auburn, right on Battery Point by the lake. It's a great place to learn about nature and local wildlife.
• Griffin Mill Dam: You can find this dam along Sucker Brook in the northeastern part of town.

Events and Festivals

Lake Massabesic Duck Race

Every year, the Auburn Historical Association holds a fun Duck Race. It takes place on Hooksett Road, near a stream that flows into Lake Massabesic.

Thousands of yellow rubber ducks are dumped into the stream. They float down to a finish line near the Griffin Mill Bridge. People can buy individual ducks, and the owners of the "fastest" ducks win prizes!

This event brings in thousands of people each year. Visitors can enjoy different booths, games for younger kids, and watch the ducks float by. There's also a pie contest where winners get special clay pie trays.

Yacht Sail Boating Club Race

The Yacht Sail Boating Club hosts sailboat races every Sunday, and sometimes during the week. The races start on the northern shore of Massabesic Lake. Boats go around the lake three times to finish.

Many people enjoy watching these races from their kayaks, sailboats, and canoes. You can also watch from Battery Point, which is the northernmost spot on the Massabesic Peninsula.

Annual Book Sale

The Griffin Free Public Library holds a huge book sale every year during the last weekend of July. It takes place at the Auburn Village School.

They sell about 10,000 books and games. All the money raised helps fund the library's programs.

Education in Auburn

Auburn is part of School Administrative Unit 15 (SAU-15). This school district also includes the towns of Hooksett and Candia.

Auburn Village School serves all elementary school and middle school students in town, from kindergarten to 8th grade.

SAU-15 does not have its own high school. Students from Auburn attend high school at Pinkerton Academy in Derry.

Before 2011, most Auburn students went to Manchester Memorial High School. But in 2011, the town voted to send students to Pinkerton Academy instead. Most people (1,119) voted for Pinkerton, while only 190 voted against it. Some students were already choosing to go to Pinkerton before the official change.

Getting Around Town

Three main state highways pass through Auburn:

• New Hampshire Route 101: This is a four-lane highway in the northern part of town. It goes west to Manchester and east to Exeter. You can get to Auburn from Exit 2 on this highway.
• New Hampshire Route 28 Bypass: This road goes through the west side of Auburn. It leads south to Derry and north to Hooksett. It connects with NH 101 at Exit 1.
• New Hampshire Route 121: This road goes through the center of Auburn and leads east to Chester.

Auburn also has a private airstrip called Cleary Airport. It has one grass runway that is about 3,200 feet (975 meters) long.

Famous People from Auburn

• Joe Dudek (born 1964): A member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Carl Forsaith (1888–1982): The author of Auburn, New Hampshire, which is the official history book of the town.
• Albert Plummer (1840–1912): A doctor and a legislator (someone who makes laws).

See Also

In Spanish: Auburn (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños