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Campton, New Hampshire
Town
NH 175 in Campton Upper Village
NH 175 in Campton Upper Village
Official seal of Campton, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Grafton
Incorporated 1767
Villages Beebe River
Campton Hollow
Campton Lower Village
Campton Upper Village
West Campton
Area
 • Total 52.5 sq mi (136.1 km2)
 • Land 51.9 sq mi (134.3 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)  1.33%
Elevation
676 ft (206 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,343
 • Density 64/sq mi (24.9/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03223
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-08660
GNIS feature ID 0873556

Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,343 at the 2020 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest. It is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the northeast and northwest.

History

Both Campton and adjacent Rumney were granted by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1761 to Jabez Spencer of East Haddam, Connecticut, then settled about 1765. But Captain Spencer died before terms of the charter, which required settlement by 50 families, each farming 5 acres (20,000 m2) for every 50 received, were fulfilled. Two families, named Fox and Taylor, first settled here in 1765. In 1767, Governor John Wentworth issued the heirs and others a new grant. Campton got its name when the first proprietors built a camp here to survey the two towns.

Although the surface is mountainous and ledgy, farmers found good soil for cultivation in the intervales along the rivers. By 1859, when the population was 1,439, industries included one sawmill, one gristmill, one tannery and a carriage shop. The town has three covered bridges, including Blair Bridge, which is 292 feet (89 m), 10 inches long, making it the second longest of those entirely within the state.

Geography

Livermore Falls
Pemigewasset River at Livermore Falls

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.5 square miles (136 km2), of which 51.9 sq mi (134 km2) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) is water, comprising 1.12% of the town. The highest point in Campton is Mount Weetamoo, at 2,548 feet (777 m) above sea level. The town is drained by the Mad River and Pemigewasset River. Campton lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.

The town is crossed by Interstate 93, U.S. Route 3, New Hampshire Route 49 and New Hampshire Route 175. Starting with the 2012 election, Campton will be redistricted from NH's 2nd Congressional District to New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District; it is the only town in Grafton County to be redistricted.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 395
1800 635 60.8%
1810 873 37.5%
1820 1,047 19.9%
1830 1,313 25.4%
1840 1,513 15.2%
1850 1,439 −4.9%
1860 1,320 −8.3%
1870 1,226 −7.1%
1880 1,163 −5.1%
1890 982 −15.6%
1900 999 1.7%
1910 845 −15.4%
1920 1,028 21.7%
1930 1,184 15.2%
1940 1,130 −4.6%
1950 1,149 1.7%
1960 1,058 −7.9%
1970 1,171 10.7%
1980 1,694 44.7%
1990 2,377 40.3%
2000 2,719 14.4%
2010 3,333 22.6%
2020 3,343 0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,719 people, 1,128 households, and 759 families residing in the town. The population density was 52.4 people per square mile (20.2/km2). There were 1,759 housing units at an average density of 33.9 per square mile (13.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.01% White, 0.04% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 1,128 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,213, and the median income for a family was $46,492. Males had a median income of $30,640 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,189. About 5.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

  • Blair Bridge (1829, rebuilt 1870)

Notable people

  • Henry W. Blair (1834–1920), US congressman, senator
  • Chris Devlin-Young (born 1961), ski racer
  • Arthur Livermore (1766–1853), US congressman
  • Sylvester Marsh (1803–1884), builder of the Mount Washington Cog Railway

See also

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

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