Francestown, New Hampshire Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Francestown, New Hampshire
Town
Town hall
Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Hillsborough
Incorporated	1772
Area
• Total	30.4 sq mi (78.7 km²)
• Land	29.8 sq mi (77.2 km²)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²) 1.85%
Elevation	831 ft (253 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,610
• Density	54/sq mi (20.9/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	03043
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-27140
GNIS feature ID	0873598

Francestown is a small town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,610 people lived there. The main village of Francestown, which is in the center of the town, had a population of 201 people in 2020.

History of Francestown
Geography of Francestown
Population Changes in Francestown
Famous People from Francestown
Important Buildings in Francestown
Images for kids
See also

History of Francestown

Francestown became an official town in 1772. It was named after Frances Deering Wentworth. She was the wife of John Wentworth, who was the colonial governor at the time.

When the first count of people was done in 1790, Francestown had 928 residents. For a while, the town was on an important road called the Second New Hampshire Turnpike. This road was the only way to travel between Boston and Vermont. Francestown collected a small fee from coaches and wagons using the road.

From 1792 to 1912, a special type of rock called soapstone was dug up in Francestown. This soapstone was known for its high quality.

Geography of Francestown

Francestown covers an area of about 78.7 square kilometers (about 30.4 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The highest point in Francestown is the top of Crotched Mountain. This mountain is about 630 meters (2,066 feet) above sea level. It is located on the western edge of the town.

All the water in Francestown flows into the Merrimack River. This happens through smaller streams that lead to the Piscataquog River. Two state roads, Route 47 and Route 136, pass through the town.

Population Changes in Francestown

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	982	—
1800	1,355	38.0%
1810	1,451	7.1%
1820	1,479	1.9%
1830	1,540	4.1%
1840	1,308	−15.1%
1850	1,114	−14.8%
1860	1,082	−2.9%
1870	932	−13.9%
1880	937	0.5%
1890	837	−10.7%
1900	693	−17.2%
1910	602	−13.1%
1920	385	−36.0%
1930	363	−5.7%
1940	342	−5.8%
1950	405	18.4%
1960	495	22.2%
1970	525	6.1%
1980	830	58.1%
1990	1,217	46.6%
2000	1,480	21.6%
2010	1,562	5.5%
2020	1,610	3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Francestown has changed a lot over the years. In 2000, there were 1,480 people living in the town. By 2020, the population had grown to 1,610 residents.

In 2020, the average income for a household in Francestown was about $102,721. Most people in Francestown who work are employed by private companies. Many others are self-employed or work for the government.

Famous People from Francestown

Many interesting people have come from Francestown:

Samuel Bell (1770–1850) was the 14th governor of New Hampshire.
James Wallace Black (1825–1896) was a well-known photographer.
Titus Brown (1786–1849) served as a US congressman.
Benjamin Pierce Cheney (1815–1895) was a successful businessman.
Ellen Cheney Johnson (1829–1899) worked to improve prisons.
Sylvester H. Roper (1823–1896) was an inventor. He invented the shotgun choke and was added to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.
Aaron Draper Shattuck (1832–1928) was a painter known for his White Mountain School artwork.
Wallace Tripp (1940–2018) was a famous illustrator.
Eri D. Woodbury (1837–1928) received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Civil War.
Levi Woodbury (1789–1851) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was also the 15th governor of New Hampshire.