Fremont, New Hampshire Facts for Kids

Fremont is a small town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. It's a classic New England town with a rich history. In 2020, about 4,739 people lived here. Fremont is known for its beautiful nature trails and historic buildings. You can explore the Rockingham Recreation Trail, which used to be a railway.

History of Fremont
Geography of Fremont
- Neighboring Towns
Population Changes
Transportation in Fremont
Places to Visit
Famous People from Fremont
See also

History of Fremont

Early Days and the Mast Tree Riot

Fremont was first settled in the 1720s. Back then, it was part of a larger town called Exeter. The area was famous for its tall, strong eastern white pine trees. These trees were special because the Royal Navy (the British navy) wanted them for ship masts.

However, local people also needed the wood to build their homes. In 1734, a surveyor named David Dunbar came to check on the trees. Local citizens, upset about the trees being taken, gathered and fired guns to scare him away. Dunbar returned with ten men, but a group of citizens dressed as Native Americans attacked them. Dunbar and his men had to run away. This event is known as the Mast Tree Riot. It was an early example of colonists standing up for their rights.

Changing Names and Historic Buildings

In 1764, the town was officially recognized by Governor Benning Wentworth. It was first called "Poplin." Later, in 1853, the people of Poplin asked the state to change the name. In 1854, it was renamed "Fremont" to honor General John C. Frémont. He was the first person to run for president for the Republican Party in 1856.

Fremont has some very old and important buildings. The Fremont Meeting House, built in 1800, is a great example. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town also used to have the biggest brickyard in New Hampshire. It made five million bricks every year! Plus, Spaulding & Frost Cooperage, started in 1874, is one of the oldest companies in the country that still makes wooden barrels.

B-52 Plane Crash

On August 10, 1959, a large Boeing B-52 Stratofortress airplane crashed in Fremont. The plane had taken off from Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. While flying high at 34,000 feet (about 10,360 meters), the crew heard loud noises. The plane started shaking and losing height.

The pilot told the crew to jump out at 14,000 feet (about 4,267 meters). The pilot stayed with the plane a bit longer before ejecting. The plane crashed into Spruce Swamp. Luckily, the pilot and all seven crew members survived! The crash happened because a part on the plane's nose, called the radome, broke.

Geography of Fremont

Fremont covers about 45.1 square kilometers (17.4 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The highest point in Fremont is a hill that is 322 feet (98 meters) above sea level.

The town has two main rivers. The Exeter River flows through most of Fremont. The northern part of town is drained by the beginnings of the Piscassic River. All the water in Fremont eventually flows into the Piscataqua River (Coastal) watershed, which leads to the ocean.

Neighboring Towns

Fremont shares its borders with several other towns:

Epping (to the north)
Brentwood (to the east)
Kingston (to the southeast)
Danville (to the south)
Sandown (to the southwest)
Chester (to the southwest)
Raymond (to the northwest)

Population Changes

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	509	—
1860	579	13.8%
1870	527	−9.0%
1880	624	18.4%
1890	726	16.3%
1900	749	3.2%
1910	622	−17.0%
1920	519	−16.6%
1930	571	10.0%
1940	634	11.0%
1950	698	10.1%
1960	783	12.2%
1970	993	26.8%
1980	1,333	34.2%
1990	2,576	93.2%
2000	3,510	36.3%
2010	4,283	22.0%
2020	4,739	10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

The historic Fremont Meeting House

Fremont has grown a lot over the years. In 1850, only 509 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 4,739 people. This shows that more and more families have chosen to make Fremont their home.

In 2000, there were 3,510 people living in Fremont. Most families in Fremont were married couples living together. About 44% of households had children under 18. The average family size was about three people. The median age in town was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.

The Exeter River at Sand Hill in 1913

The median income for a family in Fremont was about $63,808 in 2000. This is the middle income level for families. A small number of families, about 3.8%, lived below the poverty line.

Transportation in Fremont

Two main New Hampshire state routes help people travel through Fremont:

NH 107 runs from Raymond in the northwest to Brentwood in the southeast. It goes right through the center of town along Main Street.
NH 111A comes from Danville in the south. It joins NH 107 for a short distance before heading north towards Brentwood.

Places to Visit

Fremont has several interesting places to explore:

Rockingham Recreation Trail: This trail is great for biking and walking. It follows an old railway line.
Fremont Meeting House: Built in 1800, this historic building is also known as the Poplin Meeting House. It's one of only two meeting houses in New England with two front porches.
Fremont Town Hall: This unique building, built in 1911, is the only town hall in New Hampshire with tin siding.
1820 Country Market and Deli: This is one of the oldest country stores in New Hampshire and New England.

Famous People from Fremont

Lee Bergere (1918–2007): An actor known for his role in the TV show Dynasty. He lived in Fremont for some time.
Dan Itse (born 1958): A former New Hampshire State Representative for Rockingham County.
The Shaggs: An American all-female rock band formed in Fremont in 1968. They are known for their unique "outsider music" style.

Fremont, New Hampshire facts for kids

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