Hampton Beach, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
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Hampton Beach in mid-September 2004
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Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Town | Hampton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.50 sq mi (3.87 km2) |
| • Land | 1.27 sq mi (3.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,598 |
| • Density | 2,042.45/sq mi (788.29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
03842, 03843
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| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-33140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0867344 |
Hampton Beach is a fun beach resort in Hampton, New Hampshire, USA. It sits right along the Atlantic Ocean. In 2020, about 2,598 people lived here.
Hampton Beach is in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It's about 15 miles south of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This community is a very popular spot for tourists. It is the busiest beach in New Hampshire.
The main street is called Ocean Boulevard. It has a cool boardwalk, lots of shops, and hotels. You can also find the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom here. This place hosts many famous performers in the summer. Hampton Beach State Park is also super special. In 2011, it was named one of the top four "Superstar" beaches in the U.S. This was because its water quality was perfect for three years in a row!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Hampton Beach Village District started on June 26, 1907. It was created to bring electricity and water to the summer visitors.
In 1923, the first fire station was built. This happened after two big fires in 1919 and 1922. These fires destroyed a large part of the beach area. The original fire station was later replaced in 2014.
On February 26, 2010, a strong windstorm caused another fire. It burned down a whole block of buildings at Hampton Beach. This included the Surf Hotel and Happy Hampton Arcade. The fire started in the Surf Hotel. High winds helped it spread to other buildings. The cause of this fire is not known. The area has since been rebuilt. Now there's a bigger hotel and a new Mrs. Mitchell's shop.
On July 29, 2023, a small plane crashed near the beach. It was a single-engine Piper PA-18. Only one person was on board the plane. Luckily, they were not hurt.
Where is Hampton Beach?
Most of Hampton Beach is on a narrow strip of land. This land is like an island. It is separated from the mainland by a large water system. This system is called Hampton Harbor. Several rivers flow into this harbor. The biggest one is the Hampton River.
New Hampshire Route 1A is the main road here. It runs north and south through the beach area. This road connects Hampton Beach to Seabrook Beach in the south. It also connects to Little Boar's Head in North Hampton to the north.
You can get to Hampton Beach from the west using three roads. New Hampshire Route 101 is the main way to reach the busy southern part. Winnacunnet Road (also called New Hampshire Route 101E) leads to the quieter northern areas. These areas are near a large salt marsh.
The busiest part of the beach is south of the Ashworth-by-the-Sea hotel. This hotel is where NH 101 meets NH 1A. NH 1A is also known as Ocean Boulevard here. South of this point, NH 1A splits into two one-way streets. Ashworth Avenue goes south, and Ocean Boulevard goes north.
The southern end of the land strip is mostly state park. There are very few buildings there. North of the NH 101 and NH 1A meeting point, the area is much less developed. It has a large salt marsh. There are also small shops and bungalows along Ocean Boulevard.
People Who Live Here
In 2010, there were 2,275 people living in Hampton Beach. By 2020, the population grew to 2,598 people. Many of the homes here are used for vacations. About 61% of the housing units were empty on Census Day. Most of these were seasonal or vacation rentals.
The people living here are from many different backgrounds. The average age of residents was about 49 years old.
Fun Things to Do
There are many exciting things to see and do at Hampton Beach!
- New Hampshire Marine Memorial: This memorial is located right on the beach. It's along Route 1A, where Route 101 ends.
- Hampton Bridge: This bridge carries Route 1A south. It goes across the Hampton Harbor inlet into Seabrook.
- Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom: This place has been a main attraction for over 100 years. It still brings in some of the biggest names in entertainment. The Ballroom is even ranked among the top venues worldwide for ticket sales!
- Hampton Beach Seafood Festival: This festival has been happening since 1988. It helps make New Hampshire a great vacation spot. The festival is very important for local businesses. Many say it's even bigger than the Fourth of July for sales! It usually takes place the weekend after Labor Day. This helps to make the summer season last longer. Many non-profit groups also earn money here. This helps them support important causes in New Hampshire. The festival has won awards. It was named "One of the Top 100 Events in North America" several times. More than 150,000 people now attend!
- Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture Competition: Since 2001, this competition has brought sand sculptors from all over America. It happens in mid-June. Thousands of people come to see the amazing sand art. The sculptures are lit up for two weeks after the contest. Artists can win big prizes, with the top prize being $50,000!
- Fireworks: You can enjoy fireworks on the 4th of July. There are also fireworks every Wednesday during the summer at 9:30 pm. Plus, there are special fireworks to end the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. These are usually on Saturday at 8:15 pm.
Images for kids
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Ocean Boulevard in Hampton Beach, March 2019
See also
In Spanish: Hampton Beach (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños
