Hancock, New Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hancock, New Hampshire
Town
Town Hall
Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Hillsborough
Incorporated	1779
Area
• Total	31.2 sq mi (80.9 km2)
• Land	30.0 sq mi (77.6 km2)
• Water	1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2)  4.12%
Elevation	876 ft (267 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,731
• Density	58/sq mi (22.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	03449
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-33700
GNIS feature ID	0873618

Hancock is a small town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. In 2020, about 1,731 people lived here. Hancock is also home to the Welch Family Farm Forest, a great place to explore nature.

The main part of town, where 213 people lived in 2020, is called the Hancock census-designated place (CDP). You can find it where New Hampshire routes 123 and 137 meet.

Discovering Hancock's Past: A Look at Its History

A Snowy Monday, 1926 (The Cooperage, Hancock, New Hampshire) by Lilla Cabot Perry

Hancock began as a settlement on the Contoocook River around 1764. This area was known as "Society Land" or "Cumberland." In 1779, the town officially separated from Peterborough and became its own town. This process is called "incorporation."

The town was named "Hancock" to honor John Hancock. He was a very important person in American history. John Hancock owned a lot of land in the area. He was the first governor of Massachusetts, led the Continental Congress, and famously signed the Declaration of Independence.

Many buildings on Main Street in downtown Hancock are part of the Hancock Village Historic District. This means they are protected because of their historical importance. The Hancock Meetinghouse has a special bell made by Paul Revere. This bell, number 236, chimes every hour, day and night. You won't find paved sidewalks here, but there are gravel paths connecting homes.

• 

  Main Street in 1907

• 

  Historical Society in 1915

• 

  Old Library c. 1905

• 

  Bennington Road with Historical Society, 2013

Exploring Hancock's Geography and Natural Features

Hancock covers a total area of about 80.9 square kilometers (31.2 square miles). Most of this is land (77.6 sq km or 29.9 sq mi), and 3.3 sq km (1.3 sq mi) is water. This means about 4.12% of the town is water.

The Contoocook River flows north along the eastern side of Hancock. Powder Mill Pond is in the east, and Nubanusit Lake is on the western border. The highest point in Hancock is Skatutakee Mountain, which is 2,002 feet (610 meters) above sea level. All the water in Hancock eventually flows into the Merrimack River.

Neighboring Towns: Who Borders Hancock?

Hancock shares its borders with several other towns:

• Antrim (north)
• Bennington (northeast)
• Greenfield (east)
• Peterborough (south)
• Harrisville (southwest)
• Nelson (west)

Understanding Hancock's Population and People

W. D. Fogg's Store c. 1906

Alcott Trestle c. 1905

According to the 2010 census, 1,654 people lived in Hancock. There were 724 households, with 484 of them being families. Most residents were white (97.4%).

The population included people of all ages. About 17.9% were under 18 years old. About 22.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in Hancock was 50.8 years.

Education in Hancock: Schools for Students

Hancock is part of SAU (School Administrative Unit) #1. This is a school district called the Contoocook Valley Regional School District, which includes nine towns. Students from Hancock attend schools in different towns based on their grade level:

• Elementary School: Hancock Elementary School, located right in Hancock.
• Middle School: Great Brook School, located in Antrim.
• High School: ConVal Regional High School, located in Peterborough.

Getting Around Hancock: Roads and Routes

Three main roads pass through Hancock, making it easy to travel to and from the town:

• New Hampshire Route 123: This route enters from Peterborough in the southeast. It travels north towards the town center. In the village, it briefly joins NH 137. Then, it continues northeast, leaving Hancock into the town of Antrim.
• New Hampshire Route 137: This route comes into Hancock from Harrisville in the south-central part of town. After a short shared section with NH 123, it heads northeast. It ends near the town's border with Bennington, where it meets US 202.
• U.S. Route 202: This major U.S. route enters Hancock from Peterborough in the southeast, initially with NH 123. After NH 123 turns off, US 202 continues along Concord Road, passing Powder Mill Pond. It then passes the end of NH 137 and enters the town of Bennington.

Places to Visit in Hancock

If you're ever in Hancock, here are some interesting places you might want to check out:

• Hancock Historical Society Museum
• Very Long Baseline Array radio telescope (a huge telescope used for studying space)

Notable People from Hancock

Many interesting people have connections to Hancock:

• Thelma Babbitt (1906–2004), a Quaker activist and environmentalist.
• Eli Bremer (born 1978), an Olympic athlete.
• Oren B. Cheney (1816–1903), a preacher who founded Bates College.
• Person C. Cheney (1828–1901), a paper manufacturer and politician.
• Wayne Green (1922–2013), a well-known publisher.
• Joseph Grew (1880–1965), a US ambassador to several countries, including Japan.
• Howard Mansfield (born 1957), an author.
• Charles E. Merrill Jr. (1920–2017), an educator who started the Commonwealth School in Boston.
• Jay Pierrepont Moffat (1896–1943), a US ambassador to Canada.
• Jay Pierrepont Moffat Jr. (1932–2020), a US ambassador to Chad.
• Sy Montgomery (born 1958), an author, naturalist, and scriptwriter.
• Lilla Cabot Perry (1848–1933), a famous artist.
• A. A. Ames (1842–1911), a former mayor of Minneapolis, who was arrested in Hancock in 1903.

See also

In Spanish: Hancock (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños