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Londonderry, New Hampshire
From top, left to right: Londonderry Grange #44, Mack's Apples blossoms, gun on the town common, Londonderry United Methodist Church, Mack's Apples farm market
Official seal of Londonderry, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Rockingham
Incorporated 1722
Villages Londonderry
North Londonderry
Wilson
Area
 • Total 42.1 sq mi (109.1 km2)
 • Land 42.0 sq mi (108.8 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.30%
Elevation
420 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 25,826
 • Density 615/sq mi (237.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03053
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-43220
GNIS feature ID 0873651

Londonderry is a town in western Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. It sits between Manchester and Derry, the largest and fourth-largest communities in the state. The population was 25,826 at the 2020 census. Londonderry is known for its apple orchards and is home to the headquarters of Stonyfield Farm and part of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

The more densely settled portion of town, where 11,645 people lived at the 2020 census, is defined as the Londonderry census-designated place (CDP) and roughly occupies the southeastern and southern parts of town, around New Hampshire Route 102.

History

Londonderry lies in an area that was first known as "Nutfield" because of the dense woods with nut trees. The town was settled in 1718 by Scots-Irish settlers, many of whom had left their homes in Londonderry in the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland, and arrived in Boston in 1718 to start a new life without religious wars and persecution. In 1722, the town was chartered and given the name "Londonderry".

Early Ulster Scots settlers spread out into surrounding villages, bringing Irish and Scottish names like Antrim, Derry and Dunbarton. Londonderry was the second largest town in early colonial times, and Derry, Windham and a portion of Manchester were formed from it.

In 1719, the first American potato was grown in Derry, then a part of Londonderry.

The first U.S. census, conducted in 1790, reported the town's population to be 2,622.

Antique postcards

Geography

Londonderry is located in southwestern Rockingham County, between Manchester to the north, Derry to the east, and Hudson to the south. The western, northern, and southern borders of the town are with Hillsborough County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.1 square miles (109.1 km2), of which 42.0 square miles (108.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2) is water, comprising 0.31% of the town.

The census-designated place portion of Londonderry is bordered by the Derry town line to the east, the Windham line to the southeast, and the Hudson line to the southwest. The northwestern border of the CDP zigzags, following New Hampshire Route 102 (Nashua Road) from the Hudson town line to New Hampshire Route 128, then NH 128 (Mammoth Road) north to Litchfield Road, then Stonehenge Road east to Interstate 93, then I-93 south to Ash Street, which leads east to the Derry line. The CDP includes the Londonderry town offices (east side of Mammoth Road) but not the Londonderry High School and Middle School complexes (west side of Mammoth Road). The CDP has a total area of 12.33 square miles (31.94 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.19%, is water.

The town of Londonderry is drained on the east by Beaver Brook and on the west by Little Cohas Brook and Nesenkeag Brook, all of which flow to the Merrimack River. The town's highest point is 535 feet (163 m) above sea level, on "Number Eight Hill" (named after the old school house that used to be on it) north of the center of town.

The town is crossed by Interstate 93, New Hampshire Route 102, New Hampshire Route 128, and New Hampshire Route 28. Half of Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, including the main terminal, is in the northwest corner of the town.

Neighboring cities and towns

Demographics

Londonderry Presbyterian Church at sunset
Londonderry Presbyterian Church at sunset
Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 2,622
1800 2,650 1.1%
1810 2,766 4.4%
1820 3,127 13.1%
1830 1,469 −53.0%
1840 1,556 5.9%
1850 1,731 11.2%
1860 1,717 −0.8%
1870 1,405 −18.2%
1880 1,363 −3.0%
1890 1,220 −10.5%
1900 1,408 15.4%
1910 1,533 8.9%
1920 1,303 −15.0%
1930 1,373 5.4%
1940 1,429 4.1%
1950 1,640 14.8%
1960 2,457 49.8%
1970 5,346 117.6%
1980 13,598 154.4%
1990 19,781 45.5%
2000 23,236 17.5%
2010 24,129 3.8%
2020 25,826 7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 24,129 people, 8,438 households, and 6,678 families residing in the town. The population density was 574.5 people per square mile (221.9/km2). There were 8,771 housing units at an average density of 208.8 per square mile (80.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American or Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 8,438 households, out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were headed by married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86, and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

For the period 2009–2013, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $90,263, and the median income for a family was $107,100. Male full-time workers had a median income of $71,280 versus $50,081 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,553. About 1.6% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Sunnycrest Farm market
Sunnycrest Farm market

Londonderry is home to numerous businesses, many of which are located in the northern part of the town near Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), or in the southeastern part of town near I-93, on NH 102. Major businesses headquartered in town include Stonyfield Farm and Blue Seal Feeds; a bottling facility of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. is also located in town. The town is also home to numerous chain retailers.

Mack's Apples, Sunnycrest Farm, and Elwood Orchards are among the several orchards in town and are emblematic of the town's important farming heritage. The abundance of apple orchards in town has made apple picking a popular fall activity among all residents.

One former apple orchard is currently being transformed into a 600-acre commercial and residential development to be known as Woodmont Commons.

Education

Londonderry High School, NH (cropped)
Londonderry High School
Leach Library entrance
The Leach Library, the town's public library

The town is served by the Londonderry School District.

Kindergarten:

  • Moose Hill School (includes LEEP, the Londonderry Early Education Program)

Elementary schools:

  • North School
  • Matthew Thornton Elementary School
  • South School

Middle school:

  • Londonderry Middle School

High school:

  • Londonderry High School (home of the Lancers)

Private schools:

  • Victory Baptist School (K–12)
  • Adventures in Learning
  • Applewood Learning Center
  • Cozy Kid's Child Care
  • Kindercare
  • Pixie Preschool I

Infrastructure

Londonderry Police Department 2 (cropped)
The Londonderry Police Department

Londonderry has its own fire department and police department.

Transportation

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport Aerial Photograph
The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is located mostly in Londonderry.

Londonderry is crossed by three New Hampshire state highways and one Interstate Highway.

  • NH 28 crosses North Londonderry, entering the town from Derry in the east and leaving the town into Manchester in the north. NH 28 is known locally as Rockingham Road when it enters from Derry, and merges with Mammoth Road at the northern terminus of NH 128.
  • NH 102 crosses South Londonderry, entering the town from Hudson in the southwest corner, and leaving the town into Derry in the east. NH 102 is known locally as Nashua Road.
  • NH 128 is the main north–south route through Londonderry, entering from Windham in the south and terminating at NH 28 in North Londonderry. It is known locally as Mammoth Road.
  • Interstate 93 crosses the eastern side of Londonderry from south to north. There are two exits to access Londonderry: Exit 4 (NH 102) and Exit 5 (NH 28).

Londonderry is partially home to the Manchester–Boston Regional Airport which it shares with the city of Manchester. There is no passenger rail service in Londonderry.

Notable people

  • Ant (born 1967), host of VH1 reality series Celebrity Fit Club
  • Al Baldasaro (born 1956), Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, advisor to President Trump
  • John Bell (1765–1836), 18th governor of New Hampshire
  • Samuel Bell (1770–1850), 14th governor of New Hampshire
  • Silas Betton (1768–1822), US congressman
  • Dominic DiMaggio (1917–2009), outfielder with the Boston Red Sox
  • John Fisher (1806–1882), industrialist; US congressman from New York
  • Ryan Griffin (born 1990), tight end for the New York Jets of the National Football League
  • Kevin Hunt (1948–2015), NFL player (offensive lineman) for Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and New Orleans Saints
  • Arthur Livermore (1766–1853), US congressman
  • Joseph McKeen (1757–1807), president of Bowdoin College
  • Dan Mullen (born 1972), head coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
  • Ocean Born Mary (1720–1814), subject of a local ghost legend
  • William M. Oliver (1792–1863), US congressman
  • Ethan Paquin, poet
  • George W. Patterson (1799–1879), US congressman
  • Peter Patterson (1825–1904), businessman, Canadian politician
  • William Patterson (1789–1838), US congressman
  • George Reid (1733–1815), Revolutionary War era officer
  • William Stark (1724–1776), Revolutionary War era officer, brother of celebrated war hero John Stark, but unlike his brother, William was a loyalist to Britain
  • Samuel Taggart (1754–1825), US congressman
  • Matthew Thornton (1714–1803), Founding Father, signer of the Declaration of Independence; he lived in a part of the town that is now in Derry
  • Brian Wilson (born 1982), pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants
  • James Wilson (1763–1855), first maker of globes in the US

Images for kids

See also

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