Nelson, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nelson, New Hampshire
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Town
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Nelson Community Church and the town's iconic row of mailboxes
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Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| Incorporated | 1774 |
| Villages |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 23.3 sq mi (60.3 km2) |
| • Land | 21.9 sq mi (56.7 km2) |
| • Water | 1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2) 5.88% |
| Elevation | 1,493 ft (455 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 629 |
| • Density | 29/sq mi (11.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code |
03457
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| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-50580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873673 |
Nelson is a small town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. In 2020, about 629 people lived there. Nelson is home to the village of Munsonville.
Contents
History of Nelson
Nelson was first called "Monadnock No. 6". It was given this name in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth. The first people to settle here arrived in 1767.
On February 22, 1774, the town officially became "Packersfield". This name honored Thomas Packer, who was a major owner and the sheriff of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1814, the town's name was changed to Nelson. This was to honor Viscount Horatio Nelson, a famous British admiral and naval hero.
Early Life and Industry
Nelson is located on high ground between two major river systems: the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. Because of its hilly land, it became a farming community, especially good for raising animals.
However, Nelson also had industries. Streams flowing from four ponds provided water power for mills. The village of Munsonville, located on a main travel route, made cotton cloth and chairs. The L. J. Colony Chair Co. was a big factory. It made between 25,000 and 30,000 chairs every year. They even hired women and children from local farms to weave the rattan seats and backs.
At one time, Munsonville had many homes and 10 school districts. Today, the mills are closed. Munsonville is now a popular place for summer homes.
Nelson's Unique Traditions
Nelson is famous for its Monday night contradance. These dances have been held in Nelson's town hall for over 200 years! Many people say it's the longest-running public contradance in the world.
The Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music is also in Nelson. This group plays classical chamber music. They try to bring people from different cultures together through music.
Geography of Nelson
Nelson is in the eastern part of Cheshire County, in southwestern New Hampshire. Its eastern side touches the border of Hillsborough County.
The town covers about 60.3 square kilometers (23.3 square miles). Most of this is land, with about 3.5 square kilometers (1.4 square miles) being water.
Rivers and Lakes
The eastern part of Nelson drains into the Contoocook River. This river flows into the Merrimack River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Maine. The western part of Nelson drains into the Ashuelot River. This river flows into the Connecticut River and then to Long Island Sound.
Some important bodies of water in Nelson include Spoonwood Pond and part of Nubanusit Lake in the east. Part of Silver Lake is in the south, and part of Granite Lake is in the north. The village of Munsonville is located right where Granite Lake flows out.
Highest Point and Trails
The highest point in Nelson is Osgood Hill, also known as Nelson Pinnacle. It is about 687 meters (2,253 feet) above sea level.
The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway hiking trail goes right through the center of Nelson. This trail is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) long. It connects Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey to Mount Sunapee in Newbury.
New Hampshire Route 9 also crosses through the town.
Neighboring Towns
Nelson is next to these towns:
- Stoddard (north)
- Antrim (northeast)
- Hancock (east)
- Harrisville (south)
- Roxbury (southwest)
- Sullivan (west)
Population of Nelson
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 721 | — | |
| 1800 | 977 | 35.5% | |
| 1810 | 1,076 | 10.1% | |
| 1820 | 907 | −15.7% | |
| 1830 | 875 | −3.5% | |
| 1840 | 835 | −4.6% | |
| 1850 | 750 | −10.2% | |
| 1860 | 699 | −6.8% | |
| 1870 | 744 | 6.4% | |
| 1880 | 438 | −41.1% | |
| 1890 | 332 | −24.2% | |
| 1900 | 295 | −11.1% | |
| 1910 | 231 | −21.7% | |
| 1920 | 171 | −26.0% | |
| 1930 | 162 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 282 | 74.1% | |
| 1950 | 231 | −18.1% | |
| 1960 | 222 | −3.9% | |
| 1970 | 304 | 36.9% | |
| 1980 | 442 | 45.4% | |
| 1990 | 535 | 21.0% | |
| 2000 | 634 | 18.5% | |
| 2010 | 729 | 15.0% | |
| 2020 | 629 | −13.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Nelson had 729 people living in 303 households. About 26% of these households had children under 18. Most households (52.8%) were married couples living together.
The average age of people in Nelson in 2010 was about 46 years old. About 19% of the population was under 18.
Notable People from Nelson
Some well-known people have lived in Nelson:
- Ursula Newell Emerson (1806–1888), a missionary in Hawaii.
- Alfred B. Kittredge (1861–1911), a US senator from South Dakota.
- Ralph Page (1903–1985), a famous contra dance caller and expert on American folk dance.
- May Sarton (1912–1995), a poet and writer.
Images for kids
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The Common around 1914
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Soldiers' monument and church around 1910
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L. J. Colony Chair Co. at Munsonville around 1914
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Old sawmill at Munsonville around 1914
See also
In Spanish: Nelson (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños
