Newton, New Hampshire Facts for Kids

Newton is a small town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. It is a part of the beautiful New England region. In 2020, about 4,820 people lived here.

Discovering Newton's Past
Exploring Newton's Geography
- Villages and Neighborhoods
- Nearby Towns and Cities
Understanding Newton's Population
Famous People from Newton
Places to Visit in Newton
See also

Discovering Newton's Past

A Victorian building in 1910

Newton has a long and interesting history. It was one of the first towns created from land bought by a man named John Mason in 1746.

Before it was called Newton, this area was part of other towns in Massachusetts. People living here felt they were too far from their church. So, in 1749, the colonial governor, Benning Wentworth, officially made it a new town. He simply called it "Newtown" because it was new!

Later, in 1846, the government of New Hampshire decided to shorten the name. They changed it from "Newtown" to "Newton."

Exploring Newton's Geography

Newton is located in the southeastern part of New Hampshire. It sits in the southern area of Rockingham County. To the south, it shares a border with Merrimac, a town in Massachusetts.

The town covers about 25.8 square kilometers (about 10 square miles). Most of this area is land, but about 0.4 square kilometers (0.15 square miles) is water. This water makes up about 1.5% of the town's total area.

Newton is part of the Merrimack River watershed. This means that water from rivers and streams in Newton eventually flows into the Merrimack River. The Little River, East Meadow River, Powwow River, and Back River all help drain water from the town.

The highest point in Newton is Brandy Brow Hill. It stands about 59 meters (194 feet) above sea level. This hill is right on the southern edge of the town.

Villages and Neighborhoods

Newton has several smaller areas or villages within it. These include Newton, Newton Junction, Rowes Corner, Sargent Corners, and Crane Crossing.

Nearby Towns and Cities

Newton is surrounded by several other towns. These include:

Kingston (to the north)
East Kingston (to the northeast)
South Hampton (to the east)
Amesbury, Massachusetts (to the east-southeast)
Merrimac, Massachusetts (to the southeast)
Haverhill, Massachusetts (to the south, at one small point)
Plaistow (to the southwest)

Understanding Newton's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	530	—
1800	450	−15.1%
1810	454	0.9%
1820	477	5.1%
1830	510	6.9%
1840	541	6.1%
1850	685	26.6%
1860	850	24.1%
1870	856	0.7%
1880	1,606	87.6%
1890	1,064	−33.7%
1900	924	−13.2%
1910	962	4.1%
1920	872	−9.4%
1930	848	−2.8%
1940	900	6.1%
1950	1,173	30.3%
1960	1,419	21.0%
1970	1,920	35.3%
1980	3,068	59.8%
1990	3,473	13.2%
2000	4,289	23.5%
2010	4,603	7.3%
2020	4,820	4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Newton has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1790, only 530 people lived here. By 1950, the population had grown to over 1,000 residents.

The town continued to grow steadily through the late 20th century. By the year 2000, there were 4,289 people living in Newton. The most recent count in 2020 showed the population reached 4,820.

Famous People from Newton

Some interesting people have connections to Newton:

Bill Moisan (1925–2010) was a brave World War II veteran. He also played baseball as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.
Mark Mowers (born 1974) is a former professional ice hockey player. He played as a center for teams like the Boston Bruins.
Mike Ryan (1941–2020) was a baseball catcher and coach. He played for the Boston Red Sox and other teams.
Betty Hill (1919–2004) was known for her story about an alleged UFO encounter.

Places to Visit in Newton

If you visit Newton, you might want to see these places:

Marshall House
Village Primary School (1850) – This old schoolhouse is now home to the Newton Historical Society. They meet there every month.

Newton, New Hampshire facts for kids

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