Rollinsford, New Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rollinsford, New Hampshire
Town
Town hall
Location within Strafford County, New Hampshire
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Strafford
Settled	1630s
Incorporated	1849
Area
• Total	7.6 sq mi (19.6 km2)
• Land	7.3 sq mi (18.9 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	70 ft (20 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,597
• Density	356/sq mi (137.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	03869
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-65540
GNIS feature ID	0873709

Rollinsford is a small and friendly town located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,597 people lived here. The main part of town used to be called "Salmon Falls Village".

History of Rollinsford

The land where Rollinsford is today was once home to the Newichawannock people. They were a group of the Abenaki tribe. Their name came from the Newichawannock River, which means "river with many falls." This river is now called the Salmon Falls River.

The Newichawannock people had a village where Salmon Falls Village is now. They would fish at the falls, using nets to catch migrating salmon and other fish. Sadly, wars and diseases, like smallpox, greatly reduced their population.

Early Settlements and Names

Around the 1630s, settlers from Europe arrived. This area was first part of Dover, one of New Hampshire's first towns. The area was first called "Sligo," possibly after County Sligo in Ireland. You can still find a road in town named Sligo Road today.

In 1729, the area became a separate church district called "Summersworth." This name meant "summer town" because ministers would preach here during the warmer months. In 1754, it officially became a town. A mistake in writing changed the name to "Somersworth."

How Rollinsford Became a Town

Over time, small communities grew near sawmills and gristmills along the Salmon Falls River. The center of "Summersworth" was at a place called Rollinsford Junction.

In the early 1820s, factories that used water power to make cloth were built near the larger waterfalls. This led to the town being divided. The area with the "Great Falls" became Somersworth. The area with the "Salmon Falls" became Rollinsford.

Rollinsford officially became a town in 1849. It was named after the Rollins family. An important ancestor, Judge Ichabod Rollins, had settled there many years before. He was the first judge for the state's probate court, which handles wills and estates.

Salmon Falls Village Today

Salmon Falls Mfg. Co. in 1906

The village of Salmon Falls was started in 1823. A group of local investors created the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company. They wanted to make wool cloth using the power of the Salmon Falls River.

After a fire in 1834, a new factory was built to make cotton. The town was designed with a simple grid pattern. Three-story boarding houses and the mill buildings were made of brick to help prevent fires. Two-story brick houses were also built for the families of the factory managers.

The town grew and did well into the early 1900s. Many immigrant families came to live here and work in the mills.

From Mills to Art Studios

The New England cotton industry started to decline in the mid-20th century. However, the brick buildings of the town remained.

Today, these old mill buildings have new life! They are now used as affordable studio spaces for over 100 artists and craftspeople. They use these converted studios for many things. This includes painting, sculpting, making handmade furniture, and even teaching yoga and dance.

Geography

Rollinsford covers about 19.6 square kilometers (about 7.6 square miles). Most of this area, 18.9 square kilometers (7.3 square miles), is land. The rest, 0.7 square kilometers (0.3 square miles), is water.

The Salmon Falls River forms the eastern border of the town. This river also marks the border between New Hampshire and Maine. The western part of Rollinsford has small streams like Rollins and Twombly brooks. These flow south into the Cochecho River in nearby Dover. All the water in Rollinsford eventually flows into the Piscataqua River.

The highest point in town is a hill about 300 feet (91 meters) high, near the border with Somersworth. Another notable spot is Garrison Hill. It is 290 feet (88 meters) above sea level and is on the town's border with Dover.

New Hampshire Route 4 goes through Rollinsford. It leads southwest to Dover and northeast to South Berwick, Maine. In Maine, it becomes Maine State Route 4.

Adjacent municipalities

Rollinsford shares its borders with these towns:

• Berwick, Maine (north)
• South Berwick, Maine (east)
• Dover, New Hampshire (southwest)
• Somersworth, New Hampshire (northwest)

Population Information

Rollinsford Fire Department

Based on the census from 2000, there were 2,648 people living in Rollinsford. These people lived in 1,033 households, and 721 of these were families.

About 34.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (58.4%) were married couples living together. About 22.3% of all households were made up of people living alone.

The average household had about 2.56 people. The average family had about 3.03 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 25.2% were under 18 years old.
• 6.9% were between 18 and 24.
• 33.0% were between 25 and 44.
• 22.5% were between 45 and 64.
• 12.3% were 65 years or older.

The median age in town was 37 years. This means half the people were older than 37 and half were younger.

Notable People from Rollinsford

Here are some well-known people who have connections to Rollinsford:

• George G. Adams (1850–1932), an architect who designed buildings.
• Dave Guard (1934–1991), a folk singer famous for being part of The Kingston Trio.
• Dan Marsh (born 1956), also known as "Dangerous" Danny Davis, a referee and wrestler with the WWE.
• Virginia Huntington Robie (1868–1957), an author and academic.
• Edward H. Rollins (1824–1889), who served as a state senator and a US congressman.
• Bill Staines (1947–2021), a folk singer-songwriter.

See also

In Spanish: Rollinsford (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños