Sandwich, New Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandwich, New Hampshire
Town
Along NH Route 109 at top of Wentworth Hill
Location in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Carroll
Incorporated	1763
Villages	Center Sandwich North Sandwich Sandwich Whiteface
Area
• Total	94.1 sq mi (243.8 km2)
• Land	90.9 sq mi (235.4 km2)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (8.5 km2)  3.47%
Elevation	797 ft (243 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,466
• Density	16/sq mi (6.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	03227 (Center Sandwich) 03259 (North Sandwich) 03883 (South Tamworth) 03886 (Tamworth) 03254 (Moultonborough)
Area code(s)	603
FIPS code	33-67780
GNIS feature ID	0873717

Sandwich is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. It is a lovely place with a population of 1,466 people, based on the 2020 census. Sandwich includes two main villages: Center Sandwich and North Sandwich.

A part of the amazing White Mountain National Forest is in the northern area. Also, a section of Squam Lake is in the town's southwestern corner. This means Sandwich is located right where New Hampshire's Lakes Region meets the White Mountains Region. The Sandwich Range of mountains is partly in the town, including the mountain called Sandwich Mountain. Every October, the town hosts the Sandwich Fair, which is a very popular event.

History of Sandwich

How Sandwich Got Its Name

Sandwich was officially created in 1763 by Governor Benning Wentworth. He was a colonial governor, meaning he was in charge when New Hampshire was still a British colony. The land was thought to be very hard to reach back then. Because of this, the area given to Sandwich was made larger, making it one of the biggest towns in the state.

The town was named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. He is famous for supposedly inventing the "sandwich" food!

Early Settlers and Growth

The first European settlers arrived in Sandwich in 1767. By 1830, the town had grown a lot. Its population reached about 2,700 people. This was almost double the number of people living there today.

At that time, Sandwich was a busy place. It had many farms, stores, and mills. There were also churches and schools. People worked as carpenters, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights.

Changes Over Time

Towards the end of the 1800s, many people left Sandwich. They moved to bigger cities in the west to find new opportunities.

However, Sandwich then started to become a popular spot for visitors. People came for summer vacations, and artists found inspiration here. This tradition continues even today.

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen started in Sandwich in 1920. It was first called "Sandwich Home Industries." This group helps local artists and craftspeople. The famous Sandwich Fair is held every fall. The Durgin Bridge, a covered bridge, was built in 1864 and is still in the eastern part of town.

Geography of Sandwich

Guinea Pond Trail in the White Mountain National Forest

Sandwich covers a total area of about 243.8 square kilometers (94.1 square miles). Most of this area, about 235.4 square kilometers (90.9 square miles), is land. The rest, about 8.5 square kilometers (3.3 square miles), is water. Water makes up about 3.47% of the town's total area.

Rivers and Lakes

Several rivers flow through Sandwich. The Bearcamp and Cold rivers drain towards the east. The Beebe River flows to the northwest. Squam Lake is in the southwest. The Red Hill River drains to the south.

The Bearcamp and Cold rivers are part of the Saco River system. This system flows east into Maine. The other rivers and lakes are part of the Merrimack River system. This system flows south into Massachusetts.

Mountains and Forests

The White Mountain National Forest covers the northwestern part of Sandwich. It also runs along the town's northern border. Mount Israel is a peak within this national forest. It is about 2,630 feet (802 meters) above sea level.

Part of the Squam Mountains is in the western area. The Sandwich Range is in the north. This range includes Sandwich Mountain, also known as Sandwich Dome. It is the highest point in town and in Carroll County, standing at 3,993 feet (1,217 meters) tall.

Villages in Sandwich

The main village in town is Center Sandwich. Other small villages include Sandwich, North Sandwich, and Whiteface.

Population of Sandwich

In 2010, there were 1,326 people living in Sandwich. There were 617 households, which are groups of people living together. About 405 of these were families.

There were 1,057 housing units in total. Many of these, about 440, were empty. Most of the empty homes (373) were used only during certain seasons or for vacations.

Most of the people in Sandwich (98.0%) were white. A small number were from other racial backgrounds. About 0.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

How People Live in Sandwich

In 19.3% of households, there were children under 18 years old. More than half (55.1%) of households were married couples living together. About 7.9% had a female head of household without a husband.

About 34.4% of households were not families. Also, 27.4% of all households were made up of just one person. About 13.9% of these single-person households were people aged 65 or older. The average household had 2.15 people. The average family had 2.59 people.

Age Groups in Town

About 16.3% of the people in Sandwich were under 18 years old. About 3.8% were between 18 and 24. The largest group, 40.9%, was between 45 and 64 years old. About 23.2% of the population was 65 years or older. The average age in Sandwich was 53.2 years. For every 100 females, there were about 96.4 males.

Getting Around Sandwich

Four main state highways cross through the town of Sandwich. These roads help people travel to and from different areas.

• NH 25 goes through the southeastern part of town. It connects Moultonborough in the south to Tamworth in the east. Locals call it Whittier Highway.
• NH 109 comes from Moultonborough in the south. It ends in Center Sandwich, close to the fairgrounds, where it meets NH 113. This road is known as Wentworth Hill Road.
• NH 113 is the main road that goes east-west across town. It enters from Holderness in the west and is called Holderness Road there. In Center Sandwich, it becomes Main Street. Then, it turns north onto Maple Street. After that, its name changes to North Sandwich Road until it reaches North Sandwich village. Finally, it turns onto Beede Flats Road before entering Tamworth to the east.
• NH 113A starts in North Sandwich at NH 113. It goes north along Whiteface Road. Then, it turns sharply east onto Chase Road. It enters Tamworth at the northeastern corner of town.

Fun Places to Visit in Sandwich

Sandwich Town Hall

• John Davidson's Club Sandwich
• Sandwich Historical Society Museum: Learn about the town's past!
• Sandwich Fair: A popular yearly event with lots of fun activities.
• Squam Lake: This beautiful lake was even used for filming parts of the 1981 movie On Golden Pond.

Famous People From Sandwich

• Isaac Adams (1802–1883): An inventor and politician from Massachusetts.
• Dixi Crosby (1800–1873): A surgeon and educator who was born in Sandwich.
• Claude Rains (1889–1967): A famous actor who was nominated for four Oscars. He played Captain Renault in the movie Casablanca. He lived in Sandwich from 1956 until he passed away in 1967.
• "Long John" Wentworth (1815–1888): A politician from Illinois and a former mayor of Chicago.
• Norbert Wiener (1894–1964): He founded the field of cybernetics, which is about how living things and machines control themselves and communicate. He spent his summers at his cottage in Sandwich until he died in 1964. Norbert and his wife Margaret are buried in Sandwich.

Images for kids

• 

  General store and post office c. 1910

• 

  Upper Square in 1911

• 

  Lower Square c. 1910

See also

In Spanish: Sandwich (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños