Swanzey, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swanzey, New Hampshire
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Town
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West Swanzey Covered Bridge c. 1915
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| Motto(s):
"Bridging Tradition and Change"
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Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
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| Country | United States | |
| State | New Hampshire | |
| County | Cheshire | |
| Incorporated | 1753 | |
| Villages |
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| Area | ||
| • Total | 45.3 sq mi (117.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 45.0 sq mi (116.5 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2) 0.79% | |
| Elevation | 492 ft (150 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,270 | |
| • Density | 162/sq mi (62.4/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP codes | ||
| Area code(s) | 603 | |
| FIPS code | 33-75700 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873735 | |
Swanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. In 2020, about 7,270 people lived there. Besides the main town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.
Contents
History of Swanzey
Swanzey was first established in 1733 and called "Lower Ashuelot." It was one of the "fort towns" created by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts. These towns had forts to help protect the area. Swanzey saw many battles during a conflict known as King George's War. Because of the fighting, people left the town for three years in 1747.
The town was re-established on July 2, 1753, by Governor Benning Wentworth. It was renamed "Swanzey," likely because some early settlers had a connection to Swansea in Wales. Swanzey is located on the Ashuelot River. West Swanzey became a town known for its textile mills, which made fabric. East Swanzey was famous for making wooden buckets for many years. By 1859, the population was 2,106.
The town has four historic covered bridges. It was also the home of a famous actor named Denman Thompson. He became well-known for playing a character called "Joshua Whitcomb" in his play The Old Homestead. Every summer, residents still perform Thompson's play at an outdoor theater called the Potash Bowl.
Some people thought that a tree in Swanzey inspired the poet Joyce Kilmer to write his famous 1913 poem "Trees". However, family records show that the poem was actually written in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Geography of Swanzey
According to the United States Census Bureau, Swanzey covers a total area of about 117.4 square kilometers (45.3 square miles). Most of this area, 116.5 square kilometers (45.0 square miles), is land. The remaining 0.9 square kilometers (0.35 square miles) is water, making up about 0.79% of the town.
The Ashuelot River flows through Swanzey. This river flows southwest and eventually joins the Connecticut River. The highest point in Swanzey is the top of Franklin Mountain, which is 1,423 feet (434 meters) high. This mountain is on the border with Winchester.
Important roads that cross through Swanzey include New Hampshire Route 10, New Hampshire Route 12, and New Hampshire Route 32.
Neighboring Towns
Swanzey shares borders with several other towns:
- Keene (to the north)
- Marlborough (to the northeast)
- Troy (to the southeast)
- Richmond (to the south)
- Winchester (to the southwest)
- Chesterfield (to the west)
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,157 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,271 | 9.9% | |
| 1810 | 1,400 | 10.1% | |
| 1820 | 1,716 | 22.6% | |
| 1830 | 1,816 | 5.8% | |
| 1840 | 1,755 | −3.4% | |
| 1850 | 2,106 | 20.0% | |
| 1860 | 1,798 | −14.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,626 | −9.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,661 | 2.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,600 | −3.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,570 | −1.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,656 | 5.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,593 | −3.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,066 | 29.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,262 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,806 | 24.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,626 | 29.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,254 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,183 | 21.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,236 | 20.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,800 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,230 | 6.3% | |
| 2020 | 7,270 | 0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 7,230 people living in Swanzey. There were 2,957 households and 1,978 families. About 28% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 51% of households were married couples living together.
The people in Swanzey were mostly white (96%). A small percentage were Asian (1.7%), African American (0.3%), or Native American (0.2%). About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Swanzey was 43.0 years old. About 20.4% of the population was under 18. About 14.8% of the population was 65 years or older.
Education
Students in Swanzey attend Monadnock Regional High School.
Places to Visit
- Swanzey Historical Museum
- West Swanzey Covered Bridge, which was built in 1832.
Notable People
- Loyal B. Stearns (1853–1936), a judge and state representative in Oregon.
- Denman Thompson (1833–1911), a famous playwright and theatre actor.
Images for kids
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Post Office c. 1915
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Denman Thompson's residence in 1907
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Ashuelot River c. 1915
See also
In Spanish: Swanzey (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños
