Tamworth is a town located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. In 2020, about 2,812 people lived there. Tamworth is made up of several smaller villages. These include Chocorua, South Tamworth, Wonalancet, and Whittier.

To the north of Tamworth, you'll find the White Mountain National Forest. The town is also home to Hemenway State Forest in the north and White Lake State Park in the southeast.

Tamworth's Past
Exploring Tamworth's Geography
- Tamworth's Climate
Tamworth's Population
Getting Around Tamworth
Famous People from Tamworth
Tamworth's Culture
Businesses in Tamworth
Places to Visit in Tamworth
See also

Tamworth's Past

The post office in South Tamworth, New Hampshire

Tamworth was officially granted in 1766 by Governor Benning Wentworth. It was named after his friend, British Admiral Washington Shirley, who was also Viscount Tamworth. The admiral's daughter, Selina Shirley, helped start Dartmouth College. The village of Whittier, and Mount Whittier nearby, are named after the famous poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

Arthur Treadwell Walden had his Chinook Kennels here. He raised sled dogs for important trips, like those of Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd to the Antarctic. His dogs also helped the Army with search-and-rescue missions. The Barnstormers Theatre, a summer playhouse, opened in Tamworth in 1931. It was started by Francis Grover Cleveland, whose father was President Grover Cleveland. He supported the theater until he passed away in 1995. The Barnstormers is known as the oldest professional theater in New Hampshire that has been running continuously.

Around the early 1900s, many people came to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They sought a peaceful escape from busy city life. Famous thinkers, artists, and writers, like William and Henry James, and E.E. Cummings, spent their vacations in the Tamworth area. Inns and resorts, such as the Wonalancet Inn, helped bring tourists to the area.

Exploring Tamworth's Geography

Mill Pond around 1910, with Mount Chocorua in the distance

Tamworth covers about 157.1 square kilometers (60.7 square miles). Most of this area is land, with about 2.8 square kilometers (1.1 square miles) being water. This means water makes up about 1.81% of the town.

The Bearcamp River flows through Tamworth. Smaller rivers like the Chocorua, Wonalancet, and Swift rivers join it. Chocorua Lake is located to the north. All the water in Tamworth eventually flows into the Saco River. The highest point in Tamworth is Black Snout Mountain. It stands at 2,689 feet (819 meters) above sea level.

Tamworth's Climate

Climate data for Tamworth 4, New Hampshire, 1991–2020 normals: 541ft (165m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	29.1 (−1.6)	31.9 (−0.1)	40.3 (4.6)	53.3 (11.8)	65.6 (18.7)	73.5 (23.1)	78.3 (25.7)	76.9 (24.9)	69.6 (20.9)	56.6 (13.7)	44.7 (7.1)	34.2 (1.2)	54.5 (12.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)	18.4 (−7.6)	20.2 (−6.6)	28.7 (−1.8)	41.0 (5.0)	52.9 (11.6)	61.5 (16.4)	66.5 (19.2)	64.7 (18.2)	56.8 (13.8)	45.2 (7.3)	34.8 (1.6)	24.8 (−4.0)	43.0 (6.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	7.7 (−13.5)	8.4 (−13.1)	17.1 (−8.3)	28.7 (−1.8)	40.3 (4.6)	49.6 (9.8)	54.7 (12.6)	52.5 (11.4)	44.0 (6.7)	33.8 (1.0)	25.0 (−3.9)	15.3 (−9.3)	31.4 (−0.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.67 (93)	3.33 (85)	3.99 (101)	4.63 (118)	3.76 (96)	4.64 (118)	4.83 (123)	4.03 (102)	4.33 (110)	5.71 (145)	4.59 (117)	4.86 (123)	52.37 (1,331)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	18.40 (46.7)	22.40 (56.9)	14.00 (35.6)	4.20 (10.7)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.60 (1.5)	5.10 (13.0)	18.30 (46.5)	83 (210.9)
Source: NOAA

Tamworth's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	266	—
1800	757	184.6%
1810	1,134	49.8%
1820	1,442	27.2%
1830	1,554	7.8%
1840	1,716	10.4%
1850	1,766	2.9%
1860	1,078	−39.0%
1870	1,344	24.7%
1880	1,274	−5.2%
1890	1,025	−19.5%
1900	1,050	2.4%
1910	993	−5.4%
1920	945	−4.8%
1930	955	1.1%
1940	1,056	10.6%
1950	1,025	−2.9%
1960	1,016	−0.9%
1970	1,054	3.7%
1980	1,672	58.6%
1990	2,165	29.5%
2000	2,510	15.9%
2010	2,856	13.8%
2020	2,812	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

A small dam on the Chocorua River in the village of Chocorua

In 2000, there were 2,510 people living in Tamworth. They lived in 1,074 households, and 675 of these were families. The population density was about 41.9 people per square mile (16.2 per square kilometer). Most of the people living in Tamworth were White (98.05%).

About 29.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. About half of the households (50.7%) were married couples. The average household had 2.33 people, and the average family had 2.86 people.

Chocorua Village around 1912

The population was spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18 years old. The median age was 41 years. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 103.7 males.

Former dam on Bearcamp River in South Tamworth, around 1906

The median income for a household in Tamworth was $35,200. For a family, it was $41,121. The average income per person was $17,961. About 9.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 8.2% of those under 18 and 10.1% of those 65 or older.

Getting Around Tamworth

Since 2012, the Carroll County Transit "Blue Loon" Public Route has been available. It uses new, wheelchair-friendly buses.

This transit system offers a service that starts in Wolfeboro. It travels north to West Ossipee and then continues to Conway and North Conway. Two buses run in opposite directions on this route. There is also a route that connects West Ossipee and Laconia twice a day. You can transfer between these bus routes in West Ossipee.

As of December 2012, you can also catch a Concord Coach bus in West Ossipee. This bus route connects the area to places as far south as Boston and as far north as Berlin.

Five main New Hampshire State Routes pass through Tamworth:

NH 16: This is a major road that runs north-south through the town. It's often called the White Mountain Highway. Many businesses are located along this busy route. It connects Ossipee in the south to Albany in the north. It passes White Lake State Park and meets NH 113 in the village of Chocorua.
NH 25: This road enters from Sandwich in the west. It joins NH 113 for a short distance, following the Bearcamp River. In the village of Whittier, NH 113 turns north, and NH 25 continues into Ossipee.
NH 41: This route briefly crosses the very southeastern part of Tamworth. It connects Ossipee to Madison. Locals call it Plains Road.
NH 113: This road comes from Sandwich in the west. It joins NH 25, then leaves it in Whittier. It crosses the Bearcamp River on Tamworth Road. It meets NH 113A in the main village of Tamworth, then turns east towards Chocorua. It crosses NH 16 and continues into Madison.
NH 113A: This road also enters from Sandwich. It winds through the less populated northwestern part of town, including Wonalancet village. It mostly goes around Hemenway State Forest and ends in the main village of Tamworth. It is known as Chinook Trail.

Famous People from Tamworth

Tamworth has been home to several notable individuals:

Grover Cleveland (1837–1908): He was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He spent summers here.
John Davidson: A well-known entertainer.
William James (1842–1910): A famous psychologist and philosopher. He passed away in the village of Chocorua, which is part of Tamworth.
Florence Luscomb (1887–1985): A talented architect.
Arthur Treadwell Walden (1871–1947): An explorer and dog trainer.
Katherine Sleeper Walden (1862–1949): An environmental activist.

Tamworth's Culture

The 1942 book Look to the Mountain by LeGrand Cannon, Jr., is set in Tamworth. It tells the story of 19-year-old Whit Livingston and his 16-year-old wife, Melissa Butler. They were the first pioneer family to settle in the area.

Businesses in Tamworth

The village of Chocorua in Tamworth is where the company HydroCAD, Inc. is located. They create software for modeling stormwater.

Places to Visit in Tamworth

Barnstormers Theatre: A historic playhouse.
Cook Memorial Library: The local library.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm: A museum and farm.
Tamworth History Center: A place to learn about the town's past.
Tamworth Distilling: A local distillery.

Tamworth, New Hampshire facts for kids

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