Tuftonboro, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tuftonboro, New Hampshire
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Town
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Melvin Village from Lake Winnipesaukee c. 1906
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| Motto(s):
"The Diamond in the Heart of New Hampshire"
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Location in Carroll County, New Hampshire
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll |
| Incorporated | 1795 |
| Villages |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 49.4 sq mi (128.0 km2) |
| • Land | 40.5 sq mi (104.9 km2) |
| • Water | 8.9 sq mi (23.1 km2) 18.06% |
| Elevation | 988 ft (301 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,467 |
| • Density | 61/sq mi (23.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP codes | |
| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-77620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873741 |
Tuftonboro is a town located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. It's a beautiful place with a population of 2,467 people, according to the 2020 census. The town is bordered on its southwest side by the large and famous Lake Winnipesaukee. Tuftonboro is made up of several smaller communities, including Tuftonboro Corner, Center Tuftonboro, Melvin Village, and Mirror Lake.
Contents
History of Tuftonboro
Tuftonboro has a unique history because it was the only place in New Hampshire that was once owned by just one person. This person was John Tufton Mason, and the town was named after him.
How Tuftonboro Was Formed
After New Hampshire became separate from Massachusetts in 1741, John Tufton Mason inherited a large area of undeveloped land in northern New Hampshire. This land was known as the "Masonian Claim." In 1746, he sold this land to a group of business people from Portsmouth. These buyers became known as the "Masonian Proprietors." They then sold parts of this land to people who wanted to settle there, before the Revolutionary War.
Becoming an Official Town
The area was officially given the name "Tuftonborough" in 1750 by the colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. People started settling there around 1780. The town was officially recognized by the state government on December 17, 1795. By 1859, about 1,305 people lived in Tuftonboro. At that time, most people made a living by raising cattle and sheep on the hilly land. Other businesses in the town included two sawmills, a factory that made window sashes, blinds, and doors, a carriage factory, and two gristmills (which ground grain into flour).
Geography of Tuftonboro
Tuftonboro covers a total area of about 128 square kilometers (49.4 square miles). Most of this area, about 104.9 square kilometers (40.5 square miles), is land. The rest, about 23.1 square kilometers (8.9 square miles), is water, making up about 18% of the town's total area.
Rivers, Lakes, and Mountains
The town is home to the Melvin River and Beech River. Both of these rivers flow into Lake Winnipesaukee. You can also find Mirror Lake in the southern part of the town and Dan Hole Pond in the north. The highest point in Tuftonboro is the south peak of Mount Shaw. This peak is about 893 meters (2,930 feet) above sea level and is located on the town's northwestern border.
The northern part of Tuftonboro is covered by the Ossipee Mountains. Several New Hampshire roads, including Route 171, Route 109, and Route 109A, pass through the town. They generally run from the northwest to the southeast.
Villages and Islands
Melvin Village is in the western part of Tuftonboro. It's a popular place for summer vacations, located on Melvin Bay of Lake Winnipesaukee. It has a marina for boats and many homes and cottages by the lake that people can rent. It's also a great spot for finding antique shops. The community of Mirror Lake is in the southern part of the town, right next to the lake of the same name.
Tuftonboro also includes several islands in Lake Winnipesaukee. Some of these islands are Little Bear Island and Cow Island.
Neighboring Towns
Tuftonboro shares its borders with these other towns:
- Ossipee (to the northeast)
- Wolfeboro (to the southeast)
- Alton (to the south)
- Moultonborough (to the northwest)
People of Tuftonboro
The population of Tuftonboro has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 109 | — | |
| 1800 | 357 | 227.5% | |
| 1810 | 709 | 98.6% | |
| 1820 | 1,232 | 73.8% | |
| 1830 | 1,375 | 11.6% | |
| 1840 | 1,281 | −6.8% | |
| 1850 | 1,305 | 1.9% | |
| 1860 | 1,186 | −9.1% | |
| 1870 | 949 | −20.0% | |
| 1880 | 923 | −2.7% | |
| 1890 | 767 | −16.9% | |
| 1900 | 663 | −13.6% | |
| 1910 | 612 | −7.7% | |
| 1920 | 311 | −49.2% | |
| 1930 | 505 | 62.4% | |
| 1940 | 586 | 16.0% | |
| 1950 | 697 | 18.9% | |
| 1960 | 678 | −2.7% | |
| 1970 | 910 | 34.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,500 | 64.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,842 | 22.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,148 | 16.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,387 | 11.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,467 | 3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 2,387 people living in Tuftonboro. Most of the people (98.1%) were White. A small number were from other racial backgrounds. About 0.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
There were 1,029 households in the town. About 26% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (61%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.32 people, and the average family had 2.68 people.
The median age of people in Tuftonboro was 50.8 years old. This means half the people were younger than 50.8, and half were older. About 18.9% of the population was under 18 years old.
Fun Places to Visit
- [Tuftonboro Historical Society & Museum]: Learn about the town's past!
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 276: The Grave by the Lake
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 285: Abenaki Tower
Famous People from Tuftonboro
Some notable people have connections to Tuftonboro:
- Edward H. Brooks (1893–1978): A high-ranking US Army general.
- Thomas Dreier (1884–1976): A writer and publisher who lived in Melvin Village. He wrote a book called Sunny Meadows about his family's life there.
- Charles D. Griffin (1906–1996): A high-ranking US Navy admiral.
- Lydia H. Tilton (1839–1915): An educator, activist, journalist, poet, and lyricist.
See also
In Spanish: Tuftonboro (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños
