Wolfeboro, New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
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Town
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| Motto(s):
"The Oldest Summer Resort in America"
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Location in Carroll County, New Hampshire
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll |
| Incorporated | 1770 |
| Named for | James Wolfe |
| Villages |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 58.5 sq mi (151.4 km2) |
| • Land | 48.0 sq mi (124.2 km2) |
| • Water | 10.5 sq mi (27.2 km2) 17.95% |
| Elevation | 512 ft (156 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,416 |
| • Density | 134/sq mi (51.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code |
03894
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| Area code(s) | 603 |
| FIPS code | 33-86420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0873760 |
Wolfeboro is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. It is located right next to Lake Winnipesaukee. In 2020, about 6,416 people lived there. Wolfeboro is known as a popular place for vacations, especially in the summer. The town also includes a smaller area called Wolfeboro Falls.
Contents
History of Wolfeboro
How Wolfeboro Got Its Start
The land for Wolfeboro was first given out by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1759. He gave it to four young men from Portsmouth. The town was named "Wolfeborough" to honor a British general named James Wolfe. General Wolfe was famous for winning an important battle in 1759 during the French and Indian War.
In 1771, Governor John Wentworth, who was Benning's nephew, built a large home called Kingswood. This estate was built next to what is now called Lake Wentworth. It was the very first summer country home in northern New England. People started settling in Wolfeboro in 1768, and it officially became a town in 1770.
Wolfeboro as a Summer Spot
Over the years, Wolfeboro became a very popular place for summer vacations. Its town motto is "The Oldest Summer Resort in America." Many families from Boston and southern New Hampshire loved to spend their summers there.
Some famous people have also visited Wolfeboro. These include Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, writer Kurt Vonnegut, and entertainers Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. In 2007, the French president at the time, Nicolas Sarkozy, also vacationed in Wolfeboro.
Geography of Wolfeboro
Where Wolfeboro is Located
The main part of Wolfeboro is found at the end of Wolfeboro Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee. This is where New Hampshire routes 28 and 109 meet. The area known as Wolfeboro Falls is just about 1 mile north along these same routes.
Land and Water
Wolfeboro covers a total area of about 151.4 square kilometers (about 58.5 square miles). Most of this area, about 124.2 square kilometers (48 square miles), is land. The rest, about 27.2 square kilometers (10.5 square miles), is water. This means that nearly 18% of the town is covered by water.
The Smith River flows through Wolfeboro. This river starts at Lake Wentworth and flows into Lake Winnipesaukee. The water from Lake Winnipesaukee eventually flows into the Merrimack River. The highest point in Wolfeboro is Moody Mountain, which is about 1,420 feet (433 meters) above sea level. It is located near the northern edge of the town.
Wolfeboro is also home to Wentworth State Park. This park covers about 50 acres and is located on the shore of Lake Wentworth.
Neighboring Towns
Wolfeboro shares its borders with several other towns:
- Ossipee (to the north)
- Wakefield (to the east)
- Brookfield (to the east)
- New Durham (to the southeast)
- Alton (to the south)
- Tuftonboro (to the west)
Education in Wolfeboro
Wolfeboro has several schools for students. These schools are part of the Governor Wentworth Regional School District.
- Kingswood Regional High School is located on Main Street.
- Next to the high school is Kingswood Regional Middle School.
- The two elementary schools in town are Carpenter and Crescent Lake.
The town is also home to Brewster Academy, which is a private school. Another school, the Wolfeboro Camp School, helps about 200 students from both the U.S. and other countries.
Historic images
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View of Main Street in the fall
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Wolfeboro Bay c. 1906
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Bird's-eye view in 1909
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Hobbs Landing c. 1910
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The Kingswood Club c. 1910
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Hotel Elmwood c. 1915
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South Main Street c. 1915
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Huggins Hospital in 1916
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Clark House c. 1920
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Road to Pleasant Valley and the Hill Camp c. 1925
Sites of Interest in Wolfeboro
There are many interesting places to visit in Wolfeboro:
- Clark House (built in 1778)
- Monitor Engine Company Firehouse
- MS Mount Washington (a famous boat)
- New Hampshire Boat Museum
- Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse (built around 1805)
- Wright Museum of WWII History
- Wolfeboro Public Library Postcard Archive
Places on the National Register of Historic Places
Some buildings in Wolfeboro are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Brewster Memorial Hall
- Cotton Mountain Community Church
- Libby Museum
- Pickering House
Notable People from Wolfeboro
Many interesting people have connections to Wolfeboro:
- Jeb Bradley (born 1952), a leader in the New Hampshire Senate and a former US congressman.
- Tim Corbin (born 1961), a successful baseball coach who has won two NCAA championships.
- James Foley (1973–c. 2014), a journalist who reported from war zones.
- Robbie Ftorek (born 1952), a former head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- J. W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. (born 1932), a top leader at Marriott International (a summer resident).
- Mitt Romney (born 1947), a former governor of Massachusetts and a US senator (a summer resident).
- Mike Ryan (1941–2020), a professional baseball catcher.
- Soong Mei-ling (1898–2003), the wife of Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek.
- Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet (1737–1820), an early governor of New Hampshire (a summer resident).
See also
In Spanish: Wolfeboro (Nuevo Hampshire) para niños
