Acworth, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Acworth is a town
in Sullivan County
, New Hampshire
, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 891.
in 1752, it was called Burnet after William Burnet
, a former governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
. In 1754, however, the French and Indian War
broke out, and no settlements were made under the charter. Wentworth regranted the township in 1766, naming it Acworth after Sir Jacob Acworth, an English
admiral
with interests in Portsmouth
shipping
. The town was first permanently settled in 1768 by several families from Londonderry
.
Acworth was incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth
, but war again slowed its development. With the close of the Revolution
, however, Acworth grew quickly. By 1859, it had 1,251 inhabitants, most of whom were occupied in agriculture
. The Cold River
provided water power for industry, including 5 sawmill
s, a gristmill
, a woolen
factory, a bobbin
factory and a peg factory. There was also a boot
and shoe
manufacturer. Acworth is a source for museum-quality crystal
s such as beryl
. The town of Acworth
, Georgia
was named for this town, because this was the hometown of a railroad engineer
there.
, the town has a total area of 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²), of which 38.9 sq mi (100.8 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.61% of the town. Acworth is drained by the Cold River
, and lies fully within the Connecticut River
watershed
. The highest point in Acworth is Gove Hill, at 1939 feet (591 m) above sea level
.
The town is crossed by New Hampshire Route 123A.
of 2000, there were 836 people, 318 households, and 234 families residing in the town. The population density
was 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km²). There were 512 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.84% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.24% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,386, and the median income for a family was $41,397. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $26,912 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,132. About 10.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,458 people, 16,530 households, and 11,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 29/; . There were 20,158 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 891.
History
Originally chartered by Governor Benning WentworthBenning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
in 1752, it was called Burnet after William Burnet
William Burnet (administrator)
William Burnet was a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as governor of New York and New Jersey and Massachusetts .-Early life:...
, a former governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
. In 1754, however, the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
broke out, and no settlements were made under the charter. Wentworth regranted the township in 1766, naming it Acworth after Sir Jacob Acworth, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
with interests in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
. The town was first permanently settled in 1768 by several families from Londonderry
Londonderry, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,236 people, 7,623 households, and 6,319 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.8 people per square mile . There were 7,718 housing units at an average density of 184.6 per square mile...
.
Acworth was incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth
John Wentworth (governor)
Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet was the British colonial governor of New Hampshire at the time of the American Revolution. He was later also Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.-Early life:...
, but war again slowed its development. With the close of the Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, however, Acworth grew quickly. By 1859, it had 1,251 inhabitants, most of whom were occupied in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. The Cold River
Cold River (Connecticut River)
The Cold River is a 22.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
provided water power for industry, including 5 sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, a gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, a woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
factory, a bobbin
Bobbin
A bobbin is a spindle or cylinder, with or without flanges, on which wire, yarn, thread or film is wound. Bobbins are typically found in sewing machines, cameras, and within electronic equipment....
factory and a peg factory. There was also a boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
and shoe
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
manufacturer. Acworth is a source for museum-quality crystal
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
s such as beryl
Beryl
The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al26. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size. Terminated crystals are relatively rare...
. The town of Acworth
Acworth, Georgia
Acworth is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,425. Acworth is located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains along the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona on the Etowah River.Acworth's nickname is "The...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
was named for this town, because this was the hometown of a railroad engineer
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
there.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²), of which 38.9 sq mi (100.8 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) is water, comprising 0.61% of the town. Acworth is drained by the Cold River
Cold River (Connecticut River)
The Cold River is a 22.6 mile long river located in western New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound....
, and lies fully within the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. The highest point in Acworth is Gove Hill, at 1939 feet (591 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
The town is crossed by New Hampshire Route 123A.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 836 people, 318 households, and 234 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km²). There were 512 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.84% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.24% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,386, and the median income for a family was $41,397. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $26,912 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,132. About 10.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Joseph Gardner Wilson, Oregon supreme court justice and congressman
- Urban A. WoodburyUrban A. WoodburyUrban Andrain Woodbury was an American Civil War veteran, an entrepreneur and a U.S. politician of the Republican Party. Served as the 45th governor of Vermont.-Prewar life:...
, Civil War veteran, 45th governor of Vermont
Further reading
- John Leverett Merrill, History of Acworth, Acworth, New Hampshire 1869
- Helen H. Frink, These Acworth Hills - A History of Acworth, New Hampshire 1767 - 1988, Town of Acworth, New Hampshire 1989