Amherst, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake
.
The town center village, where 613 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Amherst census-designated place
. The village is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as Amherst Village Historic District
.
Like many New England
towns, Amherst was the result of a land grant given to soldiers - in this case, to soldiers in 1728 who had participated in King Philip's War
. Settled about 1733, it was first called "Narragansett Number 3," and then later "Souhegan Number 3." In 1741, settlers formed the Congregational church and hired the first minister. Chartered in 1760 by Colonial
Governor Benning Wentworth
, the town was named for Lord General Jeffrey Amherst
, who commanded British forces in North America during the French and Indian War
. Lord Jeffrey Amherst is also infamous for initiating the practice of giving smallpox blankets to Native Americans in a genocidal effort "to Extirpate this Execrable Race" (as quoted from his letter to Colonel Henry Bouquet on July 16, 1763).
In 1770, Amherst became the county seat of Hillsborough County
, due largely to its location on the county's major east-west road. It continued to prosper through the Revolutionary War and afterwards. In 1790, the southwestern section broke off and became the town of Milford
, and in 1803, the northwest section departed to become Mont Vernon
. The development of water-powered mills allowed Milford to grow at Amherst's expense, and the county seat was moved to Milford in 1866.
The town population remained relatively stagnant until after World War II
, when Amherst and many surrounding towns saw an influx of newcomers as they became part of the greater Boston, Massachusetts
region.
Franklin Pierce
, who later become the 14th President of United States of America, studied under Judges Samuel Howe and Edmund Parker in Amherst. He also wed Jane Means Appleton, the daughter of a former president of Bowdoin College
, in a house on the town green.
, the town has a total area of 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²), of which 34.3 square miles (88.8 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is water, comprising 1.49% of the town. Located on the Souhegan River
, Amherst is drained by Beaver, Bloody, and Joe English brooks. Amherst's highest point is on Chestnut Hill at the town's northern border, where the elevation reaches 865 feet (263.7 m) above sea level
. Amherst lies fully within the Merrimack River
watershed
.
Amherst is bordered by Mont Vernon
and New Boston
to the northwest, Bedford
to the northeast, Merrimack
to the east, Hollis
to the south, and Milford
to the southwest.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 10,769 people, 3,590 households, and 3,065 families residing in the town. The population density
was 314.1 people per square mile (121.3/km²). There were 3,752 housing units at an average density of 109.4 per square mile (42.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.00% White, 0.43% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 3,590 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $89,384, and the median income for a family was $97,913. Males had a median income of $73,432 versus $35,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $35,531. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
. The elementary schools handle children from Amherst only. Children from neighboring Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
attend the middle school, but on a tuition basis, while Amherst and Mont Vernon jointly own Souhegan High School, which serves both towns.
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake
Baboosic Lake
Baboosic Lake is a lake located on the border of Amherst and Merrimack, in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The lake drains into Baboosic Brook....
.
The town center village, where 613 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Amherst census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
. The village is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Amherst Village Historic District
Amherst Village Historic District
Amherst Village Historic District is a historic district on NH 122 in Amherst, New Hampshire.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982....
.
History
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
towns, Amherst was the result of a land grant given to soldiers - in this case, to soldiers in 1728 who had participated in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
. Settled about 1733, it was first called "Narragansett Number 3," and then later "Souhegan Number 3." In 1741, settlers formed the Congregational church and hired the first minister. Chartered in 1760 by Colonial
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning 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...
, the town was named for Lord General Jeffrey Amherst
Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
Field Marshal Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst KCB served as an officer in the British Army and as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.Amherst is best known as one of the victors of the French and Indian War, when he conquered Louisbourg, Quebec City and...
, who commanded British forces in North America during 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...
. Lord Jeffrey Amherst is also infamous for initiating the practice of giving smallpox blankets to Native Americans in a genocidal effort "to Extirpate this Execrable Race" (as quoted from his letter to Colonel Henry Bouquet on July 16, 1763).
In 1770, Amherst became the county seat of Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile...
, due largely to its location on the county's major east-west road. It continued to prosper through the Revolutionary War and afterwards. In 1790, the southwestern section broke off and became the town of Milford
Milford, New Hampshire
Milford is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States, on the Souhegan River. The population was 15,115 at the 2010 census. It is the retail and manufacturing center of a six-town area known informally as the Souhegan Valley....
, and in 1803, the northwest section departed to become Mont Vernon
Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
Mont Vernon is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2010 census.It is not clear why it is spelled differently from the many other towns in the United States named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington...
. The development of water-powered mills allowed Milford to grow at Amherst's expense, and the county seat was moved to Milford in 1866.
The town population remained relatively stagnant until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Amherst and many surrounding towns saw an influx of newcomers as they became part of the greater Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
region.
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
, who later become the 14th President of United States of America, studied under Judges Samuel Howe and Edmund Parker in Amherst. He also wed Jane Means Appleton, the daughter of a former president of Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, in a house on the town green.
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 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²), of which 34.3 square miles (88.8 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is water, comprising 1.49% of the town. Located on the Souhegan River
Souhegan River
The Souhegan River is a tributary of the Merrimack River in the northeastern United States. long with a drainage area of , it flows north and east through southern New Hampshire to the Merrimack River....
, Amherst is drained by Beaver, Bloody, and Joe English brooks. Amherst's highest point is on Chestnut Hill at the town's northern border, where the elevation reaches 865 feet (263.7 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...
. Amherst lies fully within the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
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...
.
Amherst is bordered by Mont Vernon
Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
Mont Vernon is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2010 census.It is not clear why it is spelled differently from the many other towns in the United States named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington...
and New Boston
New Boston, New Hampshire
New Boston is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,321 at the 2010 census. New Boston is home to the annual Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair and the Molly Stark Cannon.-History:...
to the northwest, Bedford
Bedford, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2000, there were 18,274 people, 6,251 households, and 5,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 556.6 people per square mile . There were 6,401 housing units at an average density of 195.0 per square mile...
to the northeast, Merrimack
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Merrimack is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 25,494 at the 2010 census, making it the eighth-largest municipality in New Hampshire....
to the east, Hollis
Hollis, New Hampshire
Hollis is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,684 at the 2010 census. The town center village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Hollis Village Historic District....
to the south, and Milford
Milford, New Hampshire
Milford is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States, on the Souhegan River. The population was 15,115 at the 2010 census. It is the retail and manufacturing center of a six-town area known informally as the Souhegan Valley....
to the southwest.
Demographics
Census
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 10,769 people, 3,590 households, and 3,065 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 314.1 people per square mile (121.3/km²). There were 3,752 housing units at an average density of 109.4 per square mile (42.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.00% White, 0.43% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 3,590 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% 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, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $89,384, and the median income for a family was $97,913. Males had a median income of $73,432 versus $35,250 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 $35,531. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
Public education
Amherst is home to Clark and Wilkins elementary schools, Amherst Middle School and Souhegan High SchoolSouhegan High School
Souhegan High School is a Coalition of Essential Schools high school located in Amherst, New Hampshire. Students from Amherst and Mont Vernon attend Souhegan for 9th through 12th grades. There are about 872 students and over 160 faculty members...
. The elementary schools handle children from Amherst only. Children from neighboring Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
Mont Vernon is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2010 census.It is not clear why it is spelled differently from the many other towns in the United States named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington...
attend the middle school, but on a tuition basis, while Amherst and Mont Vernon jointly own Souhegan High School, which serves both towns.
Notable people
- Charles G. AthertonCharles G. AthertonCharles Gordon Atherton was a Democratic Representative and Senator from New Hampshire.-Biography:The son of Charles Humphrey Atherton and Mary Ann Toppan-Atherton, Charles G. Atherton was born in Amherst, New Hampshire on 4 July 1804...
(1804–1853), congressman, senator - Charles Humphrey AthertonCharles Humphrey AthertonCharles Humphrey Atherton was an American Federalist Representative from New Hampshire.Born in Amherst, New Hampshire on 14 August 1773, Atherton graduated from Harvard University in 1794...
(1773–1853), congressman from New Hampshire - John S. BarryJohn S. BarryFor the American businessman John S. Barry, see John Barry .John Stewart Barry was the fourth and eighth Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. He was Michigan's only three-term governor in the 19th century...
(1802–1870), fourth and eighth Governor of Michigan - Clifton ClagettClifton ClagettClifton Clagett was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He studied law was admitted to the bar. He commenced practice in Litchfield, New Hampshire in 1787....
(1762–1829), congressman from New Hampshire - Jonathan FiskJonathan FiskJonathan Fisk was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
(1778–1832), congressman from New York - Horace GreeleyHorace GreeleyHorace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
(1811–1872), editor, founder of the Liberal Republican PartyLiberal Republican Party (United States)The Liberal Republican Party of the United States was a political party that was organized in Cincinnati in May 1872, to oppose the reelection of President Ulysses S. Grant and his Radical Republican supporters. The party's candidate in that year's presidential election was Horace Greeley, longtime... - Jon "maddog" Hall (1950–present), programmer, computer scientist, free software advocate
- Moses NicholsMoses NicholsMoses Nichols was an American physician, soldier, and leading citizen of Amherst, New Hampshire.Nichols was born in Reading, Massachusetts, to Timothy Nichols and his wife Hannah Perkins. On July 7, 1761, Moses Nichols married Hannah Eaton of Lynn, Massachusetts...
(1740–1790), physician, revolution era soldier and statesman - Jane Means (Appleton) PierceJane PierceJane Means Appleton Pierce , wife of U.S. President Franklin Pierce, was First Lady of the United States from 1853 to 1857....
(1806–1863), first lady, wife of Franklin PierceFranklin PierceFranklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army... - Frank SeleeFrank SeleeFrank Gibson Selee was an American Major League Baseball manager in the National League . In his 16 year Major League career, he managed the Boston Beaneaters for 12 seasons, and the Chicago Orphans for four.He was noted for his ability to assess and utilize talent, which gave his teams a great...
(1859–1909), manager for the Boston BeaneatersAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Chicago OrphansChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, forerunners of the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs, respectively
Trivia
- The town song of Amherst, Amherst is my Home, was composed by James Durst on a grant from the NH State Council on the Arts/NEA.http://www.jamesdurst.com/aboutlinks/amherst.htm
Sites of interest
- Chapel Museum (1858)
- Wigwam Museum (1839)
- Peabody Mill Environmental Center