Auburn, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Auburn is a town in Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 4,953 at the 2010 census. The town was called by WMUR News 9 as number one of "New Hampshire's Most Beautiful Towns" in July 2010. It was also named 18 in The New York Times
' "Top 200 Towns To Raise a Family."
). British settlers arrived in 1720, and made peace with the Native Americans until the French and Indian War
. The Massabesic settlement was destroyed, and the nearby town of Chester
claimed the land. It was known as Chester Woods, Chester West Parish, Long Meadow, and then Auburn. Auburn became an independent town in 1845, with a population of 1,200 people. As with Auburn
, Maine
, Auburn
, Massachusetts
and Auburn
, New York
, the name is from Oliver Goldsmith
's popular 18th century poem, "The Deserted Village", which begins:
, the town has a total area of 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²), of which 25.2 sq mi (65.3 km²) is land and 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²), or 12.19%, is water. Massabesic Lake
, located in the western part of Auburn and the eastern part of Manchester
, is the largest body of water in Auburn and serves as the city water supply for Manchester. The lake is fed by numerous tributaries, most notable being Sucker Brook
, which enters the northeast end of the lake near the Auburn town center and itself drains several lakes, including Tower Hill Pond, Clark Pond, and Little Massabesic Lake. Cohas Brook
flows through the eastern portion of Auburn and eventually (in Manchester) receives the outflow of Massabesic Lake before flowing west to the Merrimack River
. Auburn lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed
. Three hills, all overlooking Massabesic Lake, can lay potential claim to being Auburn's highest point: Mount Miner, at 582 feet (177.4 m) above sea level
, located north of the lake; Mine Hill, greater than 580 ft (176.8 m), above the east shore; and Mount Misery, greater than 580 feet, to the southeast.
of 2000, there were 4,682 people, 1,580 households, and 1,322 families residing in the town. The population density
was 185.7 people per square mile (71.7/km²). There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of 64.3 per square mile (24.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.29% White, 0.21% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 2,349 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.1% were married couples
living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,774, and the median income for a family was $72,578. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $33,365 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $28,405. About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Since Auburn has an agreement with the city of Manchester
that the city and the surrounding towns can use Massabesic Lake
as a water source, Manchester, Chester, Candia, Hooksett and Derry pay Auburn an estimated $3 million for Lake Massabesic.
is in the northeastern part of the town.
where a truck dumps thousands of rubber duck
s into the brook, and the race ends at a finish line on the other side of the waterfall. People buy individual ducks, with prizes going to the owners of the winning ducks. The event attracts thousands of onlookers each year.
s, sailboat
s, and canoe
s, or at Battery Point, the northernmost point on the Massabesic Peninsula.
Grade 9-12:
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 399 people per square mile . There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 163 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 4,953 at the 2010 census. The town was called by WMUR News 9 as number one of "New Hampshire's Most Beautiful Towns" in July 2010. It was also named 18 in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
' "Top 200 Towns To Raise a Family."
History
Auburn was originally settled by Native Americans in 1624. It was a fishing settlement called by Native Americans "Massabesic" (the current name of the town's largest lakeMassabesic Lake
Massabesic Lake is a lake in southern New Hampshire, United States, covering about within the city of Manchester and the town of Auburn. Because it provides drinking water for Manchester, swimming and water skiing are not allowed there. Popular sports on the lake are sailing, fishing, kayaking...
). British settlers arrived in 1720, and made peace with the Native Americans until 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...
. The Massabesic settlement was destroyed, and the nearby town of Chester
Chester, New Hampshire
Chester is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,768 at the 2010 census. It is home to Chester College .-History:Incorporated in 1722, Chester once included Candia, set off in 1763...
claimed the land. It was known as Chester Woods, Chester West Parish, Long Meadow, and then Auburn. Auburn became an independent town in 1845, with a population of 1,200 people. As with Auburn
Auburn, Maine
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 23,055 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Auburn
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...
, 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...
and Auburn
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the name is from Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
's popular 18th century poem, "The Deserted Village", which begins:
- Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,
- Where health and plenty cheered the labouring swain
- Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid,
- And parting summer's lingering blooms delayed
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 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²), of which 25.2 sq mi (65.3 km²) is land and 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²), or 12.19%, is water. Massabesic Lake
Massabesic Lake
Massabesic Lake is a lake in southern New Hampshire, United States, covering about within the city of Manchester and the town of Auburn. Because it provides drinking water for Manchester, swimming and water skiing are not allowed there. Popular sports on the lake are sailing, fishing, kayaking...
, located in the western part of Auburn and the eastern part of Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, is the largest body of water in Auburn and serves as the city water supply for Manchester. The lake is fed by numerous tributaries, most notable being Sucker Brook
Little Massabesic Brook-Sucker Brook
Little Massabesic Brook and Sucker Brook form a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. They are tributaries of Massabesic Lake, part of the Merrimack River and Gulf of Maine watersheds...
, which enters the northeast end of the lake near the Auburn town center and itself drains several lakes, including Tower Hill Pond, Clark Pond, and Little Massabesic Lake. Cohas Brook
Cohas Brook
Cohas Brook is a river located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Merrimack River, part of the Gulf of Maine watershed....
flows through the eastern portion of Auburn and eventually (in Manchester) receives the outflow of Massabesic Lake before flowing west to 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...
. Auburn lies fully within the Merrimack River 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...
. Three hills, all overlooking Massabesic Lake, can lay potential claim to being Auburn's highest point: Mount Miner, at 582 feet (177.4 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...
, located north of the lake; Mine Hill, greater than 580 ft (176.8 m), above the east shore; and Mount Misery, greater than 580 feet, to the southeast.
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 4,682 people, 1,580 households, and 1,322 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 185.7 people per square mile (71.7/km²). There were 1,622 housing units at an average density of 64.3 per square mile (24.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.29% White, 0.21% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 2,349 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.1% 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, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,774, and the median income for a family was $72,578. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $33,365 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 $28,405. About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Since Auburn has an agreement with the city of Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
that the city and the surrounding towns can use Massabesic Lake
Massabesic Lake
Massabesic Lake is a lake in southern New Hampshire, United States, covering about within the city of Manchester and the town of Auburn. Because it provides drinking water for Manchester, swimming and water skiing are not allowed there. Popular sports on the lake are sailing, fishing, kayaking...
as a water source, Manchester, Chester, Candia, Hooksett and Derry pay Auburn an estimated $3 million for Lake Massabesic.
Attractions
Lake Massabesic covers over 2500 acres (1,011.7 ha) in Auburn and Manchester and serves as the public water supply for the city of Manchester. Half of the lake (the half farthest from the public water intake) is used for less-intrusive types of boating. No swimming or other contact between users and water is allowed. Devil's Den is a small cave east of Massabesic Lake. The Massabesic Audubon Center is in central Auburn, occupying Battery Point on the lake. The Griffin Mill Dam along Little Massabesic Brook-Sucker BrookLittle Massabesic Brook-Sucker Brook
Little Massabesic Brook and Sucker Brook form a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. They are tributaries of Massabesic Lake, part of the Merrimack River and Gulf of Maine watersheds...
is in the northeastern part of the town.
Lake Massabesic Duck Race
Every year, the Auburn Historical Association hosts an annual Duck Race near Massabesic Lake. It starts at the Griffin Mill Bridge over the Little Massabesic Brook-Sucker BrookLittle Massabesic Brook-Sucker Brook
Little Massabesic Brook and Sucker Brook form a stream located in southern New Hampshire in the United States. They are tributaries of Massabesic Lake, part of the Merrimack River and Gulf of Maine watersheds...
where a truck dumps thousands of rubber duck
Rubber duck
A rubber duck is a toy shaped like a stylised Yellow-billed Duck , and is generally yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic...
s into the brook, and the race ends at a finish line on the other side of the waterfall. People buy individual ducks, with prizes going to the owners of the winning ducks. The event attracts thousands of onlookers each year.
Yacht Sail Boating Club race
Every Sunday, sometimes also during the week, the Yacht Sail Boating Club hosts a sailboat race. Members of the club start on the northern shore of Massabesic Lake, and it ends after going 3 laps around the lake. Many visitors enjoy watching the races from their kayakKayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s, sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
s, and canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s, or at Battery Point, the northernmost point on the Massabesic Peninsula.
Book sale
The last weekend in July, the Griffin Free Public Library holds a huge book sale at the Auburn Village School. Approximately 10,000 books and games are sold, with all proceeds benefiting the library's programs.Education
Grade K-8:Grade 9-12:
- Manchester Memorial High SchoolManchester Memorial High SchoolManchester Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive school in Manchester, New Hampshire with an enrollment of approximately 2,100. The school's Latin motto is "scientia est potentia."...
- Pinkerton AcademyPinkerton AcademyPinkerton Academy is a secondary school in Derry, New Hampshire. It is the largest independent academy in the United States, serving roughly 3,600 students as the high school for the communities of Derry, Hampstead, Chester and sometimes Auburn...
(in Derry)
Notable residents
- David Griffin, founder of the Griffin Mill
- Sebastian Griffin, founder of the Griffin Free Library and Museum
- Carl ForsaithCarl ForsaithCarl C. Forsaith was an author, writer and politician from Auburn, New Hampshire. He is most well known for writing Auburn's official history book, published in 1945.- Biography :...
, author of Auburn, New Hampshire, the town's official history book