Bow, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Bow is a town in Merrimack County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 7,519 at the 2010 census.
. The first census, taken in 1790, reported 568 residents.
, the town has a total area of 28.5 square miles (73.8 km²), of which 28.1 sq mi (72.8 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.40% of the town. The highest point in Bow is Picked Hill, at 915 feet (278.9 m) above sea level
, in the southern part of town. Nearby Wood Hill and Brown Hill also top 900 feet (274.3 m). Bow lies fully within the Merrimack River
watershed
.
of 2000, there were 7,138 people, 2,304 households, and 2,045 families residing in the town. The population density
was 254.3 people per square mile (98.2/km²). There were 2,330 housing units at an average density of 83.0 per square mile (32.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.79% White, 0.13% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.
There were 2,304 households out of which 49.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.0% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.2% were non-families. 8.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.6% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $79,329, and the median income for a family was $83,567. Males had a median income of $60,375 versus $30,929 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,557. About 2.0% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
, along Turee Pond. Bow Memorial School (the middle school) and Bow Elementary School are located on Bow Center Road, less than a mile from the high school. The current principals of these schools:
Bow High School: John House-Myers
Bow Memorial School: Kirk Spofford
Bow Elementary School: Deborah Gibbens
Merrimack County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 136,225 people, 51,843 households, and 35,460 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile . There were 56,244 housing units at an average density of 60 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 7,519 at the 2010 census.
History
Incorporated in 1727, the town was one of several formed to ease population pressures on the Seacoast. The town's name comes from its establishment along a bend, or "bow", in the Merrimack RiverMerrimack 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...
. The first census, taken in 1790, reported 568 residents.
Notable inhabitants
- Mary Baker EddyMary Baker EddyMary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
(1821–1910), born in Bow, founder of the Church of Christ, ScientistChurch of Christ, ScientistThe Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy. She was the author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Christian Science teaches that the "allness" of God denies the reality of sin, sickness, death, and the material world... - Dick Swett (b. 1957), former U.S. congressmanUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
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 28.5 square miles (73.8 km²), of which 28.1 sq mi (72.8 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.40% of the town. The highest point in Bow is Picked Hill, at 915 feet (278.9 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...
, in the southern part of town. Nearby Wood Hill and Brown Hill also top 900 feet (274.3 m). Bow 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...
.
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 7,138 people, 2,304 households, and 2,045 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 254.3 people per square mile (98.2/km²). There were 2,330 housing units at an average density of 83.0 per square mile (32.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.79% White, 0.13% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.29% 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 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.
There were 2,304 households out of which 49.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.0% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.2% were non-families. 8.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.6% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $79,329, and the median income for a family was $83,567. Males had a median income of $60,375 versus $30,929 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 $29,557. About 2.0% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
In 1997 Bow built its first high school, Bow High SchoolBow High School
Bow High School is a four-year public high school located in Bow, New Hampshire, USA, as part of the Bow School District. The principal is John House-Myers who took over in June 2006 from George Edwards who had been principal since the school's establishment....
, along Turee Pond. Bow Memorial School (the middle school) and Bow Elementary School are located on Bow Center Road, less than a mile from the high school. The current principals of these schools:
Bow High School: John House-Myers
Bow Memorial School: Kirk Spofford
Bow Elementary School: Deborah Gibbens