Chester, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
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
(formerly White Pines College).
, set off in 1763. First called "the chestnut country," it may have been the first of the settlement grants by Massachusetts
selected for expansion of growing populations in the seacoast. The name may be derived from Cheshire, Chester being the county seat of Cheshire in England. Earl of Chester
is a title held by the Prince of Wales
. Daniel Chester French
, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D.C.
, was a summer resident and took Chester as his middle name because of his love for the town.
, the town has a total area of 26 square miles (67.3 km²), of which 25.9 sq mi (67.1 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) (0.42%) is water. The Exeter River
rises in Chester. The highest point in town is an unnamed summit, reaching 639 feet (194.8 m) above sea level
, near the town's southwest corner. Chester lies mostly within the Piscataqua River
(Coastal) watershed
, though the western edge of town is in the Merrimack River
watershed.
of 2000, there were 3,792 people, 1,214 households, and 1,011 families residing in the town. The population density
was 146.4 people per square mile (56.5/km²). There were 1,247 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 0.26% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,214 households out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.3% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,571, and the median income for a family was $75,092. Males had a median income of $44,056 versus $35,382 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,842. About 3.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
According to the most recent figures Chester has the third highest median property values in the state, and Chester residents have the highest median income.
Elementary School
/ Middle School
: Chester Academy (public)
High School
: Pinkerton Academy
, Derry
(privately operated, but it contracts with Derry, Chester, and Hampstead
. Those three towns pay the academy with tax money.)
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. The population was 4,768 at the 2010 census. It is home to Chester College
Chester College of New England
Chester College of New England is a bachelor's degree-granting college that provides a foundation in the liberal arts and the fine arts, complemented by majors in the professional arts...
(formerly White Pines College).
History
Incorporated in 1722, Chester once included CandiaCandia, New Hampshire
Candia is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Candia, Candia Four Corners and East Candia.-History:...
, set off in 1763. First called "the chestnut country," it may have been the first of the settlement grants by 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...
selected for expansion of growing populations in the seacoast. The name may be derived from Cheshire, Chester being the county seat of Cheshire in England. Earl of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
is a title held by the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, was a summer resident and took Chester as his middle name because of his love for the town.
Notable residents
- Charles H. BellCharles H. Bell (politician)Charles Henry Bell was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Exeter, New Hampshire. Born in 1823 in Chester, New Hampshire, he served New Hampshire in both the state House of Representatives and Senate, as a U.S. Senator, and as Governor.Charles was one of the ten children of Governor...
, governor; son of John Bell - John Bell, governor
- Samuel BellSamuel BellSamuel Bell was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 14th Governor of New Hampshire from 1819 to 1823, and as the United States Senator for New Hampshire from 1823 to 1835...
, governor; brother of John Bell - Samuel Newell BellSamuel Newell BellSamuel Newell Bell was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, grandson of Samuel Bell and nephew of James Bell....
, U.S. Representative; grandson of Samuel Bell - "Lord" Timothy DexterTimothy Dexter (businessman)"Lord" Timothy Dexter , as he was sometimes termed by admiring contemporaries, was an eccentric American businessman noted for a series of lucky transactions and his writing.-Biography:...
, eccentric early American businessman - Daniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester FrenchDaniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
, sculptor (summer resident) - George Cochrane HazeltonGeorge Cochrane HazeltonGeorge Cochrane Hazelton was a United States Representative from Wisconsin. Born in Chester, New Hampshire, he attended the district schools and prepared for college at Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire and Dummer Academy in Massachusetts. Hazelton studied at Union College in Schenectady, New...
, U.S. Representative from WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... - Gerry Whiting HazeltonGerry Whiting HazeltonGerry Whiting Hazelton was a Republican United States Representative from Wisconsin. Born in Chester, Rockingham County, New Hampshire he attended the common schools, Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire, and received instruction from a private tutor. He studied law and was admitted to the...
, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin; brother of George
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 26 square miles (67.3 km²), of which 25.9 sq mi (67.1 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) (0.42%) is water. The Exeter River
Exeter River
The Exeter River is a -long river located in Rockingham County in southeastern New Hampshire, the United States.It rises in the town of Chester, southeast of Manchester. It follows a winding course east and northeast to Exeter, where it becomes the Squamscott River, a tidal river leading north to...
rises in Chester. The highest point in town is an unnamed summit, reaching 639 feet (194.8 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...
, near the town's southwest corner. Chester lies mostly within the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
(Coastal) 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...
, though the western edge of town is in 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.
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 3,792 people, 1,214 households, and 1,011 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 146.4 people per square mile (56.5/km²). There were 1,247 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 0.26% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.16% 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 0.82% of the population.
There were 1,214 households out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.3% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,571, and the median income for a family was $75,092. Males had a median income of $44,056 versus $35,382 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 $23,842. About 3.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
According to the most recent figures Chester has the third highest median property values in the state, and Chester residents have the highest median income.
Education
Preschools: Chester Academy (public), Chester Pre-School (private), Country Christian Daycare (private), Imagination Station (private)Elementary School
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
/ Middle School
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
: Chester Academy (public)
High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
: Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton 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...
, Derry
Derry, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...
(privately operated, but it contracts with Derry, Chester, and Hampstead
Hampstead, New Hampshire
Hampstead is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,523 at the 2010 census. Hampstead, which includes the village of East Hampstead, is home to a portion of the Rockingham Recreational Trail.- History :...
. Those three towns pay the academy with tax money.)