Errol, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Errol is a town
in Coos County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 291 at the 2010 census. It is located north of the White Mountains
along Route 16
at the intersection of Route 26. It has a municipal airport with a single, unpaved runway (airport code
ERR).
Errol is part of the Berlin
, NH–VT
micropolitan statistical area
.
to Timothy Ruggles and others in 1774, the name taken from Scotland
's James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll
. In 1789, proprietors of the Errol grant petitioned the General Court
that towns between Conway
and Errol be required to pay for "a good connecting road." The legislature approved the measure in 1781, mandating what is today Route 16
. A winter trade route
to Andover
, Maine
was built in 1804, connecting Errol to Portland
by what is now Route 26. The first settlers arrived at Errol in 1806, and by 1820 the population was 36. It was incorporated in 1836.
Although the soil was considered generally poor, it was suitable for hay
, oat
s and potato
es. With vast forests, the town's chief occupation was lumbering. By 1859, when the population was 130, the town had two sawmill
s, one gristmill
and one clapboard
machine.
, the town has a total area of 69.8 square miles (180.8 km²), of which 60.6 square miles (157 km²) is land and 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²) is water, comprising 13.07% of the town. The Androscoggin River
begins in Errol, where the Magalloway River
joins the outlet of Umbagog Lake. The town's elevation reaches 2340 feet (713.2 m) above sea level
at two different places along its border: along the town's northern boundary on a southwestern ridge of Black Mountain, and along the town's western boundary on a northeastern ridge of Signal Mountain. Errol lies fully within the Androscoggin River
watershed
.
The town is served by state routes 16
and 26.
of 2000, there were 298 people, 137 households, and 90 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4.9 people per square mile (1.9/km²). There were 447 housing units at an average density of 7.3 per square mile (2.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 137 households out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.56.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.4% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $37,250 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,440. About 9.8% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.2% of those sixty five 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 Coos County
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
, 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 291 at the 2010 census. It is located north of the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
along Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
at the intersection of Route 26. It has a municipal airport with a single, unpaved runway (airport code
IATA airport code
An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association...
ERR).
Errol is part of the Berlin
Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, NH–VT
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
micropolitan statistical area
Berlin micropolitan area
The Berlin Micropolitan Statistical Area is the core based statistical area centered on the urban cluster associated with the city Berlin, New Hampshire in the United States...
.
History
Errol was granted by Governor John WentworthJohn 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:...
to Timothy Ruggles and others in 1774, the name taken from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll
James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll
James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll was the son of William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock.He was born with the name of James Boyd but legally changed it to James Hay in 1758, when he succeeded his great-aunt as Earl of Erroll .In 1749, he married Rebecca Lockhart In 1762,...
. In 1789, proprietors of the Errol grant petitioned the General Court
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
that towns between Conway
Conway, New Hampshire
Conway is a town, the largest in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,115 at the 2010 census. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west and north. Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake State Park are in the west...
and Errol be required to pay for "a good connecting road." The legislature approved the measure in 1781, mandating what is today Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
. A winter trade route
Trade route
A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a single trade route contains long distance arteries which may further be connected to several smaller networks of commercial...
to Andover
Andover, Maine
Andover is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 864 at the 2000 census. Set among mountains and crossed by the Appalachian Trail, Andover is home to the Andover Earth Station and Lovejoy Covered Bridge.-History:...
, 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...
was built in 1804, connecting Errol to Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
by what is now Route 26. The first settlers arrived at Errol in 1806, and by 1820 the population was 36. It was incorporated in 1836.
Although the soil was considered generally poor, it was suitable for hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
, oat
Oat
The common oat is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name . While oats are suitable for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats, one of the most common uses is as livestock feed...
s and potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es. With vast forests, the town's chief occupation was lumbering. By 1859, when the population was 130, the town had two 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, one 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 :...
and one clapboard
Clapboard (architecture)
Clapboard, also known as bevel siding or lap siding or weather-board , is a board used typically for exterior horizontal siding that has one edge thicker than the other and where the board above laps over the one below...
machine.
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 69.8 square miles (180.8 km²), of which 60.6 square miles (157 km²) is land and 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²) is water, comprising 13.07% of the town. The Androscoggin River
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is long and joins the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine before its water empties into the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is in area...
begins in Errol, where the Magalloway River
Magalloway River
The Magalloway River is a river in northwestern Maine and northern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Androscoggin River, which flows to the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine, near the Atlantic Ocean...
joins the outlet of Umbagog Lake. The town's elevation reaches 2340 feet (713.2 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...
at two different places along its border: along the town's northern boundary on a southwestern ridge of Black Mountain, and along the town's western boundary on a northeastern ridge of Signal Mountain. Errol lies fully within the Androscoggin River
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is long and joins the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine before its water empties into the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is in area...
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 town is served by state routes 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
and 26.
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 298 people, 137 households, and 90 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 4.9 people per square mile (1.9/km²). There were 447 housing units at an average density of 7.3 per square mile (2.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 0.67% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 137 households out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.56.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.4% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $37,250 versus $20,250 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 $22,440. About 9.8% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.2% of those sixty five or over.