Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Hinsdale is a town
in Cheshire County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 4,046 at the 2010 census. Hinsdale is home to part of Pisgah State Park
in the northeast, and part of Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest in the northwest.
The primary settlement in town, where 1,548 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Hinsdale census-designated place
(CDP) and is located at the junction of New Hampshire routes 119
and 63
.
family, whose mother had been taken captive in the famed Deerfield Massacre
of 1704. Graduated from Harvard College
, Hinsdale ordained to become a missionary
for Indians
of the Connecticut River Valley. Instead, he would serve as chaplain at Fort Dummer
, an important trading post
on the Connecticut River
, later enlisting as an officer in the army. Then, in 1742, he established Fort Hinsdale, including a trading post
and gristmill
, reportedly at his own expense. The town's earliest history recounts Indian assaults, raids and captivities.
Located beside the Connecticut River and connected to Brattleboro
, Vermont
by bridge, Hinsdale contains excellent farmland, but has been a significant center of industry
as well, especially in the manufacture of paper
. In a machine shop here, George A. Long built a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1875, for which he received one of the nation's earliest automobile
patent
s. The oldest continually-operating post office in the United States, established in 1816, is located on Main Street.
, the town has a total area of 22.7 square miles (58.8 km²), of which 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) is water, comprising 9.46% of the town. The town center, or census-designated place
, has a total area of 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km²). 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.40%) is water.
The highest point in town is Wantastiquet Mountain, at 1378 feet (420 m) above sea level
, located on the town's northern boundary and overlooking the Connecticut River
and Brattleboro, Vermont
to the west. The entire town lies within the Connecticut River
watershed
, with roughly the northwestern two-thirds of town draining into small streams that feed directly into the Connecticut, and with the southeastern third of the town draining into the Ashuelot River
, a major tributary of the Connecticut.
Hinsdale is served by state routes 63
and 119
.
of 2000, there were 4,082 people, 1,622 households, and 1,088 families residing in the town. The population density
was 197.4 people per square mile (76.2/km²). There were 1,714 housing units at an average density of 32.0 persons/km² (82.9 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.50% White, 0.42% African American
, 0.20% Native American, 0.32% Asia
n, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,622 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.9% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,124, and the median income for a family was $43,413. Males had a median income of $31,440 versus $23,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,611. 6.4% of the population and 3.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.1% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
of 2000, there were 1,713 people, 707 households, and 431 families residing in the Hinsdale census-designated place
(CDP), the primary settlement in town. The population density
was 703.7 people per square mile (272.2/km²). There were 746 housing units at an average density of 118.5 persons/km² (306.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.35% African American
, 0.41% Native American, 0.29% Asia
n, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.23% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 707 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 10.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 39.0% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household is $35,417, and the median income for a family was $42,308. Males had a median income of $31,983 versus $25,385 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,122. 10.9% of the population and 5.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.7% are under the age of 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older.
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 Cheshire County
Cheshire County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 73,825 people, 28,299 households, and 18,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 31,876 housing units at an average density of 45 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 4,046 at the 2010 census. Hinsdale is home to part of Pisgah State Park
Pisgah State Park
Pisgah State Park is a woodland located in Cheshire County in New Hampshire. It is the largest state park in New Hampshire and contains a complete watershed north of the Ashuelot River, seven ponds, four highland ridges, numerous wetlands, and a parcel of old-growth forest.-Geography:The park...
in the northeast, and part of Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest in the northwest.
The primary settlement in town, where 1,548 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Hinsdale 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...
(CDP) and is located at the junction of New Hampshire routes 119
New Hampshire Route 119
New Hampshire Route 119 is a long east–west state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. The highway runs from the Massachusetts border in New Ipswich to Hinsdale on the Vermont border....
and 63
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
.
History
Located in the southwestern corner of the state, Hinsdale was chartered in 1753. It was named for Colonel Ebenezer Hinsdale, member of a prominent Deerfield, MassachusettsDeerfield, Massachusetts
Deerfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,750 as of the 2000 census. Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area in Western Massachusetts, lying only north of the city of Springfield.Deerfield includes the...
family, whose mother had been taken captive in the famed Deerfield Massacre
Deerfield massacre
The Raid on Deerfield occurred during Queen Anne's War on February 29, 1704, when French and Native American forces under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked the English settlement at Deerfield, Massachusetts just before dawn, burning part of the town and killing 56...
of 1704. Graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, Hinsdale ordained to become a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for Indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
of the Connecticut River Valley. Instead, he would serve as chaplain at Fort Dummer
Fort Dummer
Fort Dummer was a British fort built in 1724 by the colonial militia of the Province of Massachusetts Bay under the command of Lieutenant Timothy Dwight in what is now the Town of Brattleboro in southeastern Vermont. The fort was the first permanent European settlement in Vermont...
, an important trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
on the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, later enlisting as an officer in the army. Then, in 1742, he established Fort Hinsdale, including a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
and 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 :...
, reportedly at his own expense. The town's earliest history recounts Indian assaults, raids and captivities.
Located beside the Connecticut River and connected to Brattleboro
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
, Vermont
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...
by bridge, Hinsdale contains excellent farmland, but has been a significant center of industry
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
as well, especially in the manufacture of paper
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
. In a machine shop here, George A. Long built a self-propelled steam vehicle in 1875, for which he received one of the nation's earliest automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. The oldest continually-operating post office in the United States, established in 1816, is located on Main Street.
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 22.7 square miles (58.8 km²), of which 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) is water, comprising 9.46% of the town. The town center, or 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...
, has a total area of 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km²). 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.40%) is water.
The highest point in town is Wantastiquet Mountain, at 1378 feet (420 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 on the town's northern boundary and overlooking the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
to the west. The entire town lies within the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
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...
, with roughly the northwestern two-thirds of town draining into small streams that feed directly into the Connecticut, and with the southeastern third of the town draining into the Ashuelot River
Ashuelot River
The Ashuelot River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately long, in southwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of , including much of the area known as the Monadnock Region...
, a major tributary of the Connecticut.
Hinsdale is served by state routes 63
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
and 119
New Hampshire Route 119
New Hampshire Route 119 is a long east–west state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. The highway runs from the Massachusetts border in New Ipswich to Hinsdale on the Vermont border....
.
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 4,082 people, 1,622 households, and 1,088 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 197.4 people per square mile (76.2/km²). There were 1,714 housing units at an average density of 32.0 persons/km² (82.9 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.50% White, 0.42% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.20% Native American, 0.32% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 1,622 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% 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, 10.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.9% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,124, and the median income for a family was $43,413. Males had a median income of $31,440 versus $23,000 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 $16,611. 6.4% of the population and 3.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.1% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
Town center
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 1,713 people, 707 households, and 431 families residing in the Hinsdale 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...
(CDP), the primary settlement in 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 703.7 people per square mile (272.2/km²). There were 746 housing units at an average density of 118.5 persons/km² (306.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.35% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.41% Native American, 0.29% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.23% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 707 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% 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, 10.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 39.0% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household is $35,417, and the median income for a family was $42,308. Males had a median income of $31,983 versus $25,385 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 $15,122. 10.9% of the population and 5.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.7% are under the age of 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older.
Notable residents
- Elisha AndrewsElisha AndrewsElisha Benjamin Andrews was an American economist and educator, born in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.-Academic life:...
, economist and educator - Charles Anderson DanaCharles Anderson DanaCharles Anderson Dana was an American journalist, author, and government official, best known for his association with Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War and his aggressive political advocacy after the war....
, journalist, author and government official - Jacob EsteyJacob EsteyJacob Estey was the founder of Estey Organ.-Biography:He was born in 1814 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire and ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade. He arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1835 at age 21 to work in a plumbing shop which he soon bought...
, manufacturer of reed organs - Dan FitzpatrickDan FitzpatrickDaniel Charles Fitzpatrick is the American author of the Vision trilogy, a fictional thriller series which follows the events of Jade Walker, a librarian turned vigilante serial killer with numerous mind-altering abilities....
, author - William BabcockWilliam BabcockWilliam Babcock was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, Babcock moved to Penn Yan, New York, in 1813 and engaged in mercantile pursuits....
, congressman - William HaileWilliam HaileWilliam Haile was an American merchant, manufacturer and politician from Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Born in 1807 in Putney, Vermont, he served in both houses of the New Hampshire legislature and as Governor of the state...
, merchant, manufacturer and politician - Henry HookerHenry HookerHenry Clay Hooker was a prominent and wealthy rancher of the American Old West, and personal friend to lawman Wyatt Earp during the early 1880s.-Life:Henry Clay Hooker was born January 10, 1828 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire....
, Arizona pioneer - Robert Merrill LeeRobert Merrill LeeGeneral Robert Merrill Lee CBE was the air deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, with the responsibility of assisting SACEUR in developing, training and employing NATO combat forces for the defense of allied Europe.Lee was born in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, educated in the public schools...
, general - Anna MarshAnna MarshAnna Marsh established the Vermont Asylum of the Insane in 1834.-Biography:Marsh was born and raised in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. She was the widow of physician Perley Marsh....
, founder of mental hospital