Lempster, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Lempster is a town
in Sullivan County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 1,154 at the 2010 census. Settlements include the town center (Lempster village) and the village of East Lempster
.
governor
Jonathan Belcher
in 1735 as Number 9 (ninth in a line of forts to guard against Indian attacks), it was regranted in 1753 as Dupplin, after Sir Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin, by Governor Benning Wentworth
. The town was re-granted one final time in 1767 as Lempster, after one of the titles of a Sir Thomas Farmer of "Lempster" (presumably Leominster
in England), and incorporated in 1772.
, the town has a total area of 32.8 square miles (85 km²), of which 32.3 sq mi (83.7 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.31% of the town. The highest point in Lempster is the summit of Bean Mountain, at 2326 feet (709 m) above sea level
. Lempster lies mostly within the Connecticut River
watershed
, with the southeastern corner of town lying in the Ashuelot River
watershed.
New Hampshire Route 10
traverses the town, connecting it with the towns of Goshen
and Newport
to the north and with Marlow
, Gilsum
, and the city of Keene
to the south. The village of East Lempster
is located at the intersection of Route 10 and Second New Hampshire Turnpike. The village of Lempster proper is located along Second New Hampshire Turnpike, 2 miles (3 km) to the west.
of 2000, there were 971 people, 387 households, and 275 families residing in the town. The 2003 census estimate for the town was 1,044 residents. The population density
was 30.0 people per square mile (11.6/km²). There were 577 housing units at an average density of 17.8 per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.21% of the population.
There were 387 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,458, and the median income for a family was $45,385. Males had a median income of $31,484 versus $22,566 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,172. About 3.2% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
is home to New Hampshire's first wind farm
, providing a total of 24 MW from 12 turbines, which started operation in 2008. The turbines are located on Bean Mountain, a knob on the north-south ridge of Lempster Mountain (43°14′N 72°09′W).
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 Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,458 people, 16,530 households, and 11,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 29/; . There were 20,158 housing units at an average density of 38 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 1,154 at the 2010 census. Settlements include the town center (Lempster village) and the village of East Lempster
East Lempster, New Hampshire
East Lempster is an unincorporated village in the town of Lempster in Sullivan County, New Hampshire.The village is located at the intersection of New Hampshire Route 10 with the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, a country road leading northwest to Lempster village, the town of Unity, and the city of...
.
History
First granted by colonialColony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher was colonial governor of the British provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.-Early life:Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1682...
in 1735 as Number 9 (ninth in a line of forts to guard against Indian attacks), it was regranted in 1753 as Dupplin, after Sir Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin, by Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
. The town was re-granted one final time in 1767 as Lempster, after one of the titles of a Sir Thomas Farmer of "Lempster" (presumably Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
in England), and incorporated in 1772.
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 32.8 square miles (85 km²), of which 32.3 sq mi (83.7 km²) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1 km²) is water, comprising 1.31% of the town. The highest point in Lempster is the summit of Bean Mountain, at 2326 feet (709 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...
. Lempster lies mostly 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 the southeastern corner of town lying in 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...
watershed.
New Hampshire Route 10
New Hampshire Route 10
New Hampshire Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Its southern terminus is at the Massachusetts state line in the town of Winchester. In Massachusetts the highway becomes Massachusetts Route 10. Total length of the highway is .-Route description:NH 10...
traverses the town, connecting it with the towns of Goshen
Goshen, New Hampshire
Goshen is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 810 at the 2010 census.- History :Incorporated in 1791, Goshen was first settled in 1768 as a part of Saville...
and Newport
Newport, New Hampshire
Newport is a town in and the county seat of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. It is west-northwest of Concord. The population was 6,507 at the 2010 census. A covered bridge is in the northwest...
to the north and with Marlow
Marlow, New Hampshire
Marlow is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 742 at the 2010 census. Marlow is home to Honey Brook State Forest.-History:...
, Gilsum
Gilsum, New Hampshire
Gilsum is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 813 at the 2010 census. Home to the Bear's Den Natural Area, Gilsum includes Gilsum Lower Village.-History:...
, and the city of Keene
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
to the south. The village of East Lempster
East Lempster, New Hampshire
East Lempster is an unincorporated village in the town of Lempster in Sullivan County, New Hampshire.The village is located at the intersection of New Hampshire Route 10 with the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, a country road leading northwest to Lempster village, the town of Unity, and the city of...
is located at the intersection of Route 10 and Second New Hampshire Turnpike. The village of Lempster proper is located along Second New Hampshire Turnpike, 2 miles (3 km) to the west.
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 971 people, 387 households, and 275 families residing in the town. The 2003 census estimate for the town was 1,044 residents. 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 30.0 people per square mile (11.6/km²). There were 577 housing units at an average density of 17.8 per square mile (6.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.21% of the population.
There were 387 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,458, and the median income for a family was $45,385. Males had a median income of $31,484 versus $22,566 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 $19,172. About 3.2% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Lempster wind farm
LempsterLempster Mountain Wind Power Project
Lempster Mountain Wind Power Project is a 24-megawatt wind farm, opened in 2008 in Lempster, New Hampshire in the northeast United States. Owned by Iberdrola, it is the first major wind-power installation in the state of New Hampshire....
is home to New Hampshire's first wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
, providing a total of 24 MW from 12 turbines, which started operation in 2008. The turbines are located on Bean Mountain, a knob on the north-south ridge of Lempster Mountain (43°14′N 72°09′W).