Suncook River
Encyclopedia
The Suncook River is a 35.7 miles (57.5 km) river
located in central New Hampshire
in the United States
. It is a tributary
of the Merrimack River
, which flows to the Gulf of Maine
.
The Suncook River begins at the outlet of Crystal Lake
in the town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire
. The village of Gilmanton Ironworks
is located at the lake's outlet. The Suncook flows south two miles to the Suncook Lakes
(Upper and Lower) in Barnstead
. Below the lakes, the river passes through the village of Center Barnstead
and enters the town of Pittsfield
, whose village is centered around a 19th century dam on the river.
The river continues south through the towns of Chichester
and Epsom
, and then forms the town boundary between Pembroke
and Allenstown
. Shortly before reaching the Merrimack River, the Suncook drops 70 feet (21.3 m) in 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), a natural waterpower site that led to the growth of the village
of Suncook
.
On May 16, 2006, the Suncook River, responding to the highest rainfall amounts in at least 70 years, rose to flood
level and carved a new river channel in the town of Epsom. Two previous channels, around Bear Island, were left dry as the river broke into an active gravel pit half a mile to the east. The new river course, approximately a mile long, is the largest channel change in a river in New Hampshire since systematic topographic mapping began in the state in the early 20th century.
(1911–2000), who spent time with his maternal family members in Pittsfield, New Hampshire
during his youth, wrote a fantasy for cello and piano entitled Legend of the Sunkook [sic] Valley (Op. 1, no. 4).
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
located in central 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of 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...
, which flows to the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
.
The Suncook River begins at the outlet of Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake (Gilmanton, New Hampshire)
Crystal Lake is a water body located in Belknap County in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, United States, in the town of Gilmanton. Water from Crystal Lake flows via the Suncook River to the Merrimack River....
in the town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census. Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks...
. The village of Gilmanton Ironworks
Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire
Gilmanton Ironworks is an unincorporated village in the town of Gilmanton in Belknap County, New Hampshire, in the United States. It is located near the eastern boundary of the town, along a stretch of the Suncook River south of the outlet of Crystal Lake...
is located at the lake's outlet. The Suncook flows south two miles to the Suncook Lakes
Suncook Lakes
The Suncook Lakes are a pair of lakes located in Belknap County in central New Hampshire, in the town of Barnstead. Upper Suncook Lake encompasses , while Lower Suncook Lake covers . The lakes are connected by a 1,000-foot-long channel, spanned by a road bridge. A dam at the outlet of Lower...
(Upper and Lower) in Barnstead
Barnstead, New Hampshire
Barnstead is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,593 at the 2010 census. Home to the Suncook Lakes, Barnstead includes the villages of Center Barnstead, Barnstead Parade and South Barnstead.-History:The town was granted by Governor William Dummer in 1727 to...
. Below the lakes, the river passes through the village of Center Barnstead
Center Barnstead, New Hampshire
Center Barnstead is an unincorporated village in the town of Barnstead in Belknap County, New Hampshire. It is the largest of several villages in the town....
and enters the town of Pittsfield
Pittsfield, New Hampshire
Pittsfield is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 4,106 at the 2010 census.The central village in town, where 1,576 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Pittsfield census-designated place , and is located on the Suncook River near the junction of New...
, whose village is centered around a 19th century dam on the river.
The river continues south through the towns of Chichester
Chichester, New Hampshire
Chichester is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,523 at the 2010 census.-History:Chichester was granted in 1727, named for Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Earl of Chichester, and England's Secretary of State for the Southern...
and Epsom
Epsom, New Hampshire
Epsom is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,566 at the 2010 census.-History:Incorporated in 1727, Epsom takes its name from Epsom, England. Although dotted with several small mountains, the land was suitable for grazing and growing grain...
, and then forms the town boundary between Pembroke
Pembroke, New Hampshire
Pembroke is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,115 at the 2010 census. Pembroke includes part of the village of Suncook. The center of population of New Hampshire is located in Pembroke.- History :...
and Allenstown
Allenstown, New Hampshire
Allenstown is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,322 at the 2010 census. Allenstown includes a portion of the village of Suncook. Just over one-half of the town's area is covered by Bear Brook State Park....
. Shortly before reaching the Merrimack River, the Suncook drops 70 feet (21.3 m) in 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), a natural waterpower site that led to the growth of the village
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:...
of Suncook
Suncook, New Hampshire
Suncook is a census-designated place in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,379 at the 2010 census. Approximately 2/3 of Suncook village is located in the town of Pembroke, with the remainder in Allenstown....
.
On May 16, 2006, the Suncook River, responding to the highest rainfall amounts in at least 70 years, rose to flood
New England Flood of May 2006
The New England Flood of May 2006 was a flood event that occurred in New England, especially in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, during the month of May, 2006. It started on May 11, 2006 as a result of an unusually strong low pressure system that stalled over the central United States, drawing...
level and carved a new river channel in the town of Epsom. Two previous channels, around Bear Island, were left dry as the river broke into an active gravel pit half a mile to the east. The new river course, approximately a mile long, is the largest channel change in a river in New Hampshire since systematic topographic mapping began in the state in the early 20th century.
Artistic tributes
In 1934, the American composer Alan HovhanessAlan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...
(1911–2000), who spent time with his maternal family members in Pittsfield, New Hampshire
Pittsfield, New Hampshire
Pittsfield is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 4,106 at the 2010 census.The central village in town, where 1,576 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Pittsfield census-designated place , and is located on the Suncook River near the junction of New...
during his youth, wrote a fantasy for cello and piano entitled Legend of the Sunkook [sic] Valley (Op. 1, no. 4).