Hopkinton, New Hampshire

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Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Town
Town hall
Town hall
Official seal of Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Merrimack County and the state of New Hampshire.
Location in Merrimack County and the state of New Hampshire.
Coordinates: 43°11′29″N 71°40′31″W / 43.19139°N 71.67528°W / 43.19139; -71.67528Coordinates: 43°11′29″N 71°40′31″W / 43.19139°N 71.67528°W / 43.19139; -71.67528
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyMerrimack
Granted1735
Settled1736
IncorporatedJanuary 10, 1765
Villages
Government
 • Select Board
  • Sabrina Dunlap, Chair
  • Ken Traum
  • Jeffrey Donohoe
  • Steven Whitley
  • Thomas Lipoma
 • Town AdministratorNeal Cass
Area
[1]
 • Total45.09 sq mi (116.77 km2)
 • Land43.30 sq mi (112.14 km2)
 • Water1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2)  3.97%
Elevation
505 ft (154 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total5,914
 • Density136/sq mi (52.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03229
Area code603
FIPS code33-37540
GNIS feature ID0873630
Websitewww.hopkinton-nh.gov

Hopkinton is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,914 at the 2020 census.[2] The town has three distinct communities: Hopkinton village, mainly a residential area in the center of the town; Contoocook, the town's business hub, located in the north; and West Hopkinton, within the more agricultural portion of the town. The town is home to the Hopkinton State Fair, adjacent to Contoocook village, and to the historic Contoocook Railroad Depot and the Contoocook Railroad Bridge, the oldest covered railroad bridge in the United States.[3]

History[edit]

The town's first framed house built in 1745, as seen in 1901

The town was granted by colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher in 1735 as "Number 5" to settlers from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who renamed it "New Hopkinton". First settled in 1736, colonists were required to build homes, fence in their land, plant it with English grass, and provide a home for a minister, all within seven years. The community was incorporated in 1765 by Governor Benning Wentworth,[4] predating the establishment of counties in the colonial province. Built in 1789, the Congregational Church has a Revere bell.[5] The state legislature met in Hopkinton occasionally between 1798 and 1807. In 1808, the town competed for the coveted position of state capital, but was defeated by neighboring Concord. Since 1823, the town has been within Merrimack County.

W. S. Davis Building 1889

A substantial portion of the town in the north was named "Contoocook Village", for a tribe of the Pennacook people who once lived there. Due to its position along the Contoocook River, it became a center for water-powered industry, particularly lumber and textiles. The Contoocook covered railroad bridge in the village is a remnant of the Boston & Maine Railroad and is the oldest covered bridge of its kind still standing in the United States.[3] Next to the bridge is the Contoocook Railroad Depot, one of the original railroad depots for the Concord and Claremont Railroad.

Since 1915, Hopkinton has been home to the Hopkinton State Fair, an event which attracts thousands of visitors each year during the Labor Day weekend.[6]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.1 square miles (116.8 km2), of which 43.3 square miles (112.1 km2) are land and 1.8 square miles (4.6 km2) are water, comprising 3.97% of the town.[1] Hopkinton is drained by the Contoocook River and its tributary, the Warner River, except for the southeast part of town, which drains to the Turkey River. The highest point in town is Shaker Hill, on the border with Henniker, with an elevation of 923 feet (281 m) above sea level. Hopkinton lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[7]

Adjacent municipalities[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
17901,715—
18002,01517.5%
18102,21610.0%
18202,43710.0%
18302,4741.5%
18402,454−0.8%
18502,169−11.6%
18602,1780.4%
18701,814−16.7%
18801,8361.2%
18901,817−1.0%
19001,652−9.1%
19101,578−4.5%
19201,438−8.9%
19301,4853.3%
19401,5876.9%
19501,83115.4%
19602,22521.5%
19703,00735.1%
19803,86128.4%
19904,80624.5%
20005,39912.3%
20105,5893.5%
20205,9145.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[2][8]
Oldest part of Hopkinton village cemetery, as seen in 1901

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 5,589 people, 2,204 households, and 1,631 families residing in the town. The population density was 124.7 people per square mile (48.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1% of the population.

There were 2,204 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.92.

Old Parsonage in 1901

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 20, 3.3% from 20 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.8 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $84,911, and the median income for a family was $88,796. Males had a median income of $53,806 versus $45,656 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,580. About 4.2% of the population was below the poverty line.

Government[edit]

In the New Hampshire Senate, Hopkinton is in the 15th District, represented by Democrat Dan Feltes. On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Hopkinton is in the 2nd District, represented by Democrat Andru Volinsky. In the United States House of Representatives, Hopkinton is in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Ann McLane Kuster.

Education[edit]

Public education is managed by the Hopkinton School District. Kindergarten through third-grade students attend Harold Martin School in Hopkinton village, and fourth through sixth graders attend Maple Street School in Contoocook village. The middle school is combined with Hopkinton High School in Contoocook village, which serves seventh through twelfth graders, and its sports teams are nicknamed the Hawks.

Hopkinton High School consistently performs highly amongst other public schools in New Hampshire. According to a study conducted in early 2014 by U.S. News & World Report, Hopkinton High School was ranked 1st among New Hampshire's public schools. Hopkinton High School has also been awarded a national silver medal and is ranked nationally #711 of the 19,400 public schools in the US. The school has ranked 1st consistently by U.S. News in 2015 and 2016.[10][11] Hopkinton High School consistently ranks within the top 10% of public schools in New Hampshire.[12]

The town of Hopkinton also includes The Beech Hill School, an independent middle school serving grades 6th through 8th.[13]

Notable people[edit]

National Register of Historic Places[edit]

[14] Name on the Register[15] Image Date listed[16] Location City or town Description
1 Contoocook Railroad Depot
Contoocook Railroad Depot
 March 16, 2006
(#06000131) 		896 Main St.
43°13′21″N 71°42′47″W / 43.2225°N 71.7131°W / 43.2225; -71.7131 (Contoocook Railroad Depot) 		Contoocook Village Owned by the Contoocook Riverway Association
2 Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge
Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge
 January 11, 1980
(#80000294) 		Off NH 103 and NH 127
43°13′23″N 71°42′51″W / 43.2231°N 71.7142°W / 43.2231; -71.7142 (Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge) 		Contoocook Village Over Contoocook River in village of Contoocook
3 Howe-Quimby House
Howe-Quimby House
 June 27, 1980
(#80000295) 		862 Sugar Hill Rd.
43°09′29″N 71°42′03″W / 43.1581°N 71.7008°W / 43.1581; -71.7008 (Howe-Quimby House) 		Hopkinton
4 William H. Long Memorial
William H. Long Memorial
 July 15, 1977
(#77000092) 		300 Main St.
43°11′27″N 71°40′19″W / 43.1908°N 71.6719°W / 43.1908; -71.6719 (William H. Long Memorial) 		Hopkinton Village Now houses the Hopkinton Historical Society.
5 Rowell's Covered Bridge
Rowell's Covered Bridge
 November 21, 1976
(#76000129) 		Clement Hill Rd.
43°11′33″N 71°44′54″W / 43.1925°N 71.7483°W / 43.1925; -71.7483 (Rowell's Covered Bridge) 		West Hopkinton Over Contoocook River
6 Stanley Tavern
Stanley Tavern
 September 7, 2005
(#05000970) 		371 Main St.
43°11′29″N 71°40′27″W / 43.1914°N 71.6742°W / 43.1914; -71.6742 (Stanley Tavern) 		Hopkinton Village

Sites of interest[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Hopkinton town, Merrimack County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "RAILROAD BRIDGE, Hopkinton, New Hampshire". New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  4. ^ "History of Hopkinton". J. W. Lewis and Co. 1885.
  5. ^ Chapter XXVII. Charles Chase Lord. 1890.
  6. ^ "Hopkinton State Fair - History". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  7. ^ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ "Best High Schools in New Hampshire". Usnews.com. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Hopkinton High School". Usnews.com. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Hopkinton High School (2021-22 Ranking) | Contoocook, NH". Public School Review. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  13. ^ "The Beech Hill School". Thebeechhillschool.org. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  14. ^ Numbers represent an alphabetical ordering by significant words. Various colorings, defined here, differentiate National Historic Landmarks and historic districts from other NRHP buildings, structures, sites or objects.
  15. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 24, 2008.
  16. ^ The eight-digit number below each date is the number assigned to each location in the National Register Information System database, which can be viewed by clicking the number.

External links[edit]

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