Lempster, New Hampshire
Lempster is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,154 at the 2010 census.[1] Settlements include the town center (Lempster village) and the village of East Lempster.
Lempster, New Hampshire | |
---|---|
Town Offices | |
Location in Sullivan County and the state of New Hampshire. | |
Coordinates: 43°14′18″N 72°12′38″W | |
Country | United States |
State | New Hampshire |
County | Sullivan |
Incorporated | 1772 |
Named for | Leominster, Massachusetts, but became Lempster due to pronunciation spelling |
Villages | Lempster East Lempster |
Government | |
• Board of Selectmen | Phillip Tirrell, Chair Everett Thurber Mary Grenier |
Area | |
• Total | 32.8 sq mi (84.9 km2) |
• Land | 32.3 sq mi (83.8 km2) |
• Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2) 1.31% |
Elevation | 1,398 ft (426 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 1,154 |
• Density | 35/sq mi (14/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
ZIP code | 03605 |
Area code(s) | 603 |
FIPS code | 33-41700 |
GNIS feature ID | 0873645 |
Website | www |
History
First granted by colonial 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 Scottish lord 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"[2] (presumably Leominster in England), and incorporated in 1772.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.8 square miles (85 km2), of which 32.3 sq mi (84 km2) is land and 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2) is water, comprising 1.31% of the town. The highest point in Lempster is the summit of Bean Mountain, at 2,326 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.[3]
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.
Adjacent municipalities
- Unity, New Hampshire (north)
- Goshen, New Hampshire (northeast)
- Washington, New Hampshire (east)
- Marlow, New Hampshire (south)
- Acworth, New Hampshire (west)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 415 | — | |
1800 | 729 | 75.7% | |
1810 | 854 | 17.1% | |
1820 | 950 | 11.2% | |
1830 | 999 | 5.2% | |
1840 | 941 | −5.8% | |
1850 | 906 | −3.7% | |
1860 | 820 | −9.5% | |
1870 | 678 | −17.3% | |
1880 | 602 | −11.2% | |
1890 | 519 | −13.8% | |
1900 | 391 | −24.7% | |
1910 | 383 | −2.0% | |
1920 | 287 | −25.1% | |
1930 | 273 | −4.9% | |
1940 | 312 | 14.3% | |
1950 | 309 | −1.0% | |
1960 | 272 | −12.0% | |
1970 | 360 | 32.4% | |
1980 | 637 | 76.9% | |
1990 | 947 | 48.7% | |
2000 | 971 | 2.5% | |
2010 | 1,154 | 18.8% | |
Est. 2017 | 1,158 | [4] | 0.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] |
As of the census[6] 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.
Lempster wind farm
Lempster 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).[7]
Notable inhabitants
- Possibly Martha Ann Honeywell, artist[8]
- Martin L. Keyes, founder of Keyes Fibre Company (1903)
References
- United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- "Profile for Lempster, New Hampshire". ePodunk. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- 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.
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Minor Civil Divisions – New Hampshire". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- State's lone wind farm taking shape
- Gerard C. Wertkin (2 August 2004). Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-95614-1.