Wentworth, New Hampshire

Wentworth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 911 at the 2010 census.[1] The town is home to Plummer's Ledge Natural Area, and part of the White Mountain National Forest is in the northeast. The town has a picturesque common, presided over by a Federal style church and bordered by antique homes.

For the unincorporated area in northern New Hampshire, see Wentworth's Location, New Hampshire.
Wentworth, New Hampshire
Town
Wentworth Common
Coordinates: 43°52′08″N 71°54′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyGrafton
Incorporated1766
Government
 • Board of SelectmenArnold D. Scheller, Chair
Omer C. Ahern Jr.
Jordan King
Area
 • Total42.0 sq mi (108.7 km2)
 • Land41.4 sq mi (107.3 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)  1.21%
Elevation
630 ft (192 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total911
 • Density22/sq mi (8.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03282
Area code(s)603
FIPS code33-80500
GNIS feature ID0873752
Websitewww.wentworth-nh.org

History

It was granted by Governor Benning Wentworth on November 1, 1766 to John Page and 60 others. Named for the governor himself,[2] Wentworth was settled and incorporated the same year. Many of the settlers arrived from Massachusetts, particularly Salisbury. With a pretty New England common set atop an elevated tongue of land, the village has been noted since the 19th century for its charm; while in "... beauties of landscape, Wentworth has a more than ordinary share." [3]

Farmers cultivated the rich soil on the intervales. The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad diagonally crossed the town. With abundant water power from the Baker River, Wentworth developed into a lumber producing town with nine sawmills. But disaster struck on August 6, 1856, when dams on the Upper and Lower Baker ponds in Orford breached during a flood, releasing a wall of water down Pond Brook to the Baker River. It raced three miles (4.8 km) down the steep, rocky channel, then undermined and washed away Wentworth's riverside mills, houses, barns, sheds and roads. It widened the river by nearly 90 feet (27 meters).[3]

  • Wentworth Common
  • Town offices
  • Webster Memorial Library

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.0 square miles (108.8 km2), of which 41.4 square miles (107.2 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.21%, is water.[4] The town is drained by the Baker River and the South Branch Baker River. The highest point in Wentworth is Carr Mountain, at 3,453 feet (1,052 m) above sea level.

The town is crossed north to south by New Hampshire Route 25 and New Hampshire Route 118. New Hampshire Route 25A starts at Routes 25 and 118 at the town center and proceeds west into Orford.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1790241—
1800488102.5%
181064532.2%
182080725.1%
183092414.5%
18401,11921.1%
18501,1977.0%
18601,055−11.9%
1870971−8.0%
1880939−3.3%
1890698−25.7%
1900617−11.6%
1910595−3.6%
1920507−14.8%
1930459−9.5%
19404917.0%
1950413−15.9%
1960300−27.4%
197037625.3%
198052740.2%
199063019.5%
200079826.7%
201091114.2%
Est. 2017947[5]4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 798 people, 310 households, and 220 families residing in the town. The population density was 19.2 people per square mile (7.4/km2). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.38% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.

There were 310 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,219, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $24,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,258. About 6.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Wentworth uses a town meeting form of government administered by a three-member Board of Selectmen serving staggered three-year terms, with one seat elected each year. In the New Hampshire General Court, Wentworth is in House District 6 and represented by James D. Aguiar (D) and Charles J. Brosseau (R). Wentworth is in Senate District 2 and represented by Jeanie Forrester (R).

Climate
Climate data for Wentworth, New Hampshire
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 26.8
(−2.9)		 29.6
(−1.3)		 39.6
(4.2)		 52.1
(11.2)		 65.7
(18.7)		 73.6
(23.1)		 78
(26)		 75.4
(24.1)		 67.2
(19.6)		 56.6
(13.7)		 43
(6)		 30.7
(−0.7)		 53.2
(11.8)
Average low °F (°C) 6.9
(−13.9)		 8.7
(−12.9)		 19.8
(−6.8)		 30.8
(−0.7)		 41.5
(5.3)		 50.1
(10.1)		 54.5
(12.5)		 52.8
(11.6)		 45.3
(7.4)		 36.1
(2.3)		 26.9
(−2.8)		 13.2
(−10.4)		 32.2
(0.1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.1
(53)		 2.2
(56)		 2.4
(61)		 2.7
(69)		 3.4
(86)		 3.8
(97)		 3.5
(89)		 4.0
(100)		 3.2
(81)		 3.3
(84)		 3.5
(89)		 2.8
(71)		 36.8
(930)
Source: Weatherbase[8]
  • Transfer station
  • Town garage
  • Post Office
  • Congregational Church
  • Wentworth Historical Museum
  • Town Hall
  • Webster Memorial Library
  • Wentworth Vol. Fire Department

Notable people
gollark: It's possible.
gollark: > Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. -Albert einsteinTwo things are infinite: the universe and fake Albert Einstein quotes; and I'm not sure about the universe. -Albert einstein
gollark: I've read about something like that being used for some sort of photosensitive 3D printing thingy?
gollark: I guess if you just want one color (UV) there are probably UV-transparent LCD panels.
gollark: I mean, you could stick UV LEDs and a diffuser thing in place of the screen, but then it can't display anything.

References
  1. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
  3. Austin J. Coolidge & John B. Mansfield, A History and Description of New England; Boston, Massachusetts
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Wentworth town, New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  5. "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 14, 2018.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. "Weatherbase". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
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