Exeter, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia : E : EX : EXE : Exeter, New Hampshire
| Exeter, New Hampshire | |
|
Location within Rockingham County, New Hampshire | |
| County | Rockingham County |
| Settled: [[]] → Incorporated: 1638 | |
| Government –Town Manager –Board of Selectmen | Selectmen Russ Dean Robert Eastman Paul Binette Lionel Ingram Bill Campbell Joe Pace |
| Area –Land –Water | 51.8 km² 50.9 km² 1.0 km² |
| Population (as of 2000>2000) –Density | 14,058 276.4/km² |
| Time zone: EST (UTC-5) | |
| Official website: [www.exeternh.org]
| |
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 14,058 at the 2000 census. It is situated where the Exeter River feeds the tidal Squamscott River.
History
Exeter was one of four original townships in New Hampshire. It was founded in 1638 by the Reverend John Wheelwright, who purchased the territory from Wehanownowit, sagamore of the Squamscot Indians, a Pennacook tribe living in the vicinity.
In 1774, after Royal Governor John Wentworth dissolved the rebellious Provincial Assembly at the colonial capitol in Portsmouth, the Provincial Congress began meeting in the Exeter Town House. In July of 1775, the Provincial Congress had the provincial records seized from royal officials in Portsmouth and brought to Exeter as well. And so Exeter became New Hampshire's Revolutionary War capital, an honor it held for fourteen years, until it moved to Concord.
According to a former governor Hugh Gregg the United States Republican Party was born in Exeter on October 12, 1853, but nothing came of a secret meeting that day and the Republican party was not organized in the state until 1856. Historical sites include the 1709 Gilman Garrison House, the Old Town Post Office, and a Georgian style house where George Washington took breakfast, called "Folsom Tavern" and part of the American Independence Museum. The St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and 2005 All-Star, Chris Carpenter, was born here.
The town is best known as the home of the Phillips Exeter Academy, which includes the noted Academy Library designed by architect Louis I. Kahn. PEA students can stroll downtown past the bandstand designed by Daniel Chester French, sculptor and Exeter native. He is best known for his statue of President Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, attended the academy, and Lincoln visited in 1859. Other places of interest would include the Swasey Parkway beside the Squamscott River, site of the Phillips Exeter Boathouse.
On Water Street is the 1915 Ioka Theatre. It was built by Edward Mayer, Exeter judge and resident, in imitation of his uncle, Louis B. Mayer, who operated six movie/vaudeville theatres in Haverhill, Massachusetts, before becoming the mogul of Hollywood legend. Edward Mayer's opening feature was "The Birth of a Nation," by D. W. Griffith. The theatre's curious name was proposed in a contest by a young woman with an enthusiasm for scouting. Ioka was a Native American word meaning "playground."
The name "Exeter" derives from ancient Exeter in Devon, England. Numerous other places also share the name.
Museums:
Notable Inhabitants:- Dan Brown, author: The Da Vinci Code
- Lewis Cass, politician
- Chris Carpenter, major league baseball pitcher, 2005 All-Star, 2005 NL Cy Young Award
- Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn, statesman and soldier
- Nathaniel Folsom, statesman
- Daniel Chester French, sculptor
- John Taylor Gilman, statesman and governor
- Nicholas Gilman, Jr., signer of U.S. Constitution
- John Irving, author: The World According to Garp
- Dr. John Phillips, founder: Phillips Exeter Academy
- Reverend John Wheelwright, founder: Exeter, New Hampshire
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.8 km² (20.0 mi²). 50.9 km² (19.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (1.85%) is water. The highest point in Exeter is 250 feet (76 meters) above sea level on Great Hill at the town's southwest corner.
Demographics
For additional demographic information on the central populated area of Exeter, which is a census-designated place, see the article Exeter (CDP), New Hampshire. It provides details that are included in the aggregate numbers reported here.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 14,058 people, 5,898 households, and 3,715 families residing in the town. The population density was 276.4/km² (715.9/mi²). There were 6,107 housing units at an average density of 120.1/km² (311.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.18% White, 0.42% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 5,898 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,618, and the median income for a family was $63,088. Males had a median income of $45,091 versus $30,435 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,105. About 2.9% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- [Town of Exeter, New Hampshire Official Website]
- * [SAU16 Exeter Area School District]
- * [Philips Exeter Academy]
- [New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
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