Rochester, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROC : Rochester, New Hampshire
| Rochester, NH
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Classification | City |
| State | New Hampshire |
| Area | 44.8 mi² |
| Population | |
| Total | 29.654 (2003 census estimate) |
| Rank | 5th in New Hampshire |
| Density | 644.1/mi² (1,251.6/km²) |
Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 28,461, the largest in the seacoast region. It includes the villages of East Rochester and Gonic (many households of which were reported to have been missed during the last census). Called "the Lilac City," Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and the annual Rochester Fair.
History
Rochester was once inhabited by Abenaki Indians of the Pennacook tribe. They fished, hunted and farmed, moving locations when their agriculture exhausted the soil for growing pumpkins, squash, beans and maize. Gonic was called "Squamanogonic," meaning "the water of the clay place hill."
The town would be one of four granted by Colonial Governor Samuel Shute of Massachusetts during his brief term. Incorporated in 1722, it was named for his close friend, Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester and brother-in-law to King James II. As was customary, tall white pine trees were reserved for use as masts by the Royal Navy. But hostility with the Indians delayed settlement until 1728, although attacks would continue until 1748. Early dwellings clustered together for protection, beginning near Haven Hill. Due to warfare or disease, after 1749 the Indians were gone. The community at that time included Farmington, which would be incorporated in 1798, and Milton, in 1802.
In 1737, the Rev. Amos Main became the first settled pastor of the Congregational Church, located on Rochester Hill. The building would be moved to Rochester Common, which then encompassed 250 acres and was called "Norway Plain Mille Common" after its abundant Norway pines. By 1738, the farming community contained 60 families. Today, a statue of Parson Main, sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti, presides over the town square.
The first large business was lumbering, although it would be overtaken by other industries as Rochester developed into a mill town with the Cochecho River to provide water power. In 1806, 6 tanneries were operating, along with a sawmill, fulling mill and 2 gristmills. By the 1820s-1830s, the town had a cabinet maker and clockmaker. The Mechanics Company was established in 1834, producing woolen blankets which would win the "premium quality" award at the 1853 New York World's Fair. The Norway Plains Woolen Company manufactured blankets used by the Union Army in the Civil War, and in 1870 wove 1,600,000 yards of textiles, but by century's end were out of business.
In 1854, the E.G. & E. Wallace Shoe Company was established, eventually becoming the city's biggest employer with over 700 workers in 1901. Its name changed to the Rochester Shoe Corporation in the 1920s. The Kessel Fire Brick Company was established in 1889, and at one time bricks for new buildings at Harvard University were made in Gonic. To handle the voluminous freight, four railroads once passed through Rochester, an important stop between Haverhill, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine. Agriculture continued to be a significant business, and in 1875 the Rochester Fair was established. In 1891, Rochester was incorporated as a city.
Mill era prosperity left behind some fine architecture, including the 1905 Rochester Public Library, built with a contribution of $20,000 by Andrew Carnegie, and the 1908 Rochester City Hall & Opera House by George Gilman Adams, the stage of which has a movable floor. A severe drought in 1947 helped cause a fire which destroyed over 30 houses. Sparked by the railroad in Farmington, a swath burned 9 miles long and 2 miles wide. In more recent years, Rochester has enjoyed a revitalization after shedding industries in various economic shifts. Vintage Victorian buildings are being restored, one with an art gallery.
Cultural Sites & Museums:
- Rochester Historical Society Museum
- Rochester Opera House
- Samuel D. Felker, governor
- Lyndon Larouche, political activist & presidential candidate
- Huntley N. Spaulding, governor
- Rolland H. Spaulding, governor
Geography
Rochester is located at (43.302081, -70.973106)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 118.6 km² (45.8 mi²). 116.9 km² (45.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.38%) is water. Rochester is drained by the Salmon Falls, Isinglass and Cochecho Rivers. The highest point in Rochester is a southern extension of Nute Ridge (581 feet / 177 meters above sea level), occupying the northern corner of the city.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 28,461 people, 11,434 households, and 7,649 families residing in the city. The population density was 243.4/km² (630.3/mi²). There were 11,836 housing units at an average density of 101.2/km² (262.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.12% White, 0.52% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 11,434 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 25.7% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,596, and the median income for a family was $47,324. Males had a median income of $34,290 versus $23,319 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,859. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- [Official web site]
- * [History of Rochester, New Hampshire]
- * [Rochester Fair]
- * [Rochester Historical Society]
- * [Rochester Public Library]
- [New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
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