Merrimack County, New Hampshire Explained

County:Merrimack County
State:New Hampshire
Seal:Merrimack County Seal.png
Founded Year:1823
Seat Wl:Concord
Largest City Wl:Concord
Area Total Sq Mi:955.0
Area Land Sq Mi:932.9
Area Water Sq Mi:22.1
Area Percentage:2.3
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:153808
Pop Est As Of:2022
Population Est:156020
Density Sq Mi:164.9
Web:www.merrimackcounty.net/
Ex Image:MerrimackCountyCourthouse Oct2019.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Merrimack County Courthouse, 2019
District:1st
District2:2nd
Time Zone:Eastern
Named For:Merrimack River

Merrimack County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 153,808,[1] making it the third most populous county in New Hampshire. Its county seat is Concord,[2] the state capital. The county was organized in 1823 from parts of Hillsborough and Rockingham counties,[3] and is named for the Merrimack River.[4] Merrimack County comprises the Concord, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the BostonWorcesterProvidence, MA–RI–NHCT Combined Statistical Area. In 2010, the center of population of New Hampshire was located in Merrimack County, in the town of Pembroke.[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (2.3%) is water.[6] It is the third largest county in New Hampshire by land area. The highest point in Merrimack County is Mount Kearsarge, on the border of Warner and Wilmot, at 2937feet.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 136,225 people, 51,843 households, and 35,460 families living in the county. The population density was 146sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 56,244 housing units at an average density of 60adj=preNaNadj=pre. The racial makeup of the county was 97.08% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.5% were of English, 13.4% Irish, 12.7% French, 11.0% French Canadian, 8.4% American, 6.4% German and 6.0% Italian ancestry. 94.2% spoke English, 2.9% French and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 51,843 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,522, and the median income for a family was $56,842. Males had a median income of $37,722 versus $27,207 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,208. About 4.10% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 146,445 people, 57,069 households, and 38,104 families living in the county.[8] The population density was . There were 63,541 housing units at an average density of .[9] The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% white, 1.6% Asian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.5% were English, 20.4% were Irish, 10.1% were German, 9.7% were Italian, 9.7% were French Canadian, 5.2% were Scottish, and 4.9% were American.[10]

Of the 57,069 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 41.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $63,012 and the median income for a family was $75,268. Males had a median income of $50,880 versus $37,351 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,544. About 5.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[11]

Politics and government

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Merrimack County was reliably Republican through most of its history, with Democrats only carrying the county in four out of 29 presidential elections from 1876 to 1988. Since then, Democrats have carried the county every time.

County Commission

The executive power of Merrimack County's government is held by three county commissioners, each representing one of the three commissioner districts within the county.

DistrictCommissionerHometownParty
1Tara Reardon ConcordDemocratic
2Stuart Trachy FranklinRepublican
3David Lovlien Jr.PembrokeRepublican

In addition to the County Commission, there are five directly elected officials: they include County Attorney, Register of Deeds, County Sheriff, Register of Probate, and County Treasurer.[12]

OfficeName
County AttorneyPaul Halvorsen (R)
Register of DeedsErica Davis (D)
County SheriffDavid Croft (D)
Register of ProbateJane Bradstreet (D)
County TreasurerMary Heath (R)
[13]

Legislative branch

The legislative branch of Merrimack County is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county. In total, there are 45 members from 30 different districts.

AffiliationMembersVoting share
Democratic Partyalign=center 25align=center 56.5%
Republican Partyalign=center 20align=center 43.5%
Total45100%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Villages

Education

School districts include:[14]

K-12 districts:

Secondary districts:

Elementary districts:

Hooksett sends its high school students to Pinkerton Academy, a privately endowed publicly funded high school in Derry, Rockingham County.[15] Previously Hooksett sent high school students to the Manchester School District.[16]

See also

External links

43.3°N -71.68°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . August 15, 2023 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties.
  3. Web site: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries . July 19, 2023 . The Newberry Library, Dr. William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture.
  4. Web site: Merrimack County, New Hampshire Local History & Genealogy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222094347/http://home.att.net/~local_history/NH-Merrimack_Co.htm . December 22, 2008 . September 15, 2008.
  5. Web site: Centers of Population by State: 2010 . April 2, 2014 . United States Census Bureau.
  6. Web site: August 22, 2012 . 2010 Census Gazetteer Files . December 27, 2014 . United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website . January 31, 2008 . United States Census Bureau.
  8. Web site: DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data . dead . https://archive.today/20200213022340/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33013 . February 13, 2020 . January 12, 2016 . United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County . dead . https://archive.today/20200213185112/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US33013 . February 13, 2020 . January 12, 2016 . United States Census Bureau.
  10. Web site: DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates . dead . https://archive.today/20200213013202/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US33013 . February 13, 2020 . January 12, 2016 . United States Census Bureau.
  11. Web site: DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates . dead . https://archive.today/20200213023153/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US33013 . February 13, 2020 . January 12, 2016 . United States Census Bureau.
  12. Web site: Merrimack County Directory .
  13. Web site: November 8, 2022 . General Election Winners - 11/08/2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525000223/https://sos.nh.gov/media/l4odlvyb/general-election-winners.pdf . May 25, 2021 . November 11, 2022 . New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office.
  14. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Merrimack County, NH . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722160353/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33013_merrimack/DC20SD_C33013.pdf . July 22, 2022 . July 22, 2022 . United States Census Bureau. - Text list
  15. Web site: Sending towns . April 24, 2022 . Pinkerton Academy.
  16. News: Doyle . Megan . December 8, 2013 . Hooksett students could attend high school in Bow, Londonderry . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150827055443/http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/9678689-95/hooksett-students-could-attend-high-school-in-bow-londonderry . August 27, 2015 . November 10, 2015 . Concord Monitor.