Plaistow, New Hampshire
Plaistow, New Hampshire | ||
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FIPS code 33-62500 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0873701 | |
Website | www |
Plaistow (/ˈplæstaʊ/, traditionally /-toʊ/) is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,830 at the 2020 census.[2]
History
Plaistow was officially established as a town in 1749 after the 1739 resolution of a long-running boundary dispute between the Province of Massachusetts Bay and the Province of New Hampshire.[3] It is the only town outside the United Kingdom with the name Plaistow. In 1776 the western part of Plaistow became a separate town, Atkinson.
The present town hall was built in 1895. Each year, the town celebrates "Old Home Day", with a parade that travels down Main Street through Plaistow village, fireworks at the local high school, and a carnival-type atmosphere on the Town Hall lawn to celebrate the town's anniversary.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.60 square miles (27.45 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.06%, are water.[1] The highest point in Plaistow is an unnamed summit at 384 feet (117 m) above sea level near the town's northern end. The town is drained by the Little River, a south-flowing tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts.
Adjacent municipalities
- Kingston (north)
- Newton (northeast)
- Merrimac, Massachusetts (east at one point)
- Haverhill, Massachusetts (south)
- Atkinson (west)
- Hampstead (northwest)
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 521 | — | |
1800 | 459 | −11.9% | |
1810 | 424 | −7.6% | |
1820 | 492 | 16.0% | |
1830 | 591 | 20.1% | |
1840 | 626 | 5.9% | |
1850 | 748 | 19.5% | |
1860 | 861 | 15.1% | |
1870 | 879 | 2.1% | |
1880 | 1,062 | 20.8% | |
1890 | 1,085 | 2.2% | |
1900 | 1,027 | −5.3% | |
1910 | 1,173 | 14.2% | |
1920 | 1,368 | 16.6% | |
1930 | 1,366 | −0.1% | |
1940 | 1,414 | 3.5% | |
1950 | 2,082 | 47.2% | |
1960 | 2,915 | 40.0% | |
1970 | 4,712 | 61.6% | |
1980 | 5,609 | 19.0% | |
1990 | 7,316 | 30.4% | |
2000 | 7,747 | 5.9% | |
2010 | 7,609 | −1.8% | |
2020 | 7,830 | 2.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[4] |
As of the
There were 2,871 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,707, and the median income for a family was $66,852. Males had a median income of $45,756 versus $31,657 for females. The
Education
Plaistow is home to
Timberlane Regional High School has had noticeable success in music, theatrical performance, wrestling, and softball.[
Economy and transportation
Plaistow's economy is centered along New Hampshire Route 125 (Plaistow Road), a north–south road that connects the town with Haverhill, Massachusetts, to the south and Kingston, Epping, and Rochester, New Hampshire, to the north. Local businesses and numerous large chain stores are located along Route 125, which has become known for problems with heavy traffic during weekday commuting and weekend shopping hours. Route 125 intersects with Interstate 495 in Massachusetts 2 miles (3 km) south of the center of Plaistow.
Pan Am Railways (formerly the Boston and Maine Railroad) operates the main railroad line from Boston to Portland, Maine, which is utilized by Amtrak and by freight trains, running through Plaistow. Passenger stations for the Amtrak Downeaster are available in Haverhill to the south and Exeter to the north. A proposal to extend existing MBTA commuter rail service from Boston through Haverhill into Plaistow concluded in 2015 with the decision not to extend the route at this time.[6]
Notable people
- Daniel Peaslee (1773–1827), Vermont legislator, judge, member of the governor's executive council[7]
- Thomas Toth, Canadian runner[8]
References
- ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Plaistow town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "History". Plaistow Master Plan (PDF). Plaistow, New Hampshire. 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Plaistow Rail Study | Rail and Transit | NH Department of Transportation". www.nh.gov. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- Walton, E. P. (1878). Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont. Vol. VI. Montpelier, VT: J. & J. M. Poland. p. 142.
- ^ "There's a new name (that you've never heard of) in Canadian running - Canadian Running Magazine". Runningmagazine.ca. Retrieved April 28, 2017.