Editing Merrimack, New Hampshire (section)

== Geography ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Souhegan_River_Merrimack_NH.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Souhegan River]] in Wildcat Falls Conservation Area]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|86.6|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|84.4|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|2.2|sqkm|order=flip}} are water, comprising 2.55% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The highest point in Merrimack is an unnamed hill in the northwestern part of town that reaches {{convert|512|ft|m}} above [[sea level]].

=== Adjacent municipalities ===
* [[Bedford, New Hampshire]] (north)
* [[Manchester, New Hampshire]] (northeast)
* [[Litchfield, New Hampshire]] (east)
* [[Nashua, New Hampshire]] (south)
* [[Hollis, New Hampshire]] (southwest)
* [[Amherst, New Hampshire]] (west)

=== Areas of Merrimack ===
Shadows of the former villages that now make Merrimack still exist. However, the boundaries and exact definitions are unclear due to the expansion of suburban development in the town during the latter half of the 20th century.

==== Thorntons Ferry ====
The area of town near Naticook Lake and Continental Boulevard, its name comes from [[Matthew Thornton]], one of the signers of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] who lived in Merrimack and is now buried in [[Signer's House and Matthew Thornton Cemetery|a cemetery]] near the intersection of [[Daniel Webster Highway]] ([[U.S. Route 3]]) and Greeley Street. Thorntons Ferry Elementary School is located on Camp Sargent Road.

==== Reeds Ferry ====
The northern portion of the town, [[Reeds Ferry, New Hampshire|Reeds Ferry]] is centered on the current intersection of Bedford Road and Daniel Webster Highway. The boundaries of the area are unclear, as the northwestern part of town near [[Baboosic Lake]] is not traditionally considered a portion of Reeds Ferry. While as a defined village it was located mostly near the [[Merrimack River]], the area near Baboosic Lake may now possibly be seen as part of Reeds Ferry. Reeds Ferry Elementary School is located on Lyons Road.

==== South Merrimack ====
Centered on Pennichuck Square on [[New Hampshire Route 101A|Rte. 101A]] and Continental Boulevard, South Merrimack is usually considered to be the southwestern part of town near Rte. 101A and Boston Post Road. However, the southeastern portion of town near Harris Pond might also be considered part of South Merrimack or Thornton's Ferry.

==== Merrimack Village ====
The center of town is not known as "Merrimack Village" per se, but constitutes the area between the more defined Reeds Ferry and Thorntons Ferry areas. Largely considered to be located at the Public Library on the corner of Baboosic Lake Road and [[Daniel Webster Highway]], Merrimack Village was built along the [[Souhegan River]] that roughly cuts the current town in half. The elementary school in this part of town is named after James Mastricola,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merrimack.k12.nh.us/mes/history.htm |title=A History of James Mastricola Elementary School |publisher=Mastricola Elementary School |access-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930075918/http://www.merrimack.k12.nh.us/mes/history.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who deeded the land to the town upon his death. One of the three elementary schools, the upper elementary school, Merrimack High School, the library, and the current town hall, among other buildings, are all located on the land formerly owned by Mastricola.

The "village" is considered to extend westward to the [[Amherst, New Hampshire|Amherst]] border. This is due in large part to the former Town Meetinghouse, which was located on the corner of Turkey Hill Road and Meetinghouse Road.