Editing Alton, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alton, New Hampshire
|official_name            = 
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =
|image_skyline            = Monument Square Alton.jpg 
|image_seal               = Alton, NH Town Seal.png
|imagesize                =
|image_caption            = Monument Square in the center of Alton
|image_flag               =
|image_map                = Belknap-Alton-NH.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap County]], [[New Hampshire]]
|image_map1               =
|mapsize1                 =
|map_caption1             =
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New Hampshire]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Hampshire|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap]]
|parts_type               = Villages
|parts                    = {{ubl|[[Alton (CDP), New Hampshire|Alton]]|[[Alton Bay]]}}
|government_type          =
|leader_title             = [[Board of selectmen|Board of Selectmen]]
|leader_name              = {{ubl|Paul&nbsp;E.&nbsp;LaRochelle,&nbsp;Chair|Drew Carter|Andrew Morse|Richard Shea|Nicholas Buonopane III}}
|leader_title1            = Town Administrator
|leader_name1             = Ryan Heath
|established_title        = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = [[:Category:1796 establishments|1796]]
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_cousubs_33.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 215.4
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 165.0
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 50.5
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|area_water_percent       = 23.42
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3300101060&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Alton town, Belknap County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>
|population_total         = 5894
|population_density_km2   = 35.7
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = &minus;4
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|27|15|N|71|13|11|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m              = 171
|elevation_ft             = 560
|website                  = {{URL|www.alton.nh.gov}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 03809 (Alton)<br>03810 ([[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 603|603]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 33-01060
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0873530
|footnotes                =
}}
'''Alton''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap County]], [[New Hampshire]], United States.  The population was 5,894 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 5,250 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3300101060| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alton town, Belknap County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 13, 2013| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212154246/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3300101060| archive-date=February 12, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is home to Alton Bay State Forest and [[Mount Major]] State Forest.

The primary settlement in town, where 499 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the [[Alton (CDP), New Hampshire|Alton]] [[census-designated place]] (CDP) and is centered on the intersection of [[New Hampshire Route 11]] and [[New Hampshire Route 140]]. The town also includes the village of [[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]], a long-time resort located beside [[Lake Winnipesaukee]].

==History==
Originally called "New Durham Gore"<ref>[http://gedcomindex.com/Reference/Haywards/frame027.html Hayward's New England Gazetteer (1839)]</ref> because of rocky upland areas, or "gores", the town was settled in 1770, mainly by farmers because the highland areas provided less [[frost]]. Merchants then filled the lowlands. Early Alton history recounts stories of the merchants trying to convince the farmers to incorporate. They would succeed on January 15, 1796,<ref name="gedcomindex.com">[http://gedcomindex.com/Reference/New_Hampshire_1875/052.html Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire (1875)]</ref> when the community was named after [[Alton, Hampshire|Alton]], a small market town in [[Hampshire]], England.<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book| last = Coolidge| first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield| title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge| year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n447 409]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.}}</ref>

Alton was part of Strafford County until Belknap County was erected on December 22, 1840.<ref>[http://gedcomindex.com/Reference/New_Hampshire_1875/385.html Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire (1875)]</ref> By 1840, the village of Alton existed at the town's center. In 1847, the [[Boston & Maine Railroad|Cochecho Railroad]] began bringing passengers and freight to Alton Village and Alton Bay. By 1859, the town had two [[gristmill]]s, seven [[sawmill]]s, and five [[shoemaking|shoe]] factories.<ref name="Coolidge"/> But the most famous business was the Rockwell Clough Company, established by William Rockwell Clough, inventor of the [[corkscrew (tool)|corkscrew]]. By 1903, his company was producing 30 million corkscrews worldwide.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NcRYAAAAMAAJ&dq=Rockwell%20Clough%20Company&pg=PA211-IA2 A. Chester Clark, "The Rockwell Clough Company;" The Granite State Monthly, Volume 41, 1909]</ref>

Since the mid-19th century, however, tourism has been the principal business. In 1863, an [[Adventism|Adventist]] group held a [[camp meeting]] at [[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]], which was the terminus of the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad.<ref name="gedcomindex.com"/> That was incorporated as the Alton Bay Camp Meeting Association (now known as ''Alton Bay Christian Conference Center'') in 1876.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://altonbay.org/our-ministries/history|title=History of Alton Bay Christian Conference Center in NH|website=altonbay.org|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> In 1872, the [[Boston & Maine Railroad]] launched at Alton Bay the [[steamship|steamer]] ''Mount Washington'', the first side-wheeler and largest vessel on Lake Winnipesaukee. When destroyed by fire in 1939, a replacement ship was found, also christened ''Mount Washington''. Today, it continues to carry summer tourists between stops on the lake. The railway survived until 1935, and the old station at Alton Bay is now a community center.<ref>[http://www.lwhs.us/steam-mtwashhistory.htm The MS ''Mount Washington'', a History -- Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|215.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|165.0|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|50.5|sqkm|order=flip}} are water, comprising 23.4% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> Alton is located at the southern end of [[Lake Winnipesaukee]], around the {{convert|4|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} inlet known as Alton Bay. The village of [[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]] is located at the southern tip of the bay, while the main village of [[Alton (CDP), New Hampshire|Alton]] is located {{convert|1|mi}} farther south. The town is drained by the [[Merrymeeting River]], the main inlet to Alton Bay. [[Mount Major]], in Mount Major State Forest, has an elevation of {{convert|1780|ft|m}} above [[sea level]].  Popular with hikers, the summit offers unsurpassed views of Lake Winnipesaukee. The highest point in Alton is the north peak of Straightback Mountain, at {{convert|1910|ft|m|abbr=on}}, just west of Mount Major. Both mountains are part of the [[Belknap Mountains]] range. Alton lies almost fully within the [[Merrimack River]] [[Drainage basin|watershed]], though a tiny corner is in the [[Piscataqua River]] (coastal) watershed.<ref name=watershed>{{cite book |title=Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers |url=http://nh.water.usgs.gov/Publications/nh.intro.html |last=Foster |first=Debra H. |author2=Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.|author3= Medalie, Laura |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey |year=1995}}</ref>

The town is served by five state highways. [[New Hampshire Route 11]] passes through the center of town, leading northwest along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee to [[Gilford, New Hampshire|Gilford]] and thence to [[Laconia, New Hampshire|Laconia]], and southeast to [[Rochester, New Hampshire|Rochester]]. [[New Hampshire Route 28]] also passes through the center of town, leading north to [[Wolfeboro, New Hampshire|Wolfeboro]] and south to [[Pittsfield, New Hampshire|Pittsfield]] and [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]]. [[New Hampshire Route 140]] leads from Alton west to [[Gilmanton, New Hampshire|Gilmanton]] and [[Tilton, New Hampshire|Tilton]]. [[New Hampshire Route 11A]] leaves NH 11 in West Alton and goes west into Gilford, and [[New Hampshire Route 28A]] forms an alternate route north from [[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]] to NH 28.

=== Adjacent municipalities ===
* [[Wolfeboro, New Hampshire|Wolfeboro]] (north)
* [[New Durham, New Hampshire|New Durham]] (east)
* [[Barnstead, New Hampshire|Barnstead]] (south)
* [[Gilmanton, New Hampshire|Gilmanton]] (southeast)
* [[Gilford, New Hampshire|Gilford]] (west)
* [[Tuftonboro, New Hampshire|Tuftonboro]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 445
|1800= 721
|1810= 1279
|1820= 2058
|1830= 1993
|1840= 2002
|1850= 1795
|1860= 2018
|1870= 1768
|1880= 1476
|1890= 1372
|1900= 1500
|1910= 1348
|1920= 1221
|1930= 1261
|1940= 1209
|1950= 1189
|1960= 1241
|1970= 1647
|1980= 2440
|1990= 3286
|2000= 4502
|2010= 5250
|2020= 5894
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="Census 2020"/><ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2016 }}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 5,250 people, 2,145 households, and 1,511 families residing in the town. There were 4,281 housing units, of which 2,136, or 49.9%, were vacant. 1,928 of the vacant units were for seasonal use. The racial makeup of the town was 98.4% [[White Americans|white]], 0.1% [[African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans of the United States|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asia]]n, 0.04% [[Native Hawaiian]] or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race.<ref name="Census 2010 DP">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3300101060| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Alton town, Belknap County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 24, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214000211/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3300101060| archive-date=February 14, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 2,145 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 2.87.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

In the town, 21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% were from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 34.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $66,823, and the median income for a family was $85,556. Male full-time workers had a median income of $46,223 versus $42,448 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $29,693. 6.9% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the poverty line. 1.6% of the population under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US3300101060| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Alton town, Belknap County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 24, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213154755/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US3300101060| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Town Hall, Alton NH.jpg|thumb|Alton Town Hall]]
In the [[New Hampshire Senate]], Alton is in the 6th District, represented by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[James P. Gray (New Hampshire politician)|James Gray]]. In the [[New Hampshire House of Representatives]], Alton is in the Belknap 5th district, represented by Republicans Paul Terry and [[Peter Varney (politician)|Peter Varney]]. On the [[Executive Council of New Hampshire]], Alton is in the 1st District, represented by Republican [[Joseph Kenney]]. In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Alton is in [[New Hampshire's 1st congressional district]], represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Chris Pappas (American politician)|Chris Pappas]].

Alton is served by a full-time police department and a combination full-time and on-call fire/rescue department which also provides ambulance services for the town.

==Sites of interest==
* Alton Historical Society & Museum<ref>[http://www.altonhistoricalsociety.org/ Alton Historical Society<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* Harold S. Gilman Museum<ref>[http://www.alton.nh.gov/museum.asp Welcome to Alton, New Hampshire - Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112181840/http://www.alton.nh.gov/museum.asp |date=January 12, 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Alton Bay, New Hampshire|Alton Bay]], with an arcade, mini-golf, ice cream shop, multiple areas to eat, a marina, and other attractions
** [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (151–175)#164|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 164]]: Alton Bay Transportation Center
** [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (276–300)#288|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 288]]: The Alton Bay Water Bandstand

==Historic photos==
<gallery class="center">
Image:Steamboat Landing, Alton Bay, NH.jpg|Steamer landing in 1905
Image:View of Advent Grove, Alton Bay, NH.jpg|Advent Grove in 1910
Image:Boarding & Dining Buildings, Alton Bay Camp Grounds.jpg|Boarding house in 1907
Image:Alton Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, Alton Bay, NH.jpg|Alton Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee in 1905
</gallery>

== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Alton, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->
* [[Joel Bean]] (1825–1914), founder of [[Beanite Quakerism]]
* [[George Franklin Drew]] (1827–1900), 12th [[List of Governors of Florida|governor of Florida]]
* [[James B. French]] (1857–1932), member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]
* [[Florence Holway]] (1915–2012), rape victim, subject of a 2003 HBO documentary
* [[Steve Leach]] (born 1966), right wing with seven [[National Hockey League|NHL]] teams<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/stephen-leach-8448764|title=Stephen Leach Stats and News|website=NHL.com|language=en-US|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Don Sweeney]] (born 1966), defenseman with the [[Boston Bruins]] and [[Dallas Stars]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5276|title=Don Sweeney hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com|website=www.hockeydb.com|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> and general manager of Boston since 2015

==References==
{{portal|New Hampshire}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.alton.nh.gov}}
* [http://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/alton.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [https://gilmanlibrary.org/ Gilman Library], the town library

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Alton
 | North = [[Tuftonboro, New Hampshire|Tuftonboro]]
 | Northeast = [[Wolfeboro, New Hampshire|Wolfeboro]]
 | East = [[New Durham, New Hampshire|New Durham]]
 | Southeast = [[Farmington, New Hampshire|Farmington]]<br>[[Strafford, New Hampshire|Strafford]]
 | South = [[Barnstead, New Hampshire|Barnstead]]
 | Southwest = [[Gilmanton, New Hampshire|Gilmanton]]
 | West = [[Gilford, New Hampshire|Gilford]]
 | Northwest = [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]]
}}

{{Belknap County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Alton, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Belknap County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1796]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Winnipesaukee]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:1796 establishments in New Hampshire]]