Editing Bethlehem, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Bethlehem, New Hampshire
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Star of the White Mountains
|image_skyline            = Bethlehem NH Stevage.jpg
|image_seal               = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Main street of Bethlehem, spring 2009
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Grafton-Bethlehem-NH.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Grafton County, New Hampshire|Grafton County]], [[New Hampshire]]
|settlement_type          = Town
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|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        = [[Grafton County, New Hampshire|Grafton]]
|parts_type               = Villages
|parts                    = {{ubl|[[Bethlehem (CDP), New Hampshire|Bethlehem]]|Bethlehem&nbsp;Hollow|Maplewood|Pierce&nbsp;Bridge}}
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Select Board]]
|leader_name              = {{ubl|Mike Bruno, Chair|Nancy Strand|Veronica Morris|April Hibberd|Bruce Caplain}}
|leader_title1            = Town Administrator
|leader_name1             = Mary Moritz
|established_title        = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1799
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 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=November 19, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 235.6
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 234.7
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.9
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|area_water_percent       = 0.39
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3300905460&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref>
|population_total         = 2484
|population_density_km2   = 10.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|16|49|N|71|41|17|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m              = 435
|elevation_ft             = 1426
|website                  = {{URL|www.bethlehemnh.org}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 03574
|area_code                = [[Area code 603|603]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 33-05460
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0873546
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Bethlehem''' is a hillside town in [[Grafton County, New Hampshire|Grafton County]], [[New Hampshire]], United States. The population was 2,484 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/> It is home to Cushman and Strawberry Hill state forests. The eastern half of the town is within the [[White Mountain National Forest]]. The [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses a small portion of the town in the south.

The main village of the town, where 826 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as the [[Bethlehem (CDP), New Hampshire|Bethlehem census-designated place]] (CDP), and is located at the junction of [[U.S. Route 302]] with [[New Hampshire Route 142]]. The town also includes the villages of Maplewood and Pierce Bridge.

== History ==
[[Image:Bethlehem nh.jpg|left|thumb|Panoramic Map of Bethlehem in 1883]]

Granted as "Lloyd's Hills" in 1774 by [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial]] Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]], the town was named for James Lloyd of [[Boston]]. It was the last of the provincial grants in New Hampshire. In the aftermath of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], the original grant could not be found. Lack of documentation deterred settlement until 1787, when the first permanent houses were built. Dropping its homage to Lloyd, a [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]], the town was incorporated as "Bethlehem" on December 27, 1799, the name having been selected on [[Christmas]] Day. There were just 33 families, with [[agriculture]] the only industry.

By 1850, the population had grown to 950, and the town contained a [[gristmill]], five large [[sawmill]]s, and two [[starch]] factories. In 1867, the [[railroad]] came to Bethlehem Junction. With it traveled tourists from Boston, [[New York City|New York]] and elsewhere, many to avoid respiratory ailments in the low [[pollen]] count environment of "the highest town in New Hampshire" (as claimed on a present-day sign in the village). Others were attracted by the paintings of the [[White Mountain art]]ists. Conveniently located near [[Mount Washington]] and other attractions of the [[White Mountains (New Hampshire)|White Mountains]], Bethlehem developed into a [[Gilded Age]] resort for the rich and famous.

[[Image:Maplewood Hotel, Maplewood, NH.jpg|thumb|left|The Maplewood Hotel {{circa|1905}}]]
In 1873, at the beginning of a building boom, Governor [[Henry Howard (Rhode Island politician)|Henry Howard]] of [[Rhode Island]] built Howard House. Eventually, over 30 hotels would line Bethlehem's streets. Seven trains arrived daily, some direct from [[Grand Central Terminal]], stopping at Bethlehem's five depots. Patrons included Presidents [[Ulysses S. Grant|Grant]], [[Rutherford B. Hayes|Hayes]], [[Theodore Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], [[William Howard Taft|Taft]] and [[Warren G. Harding|Harding]], as well as author [[Thornton Burgess]] and poet [[Robert Frost]]. Entertainments included strolling Main Street on a two and a half mile raised [[boardwalk (entertainment district)|boardwalk]], [[carriage]] rides in the countryside, [[croquet]] games, or simply lounging about the hotels' sweeping [[piazza]]s.

On the hills and thoroughfares were built large summer "cottages", including that of the [[Frank Winfield Woolworth|Woolworth]] family. Beginning in 1887, an annual Coaching Parade was held, with prizes awarded for lavishly decorated horse-drawn carriages. Ornamentations cost as much as $5,000, prompting visitor [[Phineas T. Barnum]] to proclaim it "the ''Second'' Greatest Show on Earth."

But the rise of the [[automobile]] would bring the decline of grand hotels. Tourists could now explore regions beyond the limits of rail service. Beginning about 1916, [[American Jews|Jewish]] families began arriving in town, often seeking relief from [[hay fever]] symptoms. In fact, an organization named the Hebrew Hay Fever Relief Association, which was organized in the 1920s, existed in Bethlehem for many years.<ref>''The New Hampshire Atlas and Gazetteer''. (1988). Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping Company. See Map 44.</ref><ref name = landfill>[https://whitemtnews.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/the-bethlehem-landfill-controversy/ The Bethlehem Landfill Controversy WhiteMountainNews.com June 20, 2010]</ref> For a town in northern New Hampshire, contemporary Bethlehem has a sizeable Jewish community (and a number of [[synagogue]]s), a legacy of its hay-fever-relief experience.

It was at Bethlehem that the National Hay Fever Relief Association was founded. [[World War II]] gave the hotels a second life, as tourists avoided war-ravaged [[Europe]] and stayed closer to home. By the 1950s, however, hotel attendance had dwindled. Many would close and be demolished. Today, the town is known for its special Christmas postal cancellation stamp. Every year, people from all over the world send [[Christmas card]]s to the Bethlehem [[post office]] to have them postmarked. In 2000, it handled 56,000 Christmas cards.

Bethlehem has experienced a continuing controversy, beginning in the 1980s. Casella Waste Systems of [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland, Vermont]], through its subsidiary North Country Environmental Services, purchased the town dump and created a [[landfill]]. The company has made efforts to expand the landfill. Town residents have tried to terminate the landfill, but Casella has repeatedly challenged the residents in court.<ref name=landfill/>

<gallery>
Image:Railway Station, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|Railway Station {{circa|1905}}
Image:View of Main Street, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|Main Street in 1919
Image:Mount Agassiz, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|[[Mount Agassiz (New Hampshire)|Mount Agassiz]] in 1906
Image:Bethlehem, NH from Mount Agassiz.jpg|Bird's-eye view in 1909
Image:Horse Trolley, Bethlehem, NH.jpg
</gallery>

== Geography and climate ==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|235.6|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|234.7|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.9|sqkm|order=flip|1}} are water, comprising 0.39% of the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Bethlehem town, New Hampshire |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 10, 2011 }}</ref> Bethlehem is drained by the [[Ammonoosuc River|Ammonoosuc]], [[Gale River|Gale]], [[Zealand River|Zealand]] and [[Little River (Ammonoosuc River)|Little]] rivers, together with Tuttle, Baker and Haystack brooks. Mount Cleveland, elevation {{convert|2397|ft|m}}, and [[Mount Agassiz (New Hampshire)|Mount Agassiz]], {{convert|2378|ft|m|abbr=on}}, rise to the south of the center of town. Town boundaries contain several of the famous [[Four-thousand footers|4,000-footers]] of New Hampshire: [[North Twin Mountain (New Hampshire)|North Twin Mountain]] (the highest point in Bethlehem at {{convert|4761|ft|m|abbr=on}}), [[Mount Hale (New Hampshire)|Mount Hale]], [[Mount Tom (New Hampshire)|Mount Tom]], [[Mount Field (New Hampshire)|Mount Field]], and [[Mount Willey]]. Bethlehem lies almost fully within the [[Connecticut River]] [[Drainage basin|watershed]], though a tiny portion of the southeastern corner of the town is in the [[Merrimack River]] watershed, and an even smaller portion on the eastern side of the Willey Range is in the [[Saco River]] 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>

{{Weather box
|location = Bethlehem 2, NH (1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1893&ndash;1991)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F =  65	
|Feb record high F =  61
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 89
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 94	
|Jul record high F = 96
|Aug record high F = 95
|Sep record high F = 90
|Oct record high F = 85	
|Nov record high F =  75	
|Dec record high F =  62

|Jan high F =  27.8
|Feb high F =  30.4
|Mar high F =  39.7
|Apr high F =  53.4
|May high F =  67.4
|Jun high F = 75.7
|Jul high F = 80.2
|Aug high F = 78.8
|Sep high F = 71.7
|Oct high F =  58.2
|Nov high F =  44.7
|Dec high F =  33.1
|year high F=  

|Jan mean F = 15.6
|Feb mean F = 17.3
|Mar mean F = 27.1
|Apr mean F = 40.4
|May mean F = 53.2
|Jun mean F = 61.8
|Jul mean F = 66.4
|Aug mean F = 64.5
|Sep mean F = 56.8
|Oct mean F = 45.3
|Nov mean F = 34.1
|Dec mean F = 22.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 3.4
|Feb low F = 4.1
|Mar low F = 14.4
|Apr low F = 27.3
|May low F = 39.0
|Jun low F = 47.9
|Jul low F = 52.7
|Aug low F = 50.2
|Sep low F = 42.0
|Oct low F = 32.4
|Nov low F = 23.5
|Dec low F = 11.6
|year low F= 

|Jan record low F = -36
|Feb record low F = -34	
|Mar record low F = -22	
|Apr record low F = -4	
|May record low F = 20	
|Jun record low F = 28	
|Jul record low F = 36
|Aug record low F = 33	
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 8
|Nov record low F = -9	
|Dec record low F = -34	
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.59
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.04
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.56
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.15
|May precipitation inch = 3.69
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.24
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.63
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.16
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.58
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.97
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.04
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.34
|year precipitation inch= 40.99
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 16.0
|Feb precipitation days = 12.1
|Mar precipitation days = 13.8
|Apr precipitation days = 12.6
|May precipitation days = 15.5
|Jun precipitation days = 16.6
|Jul precipitation days = 14.7
|Aug precipitation days = 13.0
|Sep precipitation days = 11.4
|Oct precipitation days = 14.1
|Nov precipitation days = 13.5
|Dec precipitation days = 15.7
|year precipitation days=169.0
|Jan snow inch = 21.3
|Feb snow inch = 21.5
|Mar snow inch = 16.7
|Apr snow inch = 5.4
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 0
|Oct snow inch = 1.6
|Nov snow inch = 7.1
|Dec snow inch = 26.9
|year snow inch = 100.9
|unit snow days = 0.01 in
|Jan snow days = 12.8
|Feb snow days = 9.8
|Mar snow days = 8.4
|Apr snow days = 3.0
|May snow days = 0.2
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.9
|Nov snow days = 4.8
|Dec snow days = 11.1
|year snow days = 51.0

|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00270706&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL | publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Station Name: BETHLEHEM 2, NH US |access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> / Western Regional Climate Center <ref name="BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE">{{cite web | author=WRCC | title=Period of Record General Climate Summary - Temperature  | url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nh0703 | publisher=WRCC | access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==

{{US Census population
|1800= 171
|1810= 422
|1820= 467
|1830= 665
|1840= 779
|1850= 950
|1860= 896
|1870= 998
|1880= 1400
|1890= 1267
|1900= 1261
|1910= 1201
|1920= 866
|1930= 872
|1940= 935
|1950= 882
|1960= 898
|1970= 1142
|1980= 1784
|1990= 2033
|2000= 2199
|2010= 2526
|2020= 2484
|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>
}}
[[Image:Church & Main Street, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|thumb|left|Main Street in 1907]]
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 2,526 people, 1,103 households, and 698 families residing in the town. There were 1,517 housing units, of which 414, or 27.3%, were vacant. 305 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% [[White Americans|white]], 0.1% [[African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans of the United States|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asia]]n, 0.04% [[Native Hawaiian]] or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.7% 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/SF1DP1/0600000US3300905460| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 27, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213235947/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3300905460| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 1,103 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27, and the average family size was 2.77.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>
[[Image:The Colonial Theatre, Bethlehem, NH.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Colonial Theatre (Bethlehem, New Hampshire)|Colonial Theatre]] {{circa|1920}}]]
In the town, 20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $49,329, and the median income for a family was $56,458. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,447 versus $41,563 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,853. 19.7% of the population and 15.1% of families were below the poverty line. 29.7% of the population under the age of 18 and 12.0% 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/DP03/0600000US3300905460| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=October 27, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213160150/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US3300905460| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Sites of interest ==

* Bethlehem Heritage Society Museum
* The [[Colonial Theatre (Bethlehem, New Hampshire)|Colonial Theatre]]
* The Rocks Estate

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==

* Kathleen C. Beales, ''Early Families of Bethlehem, New Hampshire.'' Bradford, NH: K.C. Beals, 2009.
* Bethlehem Heritage Society, ''A Guide to the Mt. Washington Cemetery: Bethlehem, New Hampshire, 1795–1933.'' Bethlehem, NH: Bethlehem Heritage Society, 2010.
* Simeon Bolles, ''The Early History of the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire.'' Woodsville, NH: Enterprise Printing House, 1883.
* Priscilla Hammond, ''Vital Records of Bethlehem, New Hampshire: Compiled from the Town's Original Record Books, 1791–1838.'' Concord, NH: P. Hammond, 1937.
* John D. Mangan, ''Inventory of the Records of the Town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire, 1845–1975.'' Plymouth, NH: Plymouth State College, 1976.
* Hattie Whitcomb Taylor, ''Early History of the Town of Bethlehem, NH.'' Bethlehem, NH: Hattie W. Taylor, 1960.
* Elizabeth Anne Ward, ''Bethlehem.'' Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2000.
* Henry Victor Wilcox, ''The History of the Development of Public Education in Bethlehem, New Hampshire.'' Masters thesis. University of Maine, 1949.
* Gregory C. Wilson and Mike Dickerman, ''Bethlehem, New Hampshire: A Bicentennial History.'' Littleton, NH: Bondcliff Books, 1999.

== External links ==
{{portal|New Hampshire}}
{{Commons category|Bethlehem, New Hampshire}}
* {{Official website|www.bethlehemnh.org}}
* [http://www.bethlehemwhitemtns.com Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/bethlehem.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Bethlehem
 | North     = [[Dalton, New Hampshire|Dalton]] and [[Whitefield, New Hampshire|Whitefield]]
 | Northeast = [[Carroll, New Hampshire|Carroll]]
 | East      = [[Carroll, New Hampshire|Carroll]]
 | Southeast = [[Lincoln, New Hampshire|Lincoln]] and [[Hart's Location, New Hampshire|Hart's Location]]
 | South     = [[Franconia, New Hampshire|Franconia]]
 | Southwest = [[Sugar Hill, New Hampshire|Sugar Hill]]
 | West      = [[Lisbon, New Hampshire|Lisbon]]
 | Northwest = [[Littleton, New Hampshire|Littleton]]
}}

{{Grafton County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bethlehem, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Grafton County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]