Editing Brookline, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Brookline, New Hampshire
| native_name             =
| native_name_lang        = en<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type         = Town
| image_skyline           = Main Street, Brookline NH.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Main Street in Brookline
| image_flag              =
| flag_alt                =
| image_seal              = Brookline Town Seal.png
| seal_alt                =
| image_shield            =
| shield_alt              =
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = Hillsborough-Brookline-NH.png
| mapsize                 = 250px
| map_caption             = Location in [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough County]], [[New Hampshire]]
| map_alt                 =
| pushpin_map             =
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_map_alt         =
| pushpin_map_caption     =
| coordinates             = {{coord|42|44|01|N|71|39|49|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           =
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| 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       = [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough]]
| parts_type              = Villages
| parts                   = {{ubl|Brookline|North&nbsp;Brookline|South&nbsp;Brookline}}
| established_title       = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
| established_date        = 1769
| founder                 =
| seat_type               =
| seat                    =
| government_footnotes    =
| leader_party            =
| leader_title            = [[Selectboard]]
| leader_name             = {{ubl|Eddie Arnold, Chair|Brian Rater|Brendan Denehy|Steve Russo|Ed Perry}}
| leader_title1           = [[City manager|Town Administrator]]
| leader_name1            = Paul Branscombe
| unit_pref               = 
| 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=December 6, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 52.3
| area_total_sq_mi        = 
| area_land_km2           = 51.4
| area_land_sq_mi         = 
| area_water_km2          = 0.9
| area_water_sq_mi        = 
| area_water_percent      = 1.79
| elevation_footnotes     =
| elevation_m             = 78
| elevation_ft            = 256
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3301108100&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Brookline town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>
| population_total        = 5639
| population_as_of        = 2020
| population_density_km2  = 109.8
| population_demonym      =
| timezone1               = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset1             = -5
| timezone1_DST           = [[Eastern Daylight Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = -4
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code             = 03033
| area_code_type          =
| area_code               = [[Area code 603|603]]
| iso_code                =
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info_sec1         = 33-08100
| blank1_name_sec1        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec1        = 0873554
| blank2_name_sec1        =
| blank2_info_sec1        = <!-- etc., up to blank7_name_sec1 / blank7_info_sec1 -->
| website                 = {{URL|brooklinenh.gov}}
| footnotes               =
}}
'''Brookline''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough County]], [[New Hampshire]], United States. The population was 5,639 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 4,991 at the 2010 census.<ref>United States Census Bureau, [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.</ref> Brookline is home to the Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary, [[Potanipo Pond]], and the Brookline Covered Bridge.

==History==
[[Image:Railroad Station, Brookline, NH.jpg|thumb|left|[[Boston & Maine Railroad]] station in 1907]]
First a part of [[Dunstable, Massachusetts]], then settled as [[Hollis, New Hampshire|West Hollis, New Hampshire]], the town was granted in 1769 as "Raby". Colonial [[Governor of New Hampshire|Governor]] [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]] named it after his cousin, the 4th [[Earl of Strafford]] and Baron of [[Raby Castle]].

The town was renamed in 1798 at the suggestion of a leading citizen in town originally from [[Brookline, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=18827|title=Profile for Brookline, New Hampshire, NH|publisher=ePodunk|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> By 1859, when the population was 718, there were eight [[sawmill]]s and one [[gristmill]], as well as a [[window sash|sash]] and [[window shutter|blind]] shop. In the earlier days of the town, Brookline was known throughout southern New Hampshire for producing [[lumber]], [[charcoal]] and [[cask]]s.<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book| last = Coolidge| first = Austin J.| author2=John B. Mansfield| title = A History and Description of New England| year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n468 430]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.| publisher = A.J. Coolidge| isbn = 1-4369-8768-7}}</ref> The [[Boston and Maine Railroad]] eventually branched into Brookline in 1892. The train station that served Brookline during the railroad's tenure in the town has since been renovated into a private residential home.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/News/Brookline?info=1 |title=Brookline - NashuaTelegraph.com |website=www.nashuatelegraph.com |access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> A large fraction of the area that was once railroad track is now [[New Hampshire Route 13]].

The town received national attention in 1997, when people participating in the traditional ringing of the [[Congregational church]] bell at midnight on the [[Fourth of July]] were arrested. Several prominent members of the community were among those arrested, including Road Agent Clarence Farwell and his wife. The incident led to an investigation of the Brookline police department after questions of excessive force were raised following the arrests.<ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |title= Fireworks of Sorts Afflict a New Hampshire Town |date=July 8, 1997 |access-date=September 23, 2007 |periodical=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EEDE1439F93BA35754C0A961958260 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|52.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|51.4|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.9|sqkm|order=flip}} are water, comprising 1.79% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The town's highest point is the western summit of Birch Hill, at {{convert|810|ft|m}} above [[sea level]]. [[Potanipo Hill]] is a {{convert|613|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} summit southwest of the town center that once was the site of a ski area from 1935 to 1984, and now is home to [[Andres Institute of Art]].

Brookline is drained by the [[Nissitissit River]] and Spaulding Brook. The {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} Nissitissit is known for its abundance of [[trout]]. The Nissitissit begins at the outlet of [[Potanipo Pond]], {{convert|1/2|mi|1}} west of the town center, and flows southeast to join the [[Nashua River]] in [[Pepperell, Massachusetts]]. Via the Nashua River, Brookline lies fully within the [[Merrimack River]] [[Drainage basin|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 crossed by [[New Hampshire Route 13]] and [[New Hampshire Route 130]]. It is about {{convert|12|mi}} west of [[Nashua, New Hampshire|Nashua]] and approximately {{convert|50|mi}} northwest of [[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]].

=== Adjacent municipalities ===
* [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]] (north)
* [[Hollis, New Hampshire|Hollis]] (east)
* [[Pepperell, Massachusetts]] (southeast)
* [[Townsend, Massachusetts]] (south)
* [[Mason, New Hampshire|Mason]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 338
|1800= 454
|1810= 538
|1820= 592
|1830= 627
|1840= 652
|1850= 718
|1860= 756
|1870= 741
|1880= 698
|1890= 548
|1900= 505
|1910= 501
|1920= 546
|1930= 511
|1940= 561
|1950= 671
|1960= 795
|1970= 1167
|1980= 1766
|1990= 2410
|2000= 4181
|2010= 4991
|2020= 5639
|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]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,181 people, 1,343 households, and 1,146 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|211.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,384 housing units at an average density of {{convert|70.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.62% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 1,343 households, out of which 51.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $77,075, and the median income for a family was $80,214. Males had a median income of $55,417 versus $32,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $29,272.  About 0.9% of families and 0.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Brookline is home to a thriving K–6 grade school system. Richard Maghakian Memorial School, an elementary school for grades K–3, and Captain Samuel Douglass Academy, which caters to children in grades 4–6, strive to provide a traditional education for its students focusing on STEM and the Arts to provide solidly based education.

Brookline is part of a cooperative school district with the neighboring town of [[Hollis, New Hampshire|Hollis]], sharing a middle and high school.

== Economic development ==
The Brookline selectboard chartered the town's Economic Development Committee (EDC) to "promote balanced, long-term economic development, which reflects and enhances the character of the community." The EDC publishes a newsletter three or four times a year to promote local businesses.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.brooklinenh.us/economic-development-committee | title=Economic Development Committee &#124; Brookline NH }}</ref>

==Community events==
Two major community events take place in Brookline: the winter Chowder/Soup/Chili Cook-Off and the early-fall Bridal Show. Hundreds of New England residents have attended these two events.

== Town newspapers ==
Local news is provided online by:
* the ''Hollis Brookline News''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hollisbrooklinenews.org/| title=Hollis Brookline News| work=Hollis Brookline News| publisher=Hollis-Brookline Rotary Club| access-date=April 27, 2025}}</ref>
* the ''Hollis Brookline Journal''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cabinet.com/hollis-brookline-journal/| title=News| work=Hollis Brookline Journal| publisher=The Cabinet Press| access-date=September 10, 2021}}</ref>

==Churches==
[[File:Brookline Community Church, Brookline, NH.jpg|thumb|right|Brookline Community Church in 1906]]
In 1951, the Church of Christ was formed by the unification of the [[Congregational]] (established 1795) and [[Methodist]] (est. 1852) churches of Brookline; this unification was spearheaded by [[Betty Hall (politician)|Betty Hall]], then a local businesswoman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2014 |title=Betty Hall honored at Brookline Community Church service |url=https://www.cabinet.com/news/hb-news/2014/07/11/betty-hall-honored-at-brookline-community-church-service/ |access-date=August 8, 2022 |website=The Cabinet Press |language=en-US}}</ref> It was renamed the Brookline Community Church in 2005 and is affiliated with both the [[United Church of Christ|UCC]] and [[United Methodist Church|UMC]] conferences.

==Sites of interest==
* [[Andres Institute of Art]]
* [[Brookline Covered Bridge]]
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (251–275)#271|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 271: Fresh Pond Ice Company]]
* [[Potanipo Hill]]

==References==
{{portal|New Hampshire}}
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.brooklinenh.us}}
* [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/brookline.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [https://brooklinehistory.org/ Brookline Historical Society]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/nh/brookline-nh.htm ''History of Brookline, New Hampshire''] (1885)

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Brookline
 | North = [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]]
 | Northeast = [[Milford, New Hampshire|Milford]]
 | East = [[Hollis, New Hampshire|Hollis]]
 | Southeast = [[Pepperell, Massachusetts]]
 | South = [[Townsend, Massachusetts]]
 | Southwest = [[Townsend, Massachusetts]]
 | West = [[Mason, New Hampshire|Mason]]
 | Northwest = [[Mason, New Hampshire|Mason]]
}}

{{Hillsborough County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Brookline, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]