Editing Center Harbor, New Hampshire

{{redirect-distinguish|Center Harbor|Harbor Centre (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Center Harbor, New Hampshire
|nickname                 =
|motto                    = Winter Home of the M/S Mt. Washington
|image_skyline            = R6E Kona Fountain wide.jpg
|imagesize                = 200px
|image_caption            = Kona Fountain in the center of town, 2007
|image_seal               = Center Harbor Town Seal.png
|image_flag               =
|image_map                = Belknap-Center-Harbor-NH.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Belknap 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        = [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap]]
|government_type          =
|leader_title             = [[Board of selectmen|Board of Selectmen]]
|leader_name              = {{ubl|Harry Viens, Chair|William Ricciardi|Richard Drenkhahn}}
|established_title        = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1797
|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           = 42.1
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 34.4
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 7.7
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|area_water_percent       = 18.3
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3300110660&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Center Harbor 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         = 1040
|population_density_km2   = 30.3
|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|43|42|29|N|71|27|49|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m              = 169
|elevation_ft             = 553
|website                  = {{URL|www.centerharbornh.org}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 03226
|area_code                = [[Area code 603|603]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 33-10660
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0873561
|footnotes                =
}}
'''Center Harbor''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap County]], [[New Hampshire]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town had a population of 1,040.<ref name="Census 2020"/> It is situated between [[Lake Winnipesaukee]] and [[Squam Lake]].

== History ==

Center Harbor separated from the town of [[New Hampton, New Hampshire|New Hampton]] and was first incorporated in 1797. The town name is derived from two sources: its location, centered between [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]] and [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]] harbors, as well as from the Senter family, who were owners of a large amount of property in the area. The town was a landing place for lake [[Steamship|steamers]] and [[stagecoach]]es, making it a popular summer resort. Center Harbor was a favorite spot of [[John Greenleaf Whittier]], and the home of Dudley Leavitt, author of the first ''[[Farmers' Almanac]]'' in 1797.<ref name=historicalsociety>{{cite web |url=http://www.lwhs.us/centerharbor/dudleyleavittbio.htm |title=Dudley Leavitt of Center Harbor, NH |work=Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society |access-date=June 14, 2007}}</ref> Center Harbor is the winter home of the paddle steamer [[MS Mount Washington|MS ''Mount Washington'']], the largest boat on [[Lake Winnipesaukee]].

[[File:Senter House, Center Harbor (NYPL b11708174-G91F045 001F).tiff|thumb|Senter House]]
Center Harbor witnessed the first intercollegiate sporting event in the United States, as [[Harvard]] defeated [[Yale]] by two lengths in the first [[Harvard–Yale Regatta]] on August 3, 1852, on Lake Winnipesaukee.<ref name="hyr">{{Cite book |title=The Dictionary of Nautical Literacy |first=Robert |last=McKenna |year=2003 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional Reference |isbn=0-07-141950-0 |page=157 }}</ref>

== Geography ==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|42.1|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|34.4|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|7.7|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} are water, comprising 18.33% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> It has several miles of shoreline on [[Squam Lake]] and another mile on [[Lake Winnipesaukee]], where its main "harbor" lies. The town center sits eccentrically near Center Harbor's northeastern border, where it rises gently from the shore at the junction of [[New Hampshire Route 25|New Hampshire Routes 25]] and [[New Hampshire Route 25B|25B]]. The commercial district including the town center extends for several hundred yards along NH 25 into the neighboring town of [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]]. The highest point in town, Sunset Hill, elevation {{convert|1121|ft|m}} above [[sea level]], overlooks the town center from the west. Center Harbor 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>

[[File:Lake Winnipiseogee, from Senter House, Center Harbor, by Pease, N. W. (Nathan W.), 1836-1918.jpg|thumb|View of the lake from Senter House by [[Nathan W. Pease]] ]]
NH 25 passes through the eastern edge of town, including the town center, connecting [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]] to the south with [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]] to the northeast. [[U.S. Route 3#New Hampshire|U.S. Route 3]] and NH 25 pass north–south through the western part of town, connecting Meredith to the south with [[Holderness, New Hampshire|Holderness]] to the northwest. NH 25B leads from the town center west to US 3 and NH 25, forming a shortcut for through travelers on NH 25.

The [[Proctor Wildlife Sanctuary]], owned by the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, occupies {{convert|47|acre}} of woodlands northwest of the town center.  Adjacent to this property is Center Harbor Woods, a {{convert|225|acre}} conservation area owned by the [[Lakes Region Conservation Trust]] and protected by a conservation easement held by the [[Squam Lakes Conservation Society]] and the town of Center Harbor.  The two properties abut a third conservation property in neighboring Moultonborough, resulting in a block of protected woodland comprising nearly {{convert|400|acre}}.

=== Adjacent municipalities ===

* [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]] (east)
* [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]] (south)
* [[New Hampton, New Hampshire|New Hampton]] (southwest)
* [[Holderness, New Hampshire|Holderness]] (northwest)

== Demographics ==

{{US Census population
|1800= 263
|1810= 349
|1820= 486
|1830= 577
|1840= 584
|1850= 543
|1860= 484
|1870= 446
|1880= 521
|1890= 479
|1900= 422
|1910= 420
|1920= 422
|1930= 382
|1940= 355
|1950= 451
|1960= 511
|1970= 540
|1980= 808
|1990= 996
|2000= 996
|2010= 1096
|2020= 1040
|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 996 people, 414 households, and 293 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|74.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 653 housing units at an average density of {{convert|48.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.80% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.00% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] and 0.80% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]].

There were 414 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,806, and the median income for a family was $55,938. Males had a median income of $35,526 versus $24,231 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $25,627. 6.7% of the population and 4.4% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 13.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

== Government ==
[[File:CenterHarborNH TownHall.jpg|thumb|left|Town hall]]
In the [[New Hampshire Senate]], Center Harbor is in the 2nd District, represented by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Bob Giuda]]. On the [[Executive Council of New Hampshire]], Center Harbor is in the 1st District, represented by Republican [[Joseph Kenney]]. In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Center Harbor is in [[New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district]], represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Ann McLane Kuster]].

== Economy ==

[[Image:The Moulton House, Center Harbor, NH.jpg|thumb|right|The Moulton House, {{circa|1910}}]]
Aside from small [[dairy]] and truck farms, the community's main industry is [[tourism]]. Restaurants and motels dot the shoreline, with a beach and playground at the town's center which is shared by residents of Moultonborough.

== Education ==
[[Image:R6E Nichols Mem Library.JPG|thumb|right|Nichols Memorial Library, 2007]]
[[Image:Landing, Center Harbor, NH.jpg|thumb|right|Steamer Landing, 1906]]
Center Harbor's one-room schoolhouse closed in the 1970s, and students now attend Inter-Lakes Elementary and Inter-Lakes Junior-Senior High in [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]], joining students from that town and from [[Sandwich, New Hampshire|Sandwich]]. During the period 1963–1973, a college existed in Center Harbor. Named Belknap College, it occupied several locations in town, using old hotels for dorms, though the academic campus was located several miles away. Anchored by a mansion recently used for the New Hampshire Music Festival, and several other buildings, the campus was a center of activity.

The town was the home of [[Immaculate Conception Apostolic School]], an all-male Roman Catholic boarding school, educating between 80 and 100 students from grades 7 to 12. It is sponsored by the [[Legionaries of Christ]], a religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church.  It was listed for sale in 2021.

== Notable people ==
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* [[Samuel Chamberlain]] (1829–1908), brevet general, former outlaw
* [[Phoebe Foster]] (1896–1975), actress
* [[Harriet Lane Huntress]] (1860–1922), Deputy Superintendent Public Instruction in New Hampshire
* [[Dudley Leavitt (publisher)|Dudley Leavitt]] (1772–1851), publisher<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.unionleader.com/nh/travel/historical_markers/roadside-history-sign-marks-home-site-of-dudley-leavitt-1772-1851-publisher-of-one-of-nations-first-farmers-almanacs/article_acd33d94-f7ad-532e-b730-b9c319ee93be.html |title=Roadside History: Sign marks home site of Dudley Leavitt (1772-1851), publisher of one of nation's first farmer's almanacs |website=[[New Hampshire Union Leader]] |url-access=limited |date=February 28, 2016 |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Brad Leighton]] (born 1962), driver with [[NASCAR]] 
* [[Maud Worcester Makemson]] (1891–1977), astronomer
* [[Penny Pitou]] (born 1938), Olympic downhill skier

== Culture ==

Center Harbor hosts a [[Fourth of July]] celebration featuring a road race (including a children's race around the library), parade, band concert, and [[fireworks]] over the lake. The Center Harbor Town Band, founded in 1878, offers free concerts on Fridays in the summer.  In the winter, the town is a stop for [[snowmobile]] enthusiasts.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

== References ==

{{portal|New Hampshire}}

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|www.centerharbornh.org}}
* [https://centerharborlibrary.org James E. Nichols Memorial Library]
* [http://www.nhliving.com/towns/centerharbor/ Center Harbor - NHLiving Magazine]
* [http://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/centerharbor.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [https://www.centerharbornh.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif4246/f/uploads/center_harbor_community_planning_survey.pdf Center Harbor Community Planning Survey, 2018] - includes town history

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Center Harbor
 | North = [[Holderness, New Hampshire|Holderness]]
 | Northeast = [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]]
 | East = [[Moultonborough, New Hampshire|Moultonborough]]
 | Southeast = [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]]
 | South = [[Meredith, New Hampshire|Meredith]]
 | Southwest = [[New Hampton, New Hampshire|New Hampton]]
 | West = 
 | Northwest = [[Ashland, New Hampshire|Ashland]]
}}

{{Belknap County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Center Harbor, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Belknap County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Winnipesaukee]]