Editing Dover, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Dover, New Hampshire
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = The Garrison City
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Dover City Hall.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = City Hall
| image_flag         = DoverNHflag.gif
| image_seal         = DoverSeal.jpg
| image_map          = Strafford-Dover-NH.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within [[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  = [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayoralty in the United States|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Robert Carrier
| leader_title1      = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1       = Dennis Shanahan (Ward 5)
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = {{collapsible list|bullets=yes
 | title = Members
 | 1 = Linnea Nemeth
(At-Large)
 | 2 = Lindsey Williams
(At-Large)
 | 3 = April Richer
(Ward 1)
 | 4 = Robert Warach
(Ward 2)
 | 5 = Anthony Retrosi
(Ward 3)
 | 6 = Debra Hackett
(Ward 4)
 | 8 = Fergus Cullen
(Ward 6)
 }}
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Michael Joyal
| established_title  = [[New Hampshire#Early settlement|Settled]]
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_title3 = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1623
| established_date2  = 1623 (town)
| established_date3  = 1855 (city)
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 29.04
| area_total_km2     = 75.22
| area_land_sq_mi    = 26.73
| area_land_km2      = 69.23
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.31
| area_water_km2     = 6.00
| area_water_percent = 7.97
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 32741
| population_metro   = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_km2 = 472.95
| population_density_sq_mi = 1224.92
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|11|41|N|70|52|30|W|region:US-NH_type:city(33,000)|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 15
| elevation_ft       = 50
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 03820-03822
| area_code          = [[Area code 603|603]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 33-18820
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0866618
| website            = {{URL|www.dover.nh.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Dover''' is a city in [[Strafford County, New Hampshire]], United States. The population was 32,741 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3301718820&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Dover city, Strafford County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref> making it the most populous city in the New Hampshire [[Seacoast Region (New Hampshire)|Seacoast region]] and the [[List of municipalities in New Hampshire|fifth most populous city]] in [[New Hampshire]].

It is the [[county seat]] of Strafford County, and home to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, the [[Woodman Institute Museum]], and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

==Etymology==
The city is named for [[Dover, Kent]], England.   First recorded in its Latinised form of ''[[Portus Dubris]]'', the word "Dover" derives from the [[insular Celtic languages|Brythonic]] word for "waters" (''dwfr'' in [[Middle Welsh]]). The same element is present in the word's [[French language|French]] (''Douvres'') and [[Welsh Language|Modern Welsh]] (''Dofr'') forms.

==History==

===Settlement===
[[File:Settlement of Dover, NH 1623.jpg|thumb|left|Settlement of Dover in 1623]]
The first known [[Europe]]an to explore the region was [[Martin Pring]] from [[Bristol]], [[England]], in 1603.

In 1623, brothers William and Edward Hilton settled at Pomeroy Cove on Dover Point, near the confluence of the [[Bellamy River|Bellamy]] and [[Piscataqua River|Piscataqua]] rivers. This first settlement makes Dover the oldest permanent settlement in [[New Hampshire]], and seventh in the United States.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Stackpole | first = Everett Schermerhorn | title = History of New Hampshire | publisher = The American Historical Society | year = 1916 | location = New York | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kRn4cDDOKKMC | isbn = 978-1-115-84294-5 }}</ref>

The Hiltons were [[fishmonger]]s sent from [[London]] by the [[Council for New England]]'s Laconia Company to establish a colony and fishery on the Piscataqua. In 1631, however, the colony contained only three houses. William Hilton built a salt works on the property (salt-making was the principal industry in his hometown of [[Northwich]], England). He also served as Deputy to the General Court (the colonial legislature).<ref>Palmer, Ansell W., ed. ''Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England,'' pp. 14, 17, 18, 29, 33, 63, 232–233, Piscataqua Pioneers, Portsmouth, NH, 2000. {{ISBN|0-9676579-0-3}}.</ref><ref>Anderson, R. C. ''The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633,'' pp. 951–957, vol. 2, New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995.</ref><ref>Scales, J. ''History of Dover, New Hampshire,'' pp. 311–313, facsimile of the 1923 edition, Heritage Books, 1989.</ref> The Hiltons' name survives at Hilton Park on Dover Point (originally known as Hilton Point).

The colony's original townships included [[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]], [[Madbury, New Hampshire|Madbury]], [[Newington, New Hampshire|Newington]], [[Lee, New Hampshire|Lee]], [[Somersworth, New Hampshire|Somersworth]] and [[Rollinsford, New Hampshire|Rollinsford]].

In 1633, the plantation was bought by a group of English [[Puritans]] who planned to settle in [[New England]], including [[William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele|Viscount Saye and Sele]], [[Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke|Baron Brooke]] and [[John Pym]]. They promoted colonization in America, and so that year Hilton's Point received numerous immigrants, many from [[Bristol]]. They renamed the settlement Bristol. Atop the nearby hill they built a [[meetinghouse]] surrounded by an [[Trench warfare|entrenchment]], with a jail nearby.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/The_History_of_New_Hampshire.html?id=uD8OAAAAIAAJ Jeremy Belknap, ''The History of New Hampshire'', 1812]</ref>

The town was called Dover in 1637 by the new governor, Reverend [[George Burdett (governor)|George Burdett]]. It was possibly named after [[Robert Dover (Cotswold Games)|Robert Dover]], an English lawyer who resisted Puritanism.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haddon|2004|pp=64–65}}</ref> With the 1639 arrival of [[Thomas Larkham]], however, it was renamed after [[Northam, Devon|Northam]] in [[Devon]], where he had been preacher. But Lord Saye and Sele's group lost interest in their settlements, both here and at [[Saybrook, Connecticut]], when their plan to establish a hereditary [[aristocracy]] in the colonies met disfavor in [[New England]]. Consequently, the plantation was sold in 1641 to [[Massachusetts]] and again named Dover.

Because it was an early settlement in Abenaki lands, settlers built fortified [[log house]]s called [[garrison (architecture)|garrisons]], inspiring Dover's nickname "The Garrison City." The population and business center shifted from Dover Point to Cochecho Falls on the [[Cochecho River]], where its drop of {{convert|34|ft}} providing [[water power]] for industry (Cochecho means "the rapid foaming water" in the [[Abenaki]] language).<ref>[http://library.dover.nh.gov/DoverHistory/HISTORYIMAGES/cochecho_or_cocheco.htm Dover Public Library, "Is it Spelled Cochecho or Cocheco?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707000759/http://library.dover.nh.gov/DoverHistory/HISTORYIMAGES/cochecho_or_cocheco.htm |date=2015-07-07 }}</ref> What is now downtown Dover settlers called Cochecho village.

===Cochecho Massacre===
{{main|Raid on Dover}}
On June 28, 1689, Dover suffered a devastating attack by Native Americans. It was revenge for an incident on September 7, 1676, when 400 Native Americans were tricked by Major [[Richard Waldron]] into performing a "[[mock battle]]" near Cochecho Falls. After discharging their weapons, the Native American warriors were captured. Half were sent to Massachusetts for predations committed during [[King Philip's War]], and seven or eight were hanged, and others were sold into [[slavery]]. Local Native Americans deemed innocent were released, but considered the deception a dishonorable breach of hospitality. Thirteen years passed. When colonists thought the episode forgotten, they struck. Fifty-two colonists, a quarter of the population, were either captured or slain.

Incursions against the frontier town would continue for the next half century. During [[Father Rale's War]], in August and September 1723, there were Indian raids on [[Saco, Maine]], and Dover, New Hampshire.<ref>William Williamson, p. 123.</ref> The following year Dover was raided again and [[Elizabeth Hanson (captive of Native Americans)|Elizabeth Hanson]] wrote her [[captivity narrative]].

===Mill era===
[[File:Dover NH August 2016.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cochecho River]] with repurposed mill buildings, from Henry Law Park]]
Located at the head of [[navigation]], Cochecho Falls brought the [[Industrial Revolution]] to 19th-century Dover in a big way. But cotton [[textile manufacturing]] actually began about two miles upstream with the Dover Cotton Factory, which was incorporated in 1812, its mill built in 1815. The business would move to Cochecho Falls when it acquired water privileges occupied since the 17th century by [[sawmill]]s and [[gristmill]]s. In 1823 it was renamed the Dover Manufacturing Company, but was not successful. So in 1827 the [[Cocheco Mills|Cocheco Manufacturing Company]] was founded (the misspelling a clerical error at incorporation),<ref name="Garland, Caroline Harwood 1987, p. 383">Garland, Caroline Harwood, Old Dover, New Hampshire; Castle Books, Edison, NJ 1987, 2002, p. 383.</ref> and the next year, the mill was the site of the first women's strike in the United States. "The Strike of the Mill Girls" took place on December 30, 1828, when about half of the 800 women employed at the mill walked out over lower wages and longer hours that the new owners had implemented.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/library/research-learn/history/strike-of-the-mill-girls/ | title=The Strike of the Mill Girls | publisher=Dover Public Library | access-date=January 27, 2024 }}</ref> Expansive brick mills were constructed downtown, linked to receive [[cotton bale]]s and ship finished cloth when the [[Boston & Maine Railroad|railroad]] arrived in 1842. Incorporated as a city in 1855, Dover for a time became a leading national producer of [[textiles]], the mill complex dominating the riverfront and employing 2,000 workers.<ref>Hindle, Thom; Dover, Images of America; Arcadia Publishing, Portsmouth, NH 1994, p. 69.</ref>

The mills were purchased in 1909 by the Pacific Mills of [[Lawrence, Massachusetts]], which closed the printery in 1913 but continued [[spinning (textiles)|spinning]] and [[weaving]]. The printery buildings were demolished in 1913, their site is now Henry Law Park.

In 1922, it was affected by the [[1922 New England Textile Strike]], shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut and hours increase.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foner |first=Philip Sheldon |title=History of the labor movement in the United States. 9: The T.U.E.L. to the end of the Gompers era / by Philip S. Foner |last2=Foner |first2=Philip Sheldon |date=1991 |publisher=Intl Publ |year= |isbn=978-0-7178-0674-4 |location=New York |pages=19–31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=E. Tilden |first=Leonard |date=1923 |title=New England Textile Strike |jstor=41828627 |journal=Monthly Labor Review |volume=16 |issue=5 |pages=13–36 }}</ref>

During the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], however, textile mills no longer dependent on New England water power began moving to [[Southern United States|southern states]] in search of cheaper operating conditions, or simply went out of business. Dover's millyard shut in 1937, then was bought at auction in 1941 by the city itself for $54,000. There were no other bids. Now called the Cocheco Falls Millworks, its tenants include technology and government services companies, plus a restaurant, brewery and bar.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dovermills.com/index.htm | title=Cocheco Falls Millworks | publisher=Cocheco Falls Millworks | access-date=August 15, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120330195132/http://www.dovermills.com/index.htm | archive-date=March 30, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/DoverHistory/mill_history%20new.htm | title=A Yarn to Follow: The Dover Cotton Factory 1812—1821 | publisher=Dover Public Library | access-date=August 15, 2011 | author=Beaudoin, Cathleen | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223084509/http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/DoverHistory/mill_history%20new.htm | archive-date=February 23, 2003 }}</ref>

Textile manufacturing in Dover wasn't limited to cotton. In 1824, Alfred I. Sawyer established the [[Sawyer Woolen Mills]] beside the Bellamy River. It would expand to include 15 major buildings over {{Convert|8.5|acre}}, and by 1883 was the largest [[woolen]] manufacturer in the state.<ref name="Garland, Caroline Harwood 1987, p. 383"/> In 1889 it was acquired by the [[American Woolen Company]], but closed and was sold off in 1955. The buildings have been repurposed into housing.

=== Modern era ===
With the closing of the mills, the downtown area of Dover sat vacant and lifeless for a long time. With the turn of the century, the city government began to revitalize the area. The Children's Museum of New Hampshire was brought into a disused mill building with a lease of $1 a year. Henry Law Park, a grassy waterfront stretch of land, was given a brand new playground. Small businesses moved into the mills, such as restaurants, toy stores, real estate offices, and barber shops. Old buildings have been refurbished or outright rebuilt to provide new housing. An $87.5&nbsp;million high school was built to handle the influx of new residents retreating from the high housing prices in [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth]]. Recently, a plan to develop the waterfront on the other side of the river from the traditional downtown area was approved for $6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessnhmagazine.com/article/doverrsquos-economic-explosion |title=Dover's Economic Explosion |website=www.businessnhmagazine.com |language=en |access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2013/04/02/tank-away-dover/OD0mVna8653bg8mxhbco4O/story.html |title=Dover, N.H., reinvents itself into a destination - The Boston Globe |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US |access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> In early May 2021, waypoint signs were sporadically added to help drivers and walkers navigate Dover with the expansions that are underway.

===Antique postcards===
<gallery>
File:The Old Corner, Dover, NH.jpg|The Old Corner {{circa|1892}}
File:Central Square at Dover, NH.jpg|Central Square {{circa|1905|lk=no}}
File:Public Library in Dover, NH.jpg|Public Library {{circa|1907|lk=no}}
File:Guppy House, Dover, NH.jpg|Guppy House {{circa|1910|lk=no}}
File:Brick Schoolhouse, Dover, NH.jpg|Old Brick Schoolhouse {{circa|1910|lk=no}}, once located near Pine Hill Cemetery
File:Falls on the Cochecho, Dover, NH.jpg|[[Cochecho River|Cochecho Falls]] {{circa|1910|lk=no}}
File:Whitcher's Falls, Dover, NH.jpg|Whitcher's Falls {{circa|1910|lk=no}}
File:Pacific Mills, Dover, NH.jpg|Pacific Mills {{circa|1912|lk=no}}
File:PostcardBIRDSEYEVIEWDoverNH1913.jpg|Downtown {{circa|1913|lk=no}}
</gallery>

==Geography and transportation==
[[File:Downtown Dover 52.JPG|thumb|right|Downtown Dover]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|75.2|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|69.2|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|6.0|km2|order=flip}} are water, comprising 7.97% of the city.<ref>{{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=January 4, 2022}}</ref> Dover is drained by the [[Cochecho River|Cochecho]] and [[Bellamy River|Bellamy]] rivers, both of which flow into the tidal [[Piscataqua River]],<ref>{{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> which forms the city's eastern boundary and the New Hampshire–[[Maine]] border. Long Hill, elevation greater than {{convert|300|ft|m}} above [[sea level]] and located {{convert|3|mi|0}} northwest of the city center, is the highest point in Dover. [[Garrison Hill Park and Tower|Garrison Hill]], elevation approximately {{convert|290|ft|m|abbr=on}}, is a prominent hill rising directly above the center city, with a park and lookout tower on top. The average elevation above sea level in Dover is {{convert|49|ft}}.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The city is crossed by New Hampshire Routes [[New Hampshire Route 4|4]], [[New Hampshire Route 9|9]], [[New Hampshire Route 16|16]] (the [[Spaulding Turnpike]]), [[New Hampshire Route 108|108]], and [[New Hampshire Route 155|155]], plus [[U.S. Route 4]]. It is bordered by the town of [[Newington, New Hampshire|Newington]] to the south (across the inlet to [[Great Bay (New Hampshire)|Great Bay]]), [[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]] to the south across from where the [[Bellamy River]] meets the inlet to [[Great Bay (New Hampshire)|Great Bay]], [[Madbury, New Hampshire|Madbury]] to the southwest, [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]] and [[Rochester, New Hampshire|Rochester]] to the northwest, and [[Somersworth, New Hampshire|Somersworth]] and [[Rollinsford, New Hampshire|Rollinsford]] to the northeast. [[South Berwick, Maine]], lies to the northeast, across the tidal [[Salmon Falls River]], and [[Eliot, Maine]], is to the east, across the [[Piscataqua River]].

The [[Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation]] (COAST) operates a publicly funded bus network in Dover and surrounding communities in New Hampshire and Maine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coastbus.org/ |title=Take a closer look at COAST |publisher=www.coastbus.org |access-date=2010-07-06 }}</ref> C&J Bus Lines is a private intercity bus carrier currently connecting Dover with Boston's [[South Station]] and [[Logan International Airport|Logan Airport]], as well as New York City (via Midtown Manhattan's [[Port Authority Bus Terminal]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ridecj.com/blog/dover-nh-to-logan-airport-and-nyc-bus-service-reopens-february-4-2024 |title=Dover NH to Logan Airport and New York City will Resume in February of 2024 |publisher=www.ridecj.com |access-date=2023-11-20 }}</ref> [[Wildcat Transit]], operated by the [[University of New Hampshire]], provides bus service to [[Durham (CDP), New Hampshire|Durham]], which is free for students and $1.50 for the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unh.edu/transportation/wildcat/wtschedules/route3.htm |title=Wildcat Transit |access-date=2012-04-21 }}</ref> [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Downeaster (train)|Downeaster]]'' train service stops at the [[Dover Transportation Center]] with service to the [[Portland Transportation Center]], Boston's [[North Station]], and intermediate stops.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1998
|1800= 2062
|1810= 2228
|1820= 2871
|1830= 5449
|1840= 6458
|1850= 8196
|1860= 8502
|1870= 9294
|1880= 11687
|1890= 12790
|1900= 13207
|1910= 13247
|1920= 13029
|1930= 13573
|1940= 13990
|1950= 15874
|1960= 19131
|1970= 20850
|1980= 22377
|1990= 25042
|2000= 26884
|2010= 29987
|2020= 32741
|estimate= 33416
|estyear= 2022
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 32,741 people, 14,431 households, and 7,059 families residing in the city. The city grew by 2,754 residents between 2010 and 2020, the third-largest numeric growth of a town or city in New Hampshire, after [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]] and [[Nashua, New Hampshire|Nashua]]. The population density in 2020 was 1,224.88 people per square mile (472.93/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 15,166 housing units at an average density of {{convert|567.38|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the city was 87.2% White, 1.7% African American, 0.20% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.2% some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.<ref name="Census 2010 DP">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3318820| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Dover city, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 13, 2021| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212135453/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3318820| archive-date=February 12, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 12,827 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were headed by married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% 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 2.89.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2009–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $55,040, and the median income for a family was $69,980. Male full-time workers had a median income of $51,891 versus $36,167 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $30,590. About 6.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_3YR/DP03/1600000US3318820| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (DP03): Dover city, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=February 11, 2013| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212084542/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_3YR/DP03/1600000US3318820| archive-date=February 12, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==

The Dover School District serves approximately 4,000 pupils, attending Horne Street Elementary School, Garrison Elementary School, Woodman Park Elementary School, Dover Middle School and [[Dover High School (New Hampshire)|Dover High School]]. Dover High's athletic teams are known as "The Green Wave," and the middle school's teams are "The Little Green."

Saint Mary Academy, a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] school, has been in downtown Dover since 1912, currently serving about 200 students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade. Many students at Saint Mary's subsequently attend [[St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Dover, New Hampshire)|St. Thomas Aquinas High School]], a Catholic high school located on Dover Point.

[[Portsmouth Christian Academy]] is located west of the Bellamy River in Dover, serving preschool through 12th grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcaschool.org/ |title=Portsmouth Christian Academy - In the News |publisher=www.pcaschool.org |access-date=2010-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212115/http://www.pcaschool.org/ |archive-date=2014-08-12 }}</ref>

The Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy (CATA) is a public charter high school with about 100 students. It was formerly located in [[Barrington, New Hampshire]].

The Seacoast Charter School is a publicly funded elementary/middle school that integrates the arts into the core curriculum. The school was founded in 2004 in [[Kingston, New Hampshire]], and relocated to Dover in 2015. Enrollment in January 2016 was 215 students in grades K–8.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.seacoastcharterschool.org/ | title=The Seacoast Charter School | access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref>

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Dover, New Hampshire}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Dover city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sos.nh.gov/elections/elections/election-results/|title=Election Results|website=sos.nh.gov}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.19%''' ''12,508''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.99% ''6,331''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.80% ''346''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.17%''' ''10,118''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.58% ''6,015''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.25% ''1,262''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.85%''' ''9,724''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.93% ''6,162''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.22% ''360''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.17%''' ''10,221''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.51% ''5,746''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.32% ''214''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.39%''' ''9,225''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.95% ''6,206''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.66% ''103''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.32%''' ''6,812''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.94% ''5,008''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.74% ''720''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.38%''' ''6,332''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.41% ''3,752''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.21% ''1,147''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''45.45%''' ''5,449''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.01% ''4,197''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|19.54% ''2,342''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.59% ''4,803''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.97%''' ''5,357''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.44% ''148''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.32% ''3,826''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.29%''' ''5,397''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.39% ''36''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.14% ''3,344''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.26%''' ''4,497''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.60% ''1,675''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.53%''' ''4,386''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.48% ''4,204''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.99% ''265''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.94% ''3,697''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.39%''' ''4,855''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.66% ''57''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.12%''' ''4,101''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.08% ''3,777''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.81% ''145''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''68.53%''' ''5,629''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.47% ''2,585''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.34%''' ''4,697''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.66% ''4,277''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}
In the [[New Hampshire Senate]], Dover is in the 4th District and is currently represented by Democrat [[David H. Watters]]. On the [[New Hampshire Executive Council]], Dover is in District 2 and is currently represented by Democrat [[Cinde Warmington]]. In the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], Dover is included in [[New Hampshire's 1st congressional district]] and is currently represented by Democrat [[Chris Pappas (American politician)|Chris Pappas]].

Dover is a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. No Republican presidential nominee has carried Dover since [[George H. W. Bush]]'s five-point victory in the town over [[Michael Dukakis]] in 1988.

== Notable people ==
{{Main|List of people from Dover, New Hampshire}}

==In popular culture==
[[File:TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Marker.jpg|thumb|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Historical Marker 289]]
Dover was used as the fictional setting for the [[Hallmark Channel]] movie ''Christmas Incorporated''.

Dover was the birthplace of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] franchise, created by comic book writers [[Kevin Eastman]] and [[Peter Laird]] and first published by [[Mirage Studios]]—then based in Dover—in 1984.

==Historic sites==
* [[First Parish Church (Dover, New Hampshire)|First Parish Church]]
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (51–75)#51|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 51]]: Dr. Jeremy Belknap (1744–1798)
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (76–100)#92|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 92]]: Hilton's Point – 1623
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (151–175)#165|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 165]]: The Alexander Scammell Bridge over the Bellamy River
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (251–275)#264|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 264]]: Home of John Parker Hale, 1840–1873
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (276–300)#282|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 282]]: Native Retribution Against Maj. Waldron
* [[List of New Hampshire historical markers (276–300)#289|New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 289]]: Creation of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''
* [[Religious Society of Friends Meetinghouse]]
* [[St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Dover, New Hampshire)|St. Thomas Episcopal Church]]
* [[Woodman Institute]]

==See also==
{{portal|New Hampshire}}
* [[Dover Transportation Center]]
* [[McIntosh College]]
* [[1987 Little League World Series]], when a team from Dover advanced to the quarter-finals

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Haddon |first=Celia |title=The First Ever English Olimpick Games |year=2004 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |isbn=0-340-86274-2}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Dover (New Hampshire)|Dover, New Hampshire}}
{{EB1911 poster|Dover (New Hampshire)|Dover, New Hampshire}}
* {{Official website|www.dover.nh.gov}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060116010502/http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/DoverHistory/sketchofdover.htm Sketch of Dover, New Hampshire]
* [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/dover.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [https://scholars.unh.edu/dover_nh_reports/ Dover, NH Annual Reports]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=TEAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 LIFE Magazine (Sept. 17, 1971) article about Tuttle farm]

{{Adjacent communities
 | Centre    = Dover
 | North     = [[Somersworth, New Hampshire|Somersworth]]
 | Northeast = [[Rollinsford, New Hampshire|Rollinsford]]
 | East      = [[South Berwick, Maine]]
 | Southeast = [[Eliot, Maine]]
 | South     = [[Newington, New Hampshire|Newington]]
 | Southwest = [[Madbury, New Hampshire|Madbury]]<br>[[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]]
 | West      = [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]]
 | Northwest = [[Rochester, New Hampshire|Rochester]]
}}

{{Greater Boston}}
{{Strafford County, New Hampshire}}
{{New Hampshire}}
{{New Hampshire county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dover, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Cities in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Cities in Strafford County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:County seats in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1623]]
[[Category:1623 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies]]