Editing Lee, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Lee, New Hampshire
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Town Hall Lee NH.jpg
| image_seal         = Seal of Lee, New Hampshire.png
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Lee Town Hall, listed on the [[New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_map          = Strafford-Lee-NH.png
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within Strafford 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  = [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Select Board]]
| leader_name        = {{ubl|Rebecca&nbsp;Hawthorne,&nbsp;Chair|Scott Bugbee|David Benson}}
| leader_title1      = Town Administrator
| leader_name1       = Andy Robertson
| established_title  = [[New Hampshire#Early settlement|Settled]]
| established_title2 = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1657
| established_date2  = [[:Category:1766 establishments|1766]]
| 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 10, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_total_km2     = 52.3
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_land_km2      = 51.8
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_km2     = 0.5
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3301741460&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Lee town, Strafford County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=November 10, 2021}}</ref>
| population_total   = 4520
| population_metro   = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_km2 = 87.3
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|07|23|N|71|00|41|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 190
| website            = {{URL|www.leenh.org}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 03861
| area_code          = [[Area code 603|603]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 33-41460
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0873644
| footnotes          = 
}}
<!-- Infobox ends !-->
'''Lee''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford County]], [[New Hampshire]], United States. The population was 4,520 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/> The town is a rural farm and [[bedroom community]], being close to the [[University of New Hampshire]].

== History ==

Lee was first settled by Europeans in 1657 as part of the extensive early [[Dover, New Hampshire|Dover]] township. It includes Wheelwright Pond, named for the Reverend [[John Wheelwright]], the founder of [[Exeter, New Hampshire|Exeter]].

Wheelwright Pond was the site of a noted early battle during [[King William's War]]. [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]], incited by the government of [[New France]], attacked Exeter on July 4, 1690. They were pursued by two infantry companies raised for the purpose, who overtook them at Wheelwright Pond on July 6, 1690. Fierce fighting on that day would leave 3 officers and 15 soldiers dead, together with a large number of Indians. Among the dead were Captain [[Noah Wiswall]], Lieutenant Gershom Flagg, and Ensign Edward Walker of the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]].<ref>Old East Parish Burying Ground: [http://www.interment.net/data/us/ma/middlesex/oldeast/settlers.htm 1st Settlers Monument] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123190251/http://www.interment.net/data/us/ma/middlesex/oldeast/settlers.htm |date=January 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|title=A Comprehensive Historical Sketch of Crystal Lake in Newton Centre, Massachusetts
|author=Newton Centre Improvement Association
|year=1911
|publisher=Stetson Press
|location=Boston, Massachusetts
|page=6
|url=http://www.newtonconservators.org/images/crystallakebook1911.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530015246/http://www.newtonconservators.org/images/crystallakebook1911.pdf |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |url-status=live
|access-date=March 6, 2010
}}</ref><ref name=Smith>{{cite book
|title=History of Newton, Massachusetts
|author=Samuel Francis Smith
|year=1880
|publisher=The American Logotype Company
|location=Boston, Massachusetts
|page=[https://archive.org/details/historynewtonma00smitgoog/page/n161 187]
|url=https://archive.org/details/historynewtonma00smitgoog
|quote=wiswall.
|access-date=March 9, 2010
}}</ref>

In 1735, [[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]], which included Lee, separated from Dover. Then Lee, in turn, would separate from Durham on January 16, 1766, when it was established by [[Colony|Colonial]] Governor [[Benning Wentworth]]. It was among the last of 129 towns to receive a charter during his administration, and named for [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] General [[Charles Lee (general)|Charles Lee]], who later joined the American Revolution.

Lee is hometown for numerous faculty of the [[University of New Hampshire]] in Durham. In 2007 the [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal Service]] assigned the town its own [[ZIP code]]—03861.<ref name=gregg>{{cite web|url=http://gregg.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=1bc1b7f9-802a-23ad-4ba0-8b687bcacc6a&Region_id=&Issue_id= |title=New Zip Code for Lee, New Hampshire |date=June 11, 2007 |access-date=July 9, 2007 |work=Senator Gregg website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703055514/http://gregg.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=1bc1b7f9-802a-23ad-4ba0-8b687bcacc6a&Region_id=&Issue_id= |archive-date=July 3, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</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|51.8|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.5|km2|order=flip}} are water, comprising 1.03% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The town is drained by the [[Lamprey River]], [[North River (New Hampshire)|North River]] and [[Oyster River (New Hampshire)|Oyster River]]. Lee lies fully within the [[Piscataqua River]] (Coastal) [[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 highest point in Lee is {{convert|272|ft|m}} above [[sea level]], atop an unnamed hill southwest of the town center.

===Adjacent municipalities===
* [[Madbury, New Hampshire|Madbury]] (north)
* [[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]] (east)
* [[Newmarket, New Hampshire|Newmarket]] (southeast)
* [[Epping, New Hampshire|Epping]] (southwest)
* [[Nottingham, New Hampshire|Nottingham]] (west)
* [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1029
|1800= 978
|1810= 1329
|1820= 1224
|1830= 1009
|1840= 906
|1850= 862
|1860= 871
|1870= 776
|1880= 715
|1890= 606
|1900= 545
|1910= 479
|1920= 475
|1930= 376
|1940= 481
|1950= 575
|1960= 931
|1970= 1481
|1980= 2111
|1990= 3729
|2000= 4145
|2010= 4330
|2020= 4520
|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 4,145 people, 1,466 households, and 1,092 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|207.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,534 housing units at an average density of {{convert|76.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.02% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.55% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.57% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.39% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.06% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,466 households, out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,993, and the median income for a family was $62,330. Males had a median income of $41,354 versus $29,651 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $23,905.  About 4.3% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

== 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 Lee, 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.

-->
===Born in Lee===
* [[Daniel Meserve Durell]] (1769–1841), US congressman<ref>{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000565|title=DURELL, Daniel Meserve, (1769 - 1841)|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= December 5, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Abbie Huston Evans]] (1881–1983), poet and teacher
* [[Robert Parker Parrott]] (1804–1877), American soldier, inventor of military [[Artillery|ordnance]]
* [[Charles L. Sawyer]] (1860–1918), lawyer and Minnesota state legislator<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=14657 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Charles L. Sawyer]</ref>

===Residents===
* [[Julian Barry]] (1930–2023), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the film ''[[Lenny (film)|Lenny]]'', based on his Broadway hit play of the same name{{cn|date=January 2025}}
* [[Charles W. Bartlett (lawyer)|Charles W. Bartlett]] (1845–1916), lawyer and politician
* [[Tom Bergeron]] (born 1955), television personality<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newhampshire.com/nh-people/tom-Bergeron-biography.aspx|title=New Hampshire People|publisher=NewHampshire.com|access-date=March 26, 2008}}</ref>
* [[Robert Eggers]] (born 1983), writer and director of ''[[The Witch (2015 film)|The Witch]]'' (2015),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shark1053.com/the-witch-director-robert-eggers-inspired-by-southern-new-hampshire-scenery/|title='The Witch' Director Inspired by Southern New Hampshire Scenery|website=102.1 & 105.3 The Shark|access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Lighthouse (2019 film)|The Lighthouse]]'' (2019), and ''[[Nosferatu (2024 film)|Nosferatu]]'' (2024); resident during the 1990s
* [[Ralph Fletcher]] (born 1953), author; resident{{cn|date=January 2025}}
* [[Ethan Gilsdorf]] (born 1966), writer, poet, performer, editor, critic, teacher, journalist; raised in Lee<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2007/12/ethans_walk_the.html| last=Gilsdorf| first=Ethan| title=Ethan's walk: The homecoming| work=The Boston Globe| date=December 20, 2007| access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Amanda Gourgue]], member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
* [[Hoy Menear]] (died 2023), member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
* [[Henry Tufts]] (1748–1831), infamous 18th-century thief

==Sites of interest==
* [[Bedrock Gardens]]
* [http://www.demeritthillfarm.com/ DeMeritt Hill Farm], home of [http://www.hauntedoverload.com/ Haunted Overload] the winner of ABC's 2014 ''Great Halloween Fright Fight'' 
* [http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/11779 Lee Historical Society & Museum]
* [[Lee USA Speedway]], a short-track oval race track that has hosted NASCAR events
* Little River Park, recreational park with a basketball court, soccer field, and baseball diamond<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.lampreyriver.org/recreation/parks/little-river-park| title=Little River Park| publisher=Lamprey River Advisory Committee| access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{commons category}}
<gallery>
File:Church Lee NH.jpg|First Congregational Church
Lee Library, Lee NH.jpg|Library
File:Jeremiah Smith Grange (Lee, NH).jpg|Jeremiah Smith Grange
</gallery>

==References==

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

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.leenh.org}}
* [https://www.leenh.org/library Lee Public Library]
* [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/lee.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/nh/lee-nh.htm History of Lee, New Hampshire (1882)]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Lee
 | North     = [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]]
 | Northeast = [[Madbury, New Hampshire|Madbury]]
 | East      = [[Durham, New Hampshire|Durham]] 
 | Southeast = [[Newmarket, New Hampshire|Newmarket]] 
 | South     = [[Epping, New Hampshire|Epping]]
 | Southwest = [[Epping, New Hampshire|Epping]]
 | West      = [[Nottingham, New Hampshire|Nottingham]]
 | Northwest = [[Barrington, New Hampshire|Barrington]]
}}

{{Strafford County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Strafford County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1766]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]