Editing Rindge, New Hampshire

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Rindge, New Hampshire
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Rindge_from_the_air.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Rindge Center
|image_seal               = Rindge town seal.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Cheshire-Rindge-NH.png
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Cheshire County, New Hampshire|Cheshire 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        = [[Cheshire County, New Hampshire|Cheshire]]
|parts_type               = Villages
|parts                    = {{ublist
|Rindge
|Converseville
|East Rindge
|West Rindge}}
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Board of Selectmen]]
|leader_name              = {{ubl|Larry Cleveland|Bob Hamilton|Tom Coneys}}
|leader_title1            = [[Town Administrator]]
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1768
|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 4, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 103.1
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 96.1
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 7.0
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|area_water_percent       = 6.76
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US3300564580&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Rindge town, Cheshire County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref>
|population_total         = 6476
|population_density_km2   = 67.4
|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|42|44|59|N|72|00|37|W|region:US-NH|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 1296
|website                  = {{URL|rindgenh.org}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 03461
|area_code                = [[Area code 603|603]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 33-64580
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0873707
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Rindge''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Cheshire County, New Hampshire]], United States. The population was 6,476 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 6,014 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010 DP">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3300564580| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1), Rindge town, Cheshire County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=November 5, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214000226/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3300564580| archive-date=February 14, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> Rindge is home to [[Franklin Pierce University]], the [[Cathedral of the Pines]] and part of [[Annett State Forest]].

==History==
===Native American inhabitants===
The land in and around Rindge was originally inhabited by ancestors of the [[Abenaki]] tribe of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]]s. [[Archeology|Archeological]] evidence from nearby [[Swanzey, New Hampshire|Swanzey]] indicates that the region was inhabited as much as 11,000 years ago (coinciding with the end of the [[last glacial period]]). As much as half of the Western Abenakis were victims of a wave of [[epidemic]]s that coincided with the arrival of Europeans in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Later, many of the Western Abenaki present in southwestern [[New Hampshire]] chose to relocate to [[Canada (New France)|Canada]] during Colonial times, primarily due to their allegiance with the [[France|French]] during the [[French and Indian Wars]].

===Settlement by European colonists===
In the eighteenth century, [[Province of Massachusetts Bay|Massachusetts]] granted unappropriated land to veterans of [[William Phips|Sir William Phipps]]' [[Battle of Quebec (1690)|1690 expedition]] against [[New France|French-held Canada]] as compensation for services. Whole townships were granted to certain military companies and became known as "Canada" townships. Granted in 1736 by Governor [[Jonathan Belcher]] to soldiers from [[Rowley, Massachusetts]], Rindge was first known as "Rowley-Canada".<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book | last = Coolidge | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield  | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n675 632]–633| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859. }}</ref> But the [[John Mason (governor)|Masonian proprietors]] were making competing claims to the area, and in 1740 commissioners of [[the Crown]] decided that the boundary between Massachusetts and [[Province of New Hampshire|New Hampshire]] lay south of Rowley-Canada.<ref>Stearns, Ezra. ''History of the Town of Rindge.'' Boston: George Ellis, 1875, Reprinted by Phoenix Publishing, 1988. p. 37.</ref> Consequently, it was re-granted in 1749 by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]] as "Monadnock No. 1", or "South Monadnock". The town was incorporated in 1768 by Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]] as "Rindge", in honor of Captain Daniel Rindge of [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], one of the original grant holders, and the one who represented New Hampshire's claim to the land before the king.<ref>Stearns, p. 35.</ref>

Captain Abel Platts is credited as being Rindge's first temporary settler, arriving in 1738 to take possession of his family's land grant.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/History_Rindge_NH.txt| title=HISTORY OF RINDGE, CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE| publisher=www.nh.searchroots.com| access-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref> But disputes about the grants, combined with the outbreak in 1744 of [[King George's War]], made it untenable to remain in Rindge, so early settlers abandoned it. Platts and others returned in 1752, and starting in 1758, settlement increased steadily.<ref>Stearns, p. 66–67.</ref> There were 1,274 residents by 1859, when [[water power]]ed industries included three [[gristmill]]s, thirteen [[sawmill]]s, thirteen [[roof shingle|shingle]] mills, six [[barrel|stave]] mills, two [[planing mill]]s, and several [[Clapboard (architecture)|clapboard]] mills.<ref name="Coolidge"/>

<gallery>
Image:Congregational Church and Common, Rindge Center, NH.jpg|The Common in 1906
Image:View of the Square, West Rindge, NH.jpg|West Rindge in 1910
Image:Pinecroft Inn, East Rindge, NH.jpg|Pinecroft Inn {{circa|1915}}
Image:RindgeNH ShedsAndStables.jpg|Historic horse sheds behind the meeting house
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|103.1|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|96.1|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|7.0|km2|order=flip}} are water, comprising 6.76% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> Rindge is located in a hilly upland lake region. Hubbard Pond is in the northeast, [[Contoocook Lake]] on the northern boundary, [[Pearly Lake]] is in the northwest, and [[Lake Monomonac]] is on the southern boundary. The town is located on a regional watershed divide and is the headwaters for two river systems. The [[Contoocook River]] flows north to the [[Merrimack River]], thence to the [[Gulf of Maine]], and the [[North Branch Millers River|North Branch]] of the [[Millers River]] flows southwest to the [[Connecticut River]], thence to [[Long Island Sound]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?lat=42.75111&lon=-72.01028&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=200 |publisher=TopoQuest.com |author=U.S. Geological Survey |title=Rindge, USGS Monadnock Mountain (NH) Topo Map |access-date=June 29, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.town.rindge.nh.us/ch3.pdf |author=Town of Rindge |title=Master Plan, Chapter 3: Natural Resources |access-date=March 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910065229/http://www.town.rindge.nh.us/ch3.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2008}}</ref> Rindge's highest point is on its eastern border, on the lower slopes of [[Pratt Mountain]], where the elevation reaches {{convert|1505|ft|m}} above [[sea level]].

Rindge is home to the [[village (United States)|villages]] of Rindge Center, East Rindge, Converseville, and West Rindge. The town is crossed by [[U.S. Route 202 in New Hampshire|U.S. Route 202]] and [[New Hampshire Route 119]].

===Adjacent municipalities===
* [[Jaffrey, New Hampshire|Jaffrey]] (north)
* [[Sharon, New Hampshire|Sharon]] (northeast)
* [[New Ipswich, New Hampshire|New Ipswich]] (east)
* [[Ashburnham, Massachusetts]] (southeast)
* [[Winchendon, Massachusetts]] (south)
* [[Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire|Fitzwilliam]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1143
|1800= 1196
|1810= 1226
|1820= 1298
|1830= 1269
|1840= 1161
|1850= 1274
|1860= 1231
|1870= 1107
|1880= 934
|1890= 996
|1900= 855
|1910= 706
|1920= 643
|1930= 610
|1940= 629
|1950= 707
|1960= 941
|1970= 2175
|1980= 3375
|1990= 4941
|2000= 5451
|2010= 6014
|2020= 6476
|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>
}}
[[File:Town sign Rindge NH March 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Welcome to Rindge]]
As of the census of 2020, there were 6,476 residents and 2,031 households in Rindge. The population density was {{convert|174.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,361 housing units at an average density of {{convert|63.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 91.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.83% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|American Indian and Alaskan Native]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander]], 0.63% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.07% of the population.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,014 people, 1,805 households, and 1,316 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|156.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,224 housing units at an average density of {{convert|55.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.33% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.89% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.45% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.61% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.28% of the population.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

There were 1,805 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.11.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 20, 20.7% from 20 to 29, 8.7% from 30 to 39, 12.2% from 40 to 49, 19.3% from 50 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.7 years.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2013–2017, the estimated median income for a household in the town was $68,250, and the median income for a family was $82,917. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,363. About 3.7% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0600000US3300564580&q=Rindge%20town,%20Cheshire%20County,%20New%20Hampshire&hidePreview=false&table=S1701&tid=ACSST5Y2017.S1701&layer=countysubdivision&syear=2020&vintage=2017&cid=DP05_0001E&lastDisplayedRow=26&t=Income%20and%20Poverty&mode=| title=Rindge town, Cheshire County, New Hampshire: ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables (2017): Income and Poverty| website=data.census.gov| access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Education==
Rindge belongs to the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District, which has a total of three schools. Rindge is also the home of Franklin Pierce University.

'''Colleges and universities'''
* [[Franklin Pierce University]]

'''Public secondary schools'''
* [[Conant Middle High School (New Hampshire)|Conant Middle High School]] (located in [[Jaffrey, New Hampshire|Jaffrey]])

'''Public elementary schools'''
* Rindge Memorial School
* Jaffrey Grade School (located in Jaffrey)

'''Private schools'''
* [[Hampshire Country School]]
* Heritage Christian School

==Sites of interest==
[[File:Rindge Town Hall th.jpg|thumb|Rindge Meetinghouse]]
* [[Annett State Forest]], which includes Annett Wayside Park with picnic tables, toilets, and a hiking trail to Black Reservoir.
* [[Cathedral of the Pines]], a national memorial for all American war dead. The location had been selected by Lieutenant Sanderson Sloane and his wife as the place to build their home when he returned from [[World War II]]. A cathedral was created by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Sloane, after learning that their son was lost when the [[bomber]] he flew was shot down over [[Germany]] on February 22, 1944.
* [[Second Rindge Meetinghouse, Horsesheds and Cemetery|The Rindge Meeting House]], built in 1796, is one of the largest town meeting houses in northern New England and one of the few civic buildings in the region that still straddles the [[Establishment Clause of the First Amendment|separation of church and state]]. The building is owned by the town, and the second floor is leased to the [http://www.rindgeucc.org First Congregational Church], which uses it for services and other church functions. The first floor is still used for town functions such as Zoning Board meetings as well as community functions such as fairs, Scout meetings, exercise classes, and the like.

== Notable people ==
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* [[George P. Barker]] (1807–1848), state congressman from [[New York (state)|New York]]
* [[Addison Gardiner]] (1797–1883), Chief Judge of the [[New York Court of Appeals]], lieutenant governor of [[New York (state)|New York]]
* [[Enoch Hale]] (1733–1813), militia colonel
* [[Nathan Hale (colonel)|Nathan Hale]] (1743–1780), military officer, [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War hero]]
* [[Amasa Norcross]] (1824–1898), U.S. congressman
* [[Edward Payson]] (1783–1827), preacher
* [[Mary Lee Ware]] (1858–1937), farmer, philanthropist, patron sponsor of Harvard's [[Glass Flowers]] collection
* [[Marshall Pinckney Wilder (politician)|Marshall Pickney Wilder]] (1798–1886), merchant, amateur horticulturalist, politician

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

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|www.rindgenh.org}}
* [https://www.ingallslibrary.com Ingalls Memorial Library]
* [https://www.rindgechamber.org/ Rindge Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.rindgehistoricalsociety.org/ Rindge Historical Society]
* [https://www.sau47.org/ Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District]
* [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/rindge.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Rindge
 | North     = [[Jaffrey, New Hampshire|Jaffrey]]
 | Northeast = [[Sharon, New Hampshire|Sharon]]
 | East      = [[New Ipswich, New Hampshire|New Ipswich]]
 | Southeast = [[Ashburnham, Massachusetts]]
 | South     = [[Winchendon, Massachusetts]]
 | Southwest = [[Winchendon, Massachusetts]]
 | West      = [[Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire|Fitzwilliam]]
 | Northwest = [[Jaffrey, New Hampshire|Jaffrey]]
}}

{{Cheshire County, New Hampshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rindge, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Cheshire County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Towns in New Hampshire]]