Editing Rockingham County, New Hampshire

{{Short description|County in New Hampshire, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Rockingham County
 | state                = New Hampshire
 | seal                 = Rockingham County Seal.jpg
 | flag                 = Rockingham County Flag.gif
 | flag size            = 150px
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1769
 | ex image             = Portsmouth NH aerial view.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Aerial view of Portsmouth
 | seat wl              = Brentwood
 | largest city wl      = Derry
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 795.2
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 695.4
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 99.9
 | area percentage      = 12.6
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 314176
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 319424 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = rockinghamcountynh.org
 | district             = 1st
 | district2            = 2nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham]]
}}

'''Rockingham County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Hampshire]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 314,176,<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rockinghamcountynewhampshire/PST045222 |access-date=May 17, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it New Hampshire's second-most populous county. The [[county seat]] is [[Brentwood, New Hampshire|Brentwood]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Rockingham County is part of the [[Boston]]-[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]-[[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]], [[Massachusetts|MA]]-NH [[Greater Boston|Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the greater Boston-[[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]-Providence, MA-RI-[[New Hampshire|NH]]-[[Connecticut|CT]] [[Greater Boston|Combined Statistical Area]]. Per the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it was New Hampshire's fastest growing county from 2010 to 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html}}</ref>

As of 2014–2018 estimates from the [[American Community Survey]], Rockingham County was the fourth- wealthiest county in New England, with a median household income of $90,429.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey (ACS) |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs |access-date=May 5, 2021 |website=The United States Census Bureau |language=EN-US}}</ref>

==History==
The area that today is Rockingham County was first settled by Europeans moving north from the [[Plymouth Colony]] in [[Massachusetts]] as early as 1623. The government was linked tightly with Massachusetts until New Hampshire became a separate colony in 1679, but counties were not introduced until 1769.

Rockingham was identified in 1769 as one of five original counties for the colony. It is named for [[Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham]], who had been [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister of the UK]] from 1765 to 1766. The county was organized in 1771, with its county seat at [[Exeter, New Hampshire|Exeter]]. In 1823, certain townships from northwestern Rockingham (and some northern townships from Hillsborough County) became part of the formation of [[Merrimack County, New Hampshire|Merrimack County]]. In 1844, its area was further reduced by the formation of [[Belknap County, New Hampshire|Belknap County]] to the northwest. In 1997, the county court facilities were moved to [[Brentwood, New Hampshire|Brentwood]], a rural town adjacent to Exeter.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ignoring quality issues at courthouse is criminal |url=http://archive.seacoastonline.com/2002news/exeter/06252002/opinion/11240.htm |access-date=March 10, 2009 |work=The Exeter News-Letter}}</ref>

==Geography==
The county occupies the southeastern corner of the state of New Hampshire, and it contains the state's easternmost point. The county contains all of New Hampshire's [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast, which, at approximately {{convert|18|mi}}, is the [[List of U.S. states by coastline|shortest ocean coastline]] of any state in the U.S.<ref>{{URL|http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/coastal/documents/coastal_access_map.pdf}}</ref> According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|795|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|695|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|100|sqmi}} (13%) are water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_33.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227204852/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_33.txt |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its highest point is Nottingham Mountain, at {{convert|1340|ft}}, in [[Deerfield, New Hampshire|Deerfield]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford County]] (north)
* [[York County, Maine]] (northeast)
* [[Essex County, Massachusetts]] (south)
* [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough County]] (west)
* [[Merrimack County, New Hampshire|Merrimack County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 43184
|1800= 45427
|1810= 50175
|1820= 55246
|1830= 44325
|1840= 45771
|1850= 49194
|1860= 50122
|1870= 47297
|1880= 49064
|1890= 49650
|1900= 51118
|1910= 52188
|1920= 52498
|1930= 53750
|1940= 58142
|1950= 70059
|1960= 99029
|1970= 138951
|1980= 190345
|1990= 245845
|2000= 277359
|2010= 295223
|2020= 314176
|estyear=2022
|estimate=319424
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 17, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nh190090.txt |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 295,223 people, 115,033 households, and 79,832 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022502/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|425.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 126,709 housing units at an average density of {{convert|182.4|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US33015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183937/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US33015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.7% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 26.9% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 19.0% were [[English people|English]], 14.8% were [[Italians|Italian]], 9.7% were [[Germans|German]], 7.3% were [[French Canadian]], 5.6% were [[Polish people|Polish]], and 3.8% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US33015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014741/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US33015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 115,033 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 42.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $75,825 and the median income for a family was $90,463. Males had a median income of $61,443 versus $42,478 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,889. About 3.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US33015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011457/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US33015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|399|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of {{convert|163|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.80% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 18.1% were of [[Irish people|Irish]], 14.6% [[English people|English]], 11.8% [[Italian people|Italian]], 10.5% [[French people|French]], 8.0% [[French Canadian]], 6.0% [[German people|German]] and 5.6% [[United States|American]] ancestry. 94.3% spoke [[English language|English]], 1.8% [[French language|French]] and 1.3% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 104,529 households, out of which 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $58,150, and the median income for a family was $66,345. (These figures had risen to $72,600 and $85,361 respectively, as of a 2007 estimate.) Males had a median income of $45,598 versus $30,741 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $26,656. About 3.10% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.00% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics and government==
Rockingham County has historically been a Republican stronghold, but the county is now competitive. Three Democratic presidential nominees have won it since 1964, including [[Joe Biden]] in 2020, who was the first to win a majority since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].

The county is divided between the Democratic stronghold that is the [[Seacoast Region (New Hampshire)|Seacoast]] Region, and the conservative western portions of the county.

Rockingham County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.{{efn|The other eleven are [[Butte County, California]]; [[Teton County, Idaho]]; [[Kent County, Maryland]]; [[Kendall County, Illinois]]; [[McLean County, Illinois]]; [[Tippecanoe County, Indiana]]; [[Kent County, Michigan]]; [[Leelanau County, Michigan]]; [[Carroll County, New Hampshire]]; [[Marion County, Oregon]]; [[Grand County, Utah]]; and [[Albany County, Wyoming]].|name=|group=}}

{{PresHead|place=Rockingham County, New Hampshire|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=June 9, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|102,539|97,611|2,772|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|95,858|100,064|3,420|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|90,447|79,994|10,993|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|87,921|80,142|2,360|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|81,917|83,723|2,182|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|82,069|75,437|1,310|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|65,860|61,628|6,685|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|46,201|53,644|13,403|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|47,353|44,317|32,136|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|64,034|35,775|1,596|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|57,586|25,557|297|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|45,960|21,712|11,802|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|36,738|30,051|1,341|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|38,825|21,998|718|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|28,842|21,195|2,419|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|19,498|27,256|0|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|28,032|17,063|0|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|28,226|10,198|18|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|26,280|12,040|0|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|18,890|11,937|301|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|17,144|13,170|2|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|16,223|14,001|0|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|15,466|12,207|576|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|14,902|11,363|140|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|17,590|7,782|53|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|14,530|6,073|634|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|13,811|6,582|132|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|5,866|5,637|162|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|4,231|4,306|2,733|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|6,814|4,118|361|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|7,216|4,320|299|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|7,363|4,719|337|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|7,881|2,992|496|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|6,380|5,961|230|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|6,450|6,553|226|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|6,162|5,682|326|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|6,960|5,989|121|New Hampshire}}
{{PresRow|1876|Republican|6,422|5,576|3|New Hampshire}}
|}

===County Commission===
The executive power of Rockingham County's government is held by three county commissioners, each representing one of the three commissioner districts within the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Offices - 2016 General Election |url=http://sos.nh.gov/2016CountyGen.aspx?id=8589963586 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531213952/http://sos.nh.gov/2016CountyGen.aspx?id=8589963586 |archive-date=May 31, 2018 |website=New Hampshire Department of State}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! Districts
! Name
! Hometown
! Party
|-
| District 1
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Kate Coyle 
| [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth, NH]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
|-
| District 2
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Steven L. Goddu 
| [[Salem, NH]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| District 3
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Thomas Tombarello
| [[Sandown, NH]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

In addition to the County Commission, there are five directly elected officials: they include County Attorney, Register of Deeds, County Sheriff, Register of Probate, and County Treasurer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Departments – Rockingham County, NH |url=http://www.rockinghamcountynh.org/departments/}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! Office
! Name
|-
| County Attorney
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Patricia Conway (R)
|-
| Register of Deeds
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Cathy Stacey (R)
|-
| County Sheriff
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Chuck Massahos (R)
|-
| Register of Probate
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Lisa Massahos (R)
|-
| County Treasurer
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Scott Priestley (R)
|}

===Legislative branch===
The legislative branch of Rockingham County is made up of the members of the [[New Hampshire House of Representatives]] from the county. In total, as of August 2018 there are 90 members from 37 different districts.
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=bottom
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Affiliation
! Members
! Voting share
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| align=center | 29
| align=center | 32.2%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
| align=center | 61
| align=center | 67.8%
|-
! colspan=2 | Total
! 90
! 100%
|}

After redistricting based on the [[2010 United States census]], Rockingham County was split between 8 state senate districts:<ref>{{Cite web |title=NH-SOS - 2020 Election Information |url=https://sos.nh.gov/elections/elections/2020-election-information/}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
! District
! Areas of Rockingham County
! Senator
! Party
! First elected
! Residence
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[New Hampshire's 14th State Senate district|14]]
| Londonderry, Auburn
| [[Sharon Carson]]
| Republican
| 2010
| [[Londonderry, New Hampshire|Londonderry]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[New Hampshire's 16th State Senate district|16]]
| Candia
| [[Kevin Cavanaugh]]
| Democratic
| 2017
| [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[New Hampshire's 17th State Senate district|17]]
| Raymond, Northwood, Nottingham, Deerfield
| [[John Reagan (New Hampshire politician)|John Reagan]]
| Republican
| 2012
| [[Deerfield, New Hampshire|Deerfield]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[New Hampshire's 19th State Senate district|19]]
| Windham, Derry, Hampstead
| [[Regina Birdsell]]
| Republican
| 2014
| [[Hampstead, New Hampshire|Hampstead]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[New Hampshire's 21st State Senate district|21]]
| Portsmouth, Newington, Newmarket, Newfields
| [[Rebecca Perkins Kwoka]]
| Democratic
| 2020
| [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[New Hampshire's 22nd State Senate district|22]]
| Salem, Atkinston, Plaistow
| [[Chuck Morse]]
| Republican
| 2010
| [[Salem, New Hampshire|Salem]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[New Hampshire's 23rd State Senate district|23]]
| Exeter, Brentwood, Epping, Fremont, Kingston, East Kingston, Danville, Sandown, Chester
| [[Bill Gannon (New Hampshire politician)|Bill Gannon]]
| Republican
| 2020
| [[Sandown, New Hampshire|Sandown]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[New Hampshire's 24th State Senate district|24]]
| New Castle, Rye, Stratham, North Hampton, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Kensington, South Hampton Newton
| [[Tom Sherman (politician)|Tom Sherman]]
| Democratic
| 2018
| [[Rye, New Hampshire|Rye]]
|}

==Attractions==
[[Strawbery Banke]] Museum in [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth]] is a collection of historic buildings from the 17th through 19th centuries. [[Canobie Lake Park]], in [[Salem, New Hampshire|Salem]], is an amusement park that opened in 1902. [[Rockingham Park]] racetrack, which featured weekly [[horse racing]] until 2009, was also in Salem. The site of the former track, next to the [[Mall at Rockingham Park]], is being redeveloped as Tuscan Village, a [[mixed-use development]]. [[America's Stonehenge]], which claims to be a pre-Columbian collection of stone structures, is in northern Salem. [[Derry, New Hampshire|Derry]] was home to poet [[Robert Frost]], who taught at nearby [[Pinkerton Academy]]. His home, the [[Robert Frost Farm (Derry, New Hampshire)|Robert Frost Farm]], has been preserved as a [[List of New Hampshire state parks|state park]].

Rockingham County is also home to New Hampshire's entire seacoast and features several popular resort towns. [[Hampton Beach, New Hampshire|Hampton Beach]] has a boardwalk and [[Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom]]. [[Rye, New Hampshire|Rye]] features several undeveloped beaches such as [[Odiorne Point State Park]] and contains New Hampshire's portion of the [[Isles of Shoals]]. [[Seabrook, New Hampshire|Seabrook]] contains [[Seabrook Greyhound Park]] and the [[Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant]], the last nuclear plant opened in the United States.

==Communities==
[[Image:Rockingham County SAU.png|thumb|200px|right|Map of [[school administrative unit]]s in Rockingham County]]

===City===
* [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth]]

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Atkinson, New Hampshire|Atkinson]]
* [[Auburn, New Hampshire|Auburn]]
* [[Brentwood, New Hampshire|Brentwood]] (county seat)
* [[Candia, New Hampshire|Candia]]
* [[Chester, New Hampshire|Chester]]
* [[Danville, New Hampshire|Danville]]
* [[Deerfield, New Hampshire|Deerfield]]
* [[Derry, New Hampshire|Derry]]
* [[East Kingston, New Hampshire|East Kingston]]
* [[Epping, New Hampshire|Epping]]
* [[Exeter, New Hampshire|Exeter]]
* [[Fremont, New Hampshire|Fremont]]
* [[Greenland, New Hampshire|Greenland]]
* [[Hampstead, New Hampshire|Hampstead]]
* [[Hampton, New Hampshire|Hampton]]
* [[Hampton Falls, New Hampshire|Hampton Falls]]
* [[Kensington, New Hampshire|Kensington]]
* [[Kingston, New Hampshire|Kingston]]
* [[Londonderry, New Hampshire|Londonderry]]
* [[New Castle, New Hampshire|New Castle]]
* [[Newfields, New Hampshire|Newfields]]
* [[Newington, New Hampshire|Newington]]
* [[Newmarket, New Hampshire|Newmarket]]
* [[Newton, New Hampshire|Newton]]
* [[North Hampton, New Hampshire|North Hampton]]
* [[Northwood, New Hampshire|Northwood]]
* [[Nottingham, New Hampshire|Nottingham]]
* [[Plaistow, New Hampshire|Plaistow]]
* [[Raymond, New Hampshire|Raymond]]
* [[Rye, New Hampshire|Rye]]
* [[Salem, New Hampshire|Salem]]
* [[Sandown, New Hampshire|Sandown]]
* [[Seabrook, New Hampshire|Seabrook]]
* [[South Hampton, New Hampshire|South Hampton]]
* [[Stratham, New Hampshire|Stratham]]
* [[Windham, New Hampshire|Windham]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Derry (CDP), New Hampshire|Derry]]
* [[Epping (CDP), New Hampshire|Epping]]
* [[Exeter (CDP), New Hampshire|Exeter]]
* [[Hampton (CDP), New Hampshire|Hampton]]
* [[Hampton Beach, New Hampshire|Hampton Beach]]
* [[Londonderry (CDP), New Hampshire|Londonderry]]
* [[Newfields (CDP), New Hampshire|Newfields]]
* [[Newmarket (CDP), New Hampshire|Newmarket]]
* [[Raymond (CDP), New Hampshire|Raymond]]
* [[Seabrook Beach, New Hampshire|Seabrook Beach]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages===
* [[Candia Four Corners, New Hampshire|Candia Four Corners]]
* [[East Candia, New Hampshire|East Candia]]
* [[East Derry, New Hampshire|East Derry]]
* [[East Hampstead, New Hampshire|East Hampstead]]
* [[Newton Junction, New Hampshire|Newton Junction]]
* [[North Salem, New Hampshire|North Salem]]
* [[West Nottingham, New Hampshire|West Nottingham]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Rockingham County, NH |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33015_rockingham/DC20SD_C33015.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722154716/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33015_rockingham/DC20SD_C33015.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33015_rockingham/DC20SD_C33015_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

; K-12 districts:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Epping School District]]
* [[Londonderry School District]]
* [[Newmarket School District]]
* [[Portsmouth School District (New Hampshire)|Portsmouth School District]]
* [[Raymond School District]]
* [[Salem School District (New Hampshire)|Salem School District]]
* [[Sanborn Regional School District]]
* [[Timberlane Regional School District]]
* [[Windham School District (New Hampshire)|Windham School District]]
{{div col end}}

; Secondary districts:
* [[Exeter Regional Cooperative School District]]
* [[Winnacunnet Cooperative School District]]

; Elementary districts:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Auburn School District (New Hampshire)|Auburn School District]]
* [[Brentwood School District (New Hampshire)|Brentwood School District]]
* [[Candia School District]]
* [[Chester School District (New Hampshire)|Chester School District]]
* [[Deerfield School District]]
* [[Derry School District]]
* [[East Kingston School District]]
* [[Exeter School District]]
* [[Fremont School District (New Hampshire)|Fremont School District]]
* [[Greenland School District (New Hampshire)|Greenland School District]]
* [[Hampstead School District]]
* [[Hampton School District (New Hampshire)|Hampton School District]]
* [[Hampton Falls School District]]
* [[Kensington School District]]
* [[New Castle School District]]
* [[Newfields School District]]
* [[Newington School District]]
* [[North Hampton School District]]
* [[Northwood School District]]
* [[Nottingham School District]]
* [[Rye School District]]
* [[Seabrook School District]]
* [[South Hampton School District]]
* [[Stratham School District]]
{{div col end}}

There is also a privately endowed, publicly funded school, [[Pinkerton Academy]] in Derry. Towns in Rockingham County that send their public high school students to Pinkerton, other than Derry, include Auburn, Candia, Chester, and Hampstead<!-- Hooksett is in Merrimac County-->.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Academy |url=https://www.pinkertonacademy.org/about/about-the-academy |access-date=2024-11-27 |publisher=[[Pinkerton Academy]]}}</ref> Prior to 1978 Londonderry sent its high schoolers to Pinkerton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LONDONDERRY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAU #12, LONDONDERRY, NH |url=http://schools.londonderry.org/assets/documents/common/districtProfile.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007095948/http://schools.londonderry.org/assets/documents/common/districtProfile.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2007 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |publisher=Londonderry School District}}</ref> Previously Auburn and Candia sent high school students to the [[Manchester School District]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huss |first=Julie |date=March 17, 2011 |title=Pinkerton welcomes Auburn |url=https://www.derrynews.com/community/pinkerton-welcomes-auburn/article_2bb39fe2-ab40-5403-8e0b-e928e7038de0.html |access-date=April 25, 2022 |newspaper=[[Derry News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Huss |first=Julie |date=March 15, 2016 |title=Candia voters say yes to Pinkerton |url=https://www.derrynews.com:443/news/local_news/candia-voters-say-yes-to-pinkerton/article_0a89b755-c056-5c2d-b6bd-6d6cb0130603.html |access-date=April 24, 2022 |newspaper=[[Derry News]]}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> 
* [[Annie Bartlett Shepard]] (1861–1944), anti [[women's suffrage]] activist and founder of a chapter of the [[Daughters of the American Revolution]] (DAR)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leonard |first=John W. |url=https://archive.org/details/womanswhoswhoofa00leon/page/738/mode/2up |title=Woman's Who's Who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada, 1914-1915 |date=1976 |publisher=New York, American Commonwealth Co. Detroit, Gale Research Co. |pages=739}}</ref>
* [[Robert W. Wiley]] (born 1963), politician

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rockingham County, New Hampshire]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* D. Hamilton Hurd, [https://archive.org/details/historyofrocking00hurd ''History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties, New Hampshire: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men.''] Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis, 1882.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.rockinghamcountynh.org/ Rockingham County official website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Rockingham County, New Hampshire
|North     = [[Strafford County, New Hampshire|Strafford County]]
|Northeast = [[York County, Maine]]
|East      = ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Essex County, Massachusetts]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|Hillsborough County]]
|Northwest = [[Merrimack County, New Hampshire|Merrimack County]]
}}

{{Rockingham County, New Hampshire}}
{{New Hampshire}}
{{Rivers of New Hampshire}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|42.99|-71.09|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NH_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Rockingham County, New Hampshire| ]]
[[Category:Counties in Greater Boston]]
[[Category:1769 establishments in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1769]]
[[Category:Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham]]