Contoocook, New Hampshire

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Contoocook (Template:IPAc-en) is a village<ref>New Hampshire Employment Security, [1], Hopkinton NH Community Profile</ref> and census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Hopkinton in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,427 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">Template:Cite web</ref> Contoocook is well known for its growth of small businesses, preservation of historical landmarks, community involvement and recreational activities within the village.

History

File:Contoocook NH circa 1870.jpg

Original covered railroad bridge (left) and covered highway bridge (right)

The village is named after the Contoocook River that runs through it. The name Contoocook comes from the Pennacook tribe of Native Americans and perhaps means "place of the river near pines". Other variations of the name include the Abenaki meaning "nut trees river" or Natick language meaning "small plantation at the river".<ref name=Coolidge>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In previous centuries the area was known as "Contoocookville". It is the birthplace of Civil War naval officer George H. Perkins. His daughter Isabel Weld Perkins and his son-in-law Larz Anderson maintained Perkins Manor as one of several summer homes.

In describing the approach to Perkins Manor one commentator writes:

"In passing up the Concord and Claremont Railroad from Concord, the observant traveler has doubtless noticed the substantial and comfortable-looking homestead with large and trim front yard, shaded by thickly planted and generous topped maples, on the right-hand side of the road after crossing the bridge that spans 'Contoocook's bright and brimming river' at the pleasant-looking village of Contoocookville in the northern part of Hopkinton."<ref>The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bay State Monthly</ref>

Geography

Contoocook is located in the northern part of the town of Hopkinton. New Hampshire Route 103 passes through the center of the village as Main Street and Park Avenue. New Hampshire Route 127 enters the village from the south as Maple Street and joins NH 103 along Park Avenue departing to the north. Interstate 89 runs along the western edge of the community, with access from Exit 6 (NH 127). I-89 leads southeast Template:Convert to Interstate 93 in the town of Bow, just south of Concord, the state capital. I-89 leads northwest Template:Convert to Lebanon. NH 103 leads southeast Template:Convert to Hopkinton village and northwest Template:Convert to Warner. NH 127 leads southwest Template:Convert to West Hopkinton and north Template:Convert to Franklin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Contoocook CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert, or 4.26%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">Template:Cite web</ref> The Contoocook River flows through the center of the village, and the Warner River forms the northern edge of the community, flowing into the Contoocook.

Demographics

Template:US Census population As of the census of 2010, there were 1,444 people, 610 households, and 397 families residing in the CDP. There were 638 housing units, of which 28, or 4.4%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.9% white, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="Census 2010 DP">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 610 households in the CDP, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were headed by married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.92.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

23.1% of residents in the CDP were under the age of 18, 6.1% were from 18 to 24, 20.7% were from 25 to 44, 32.1% were from 45 to 64, and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2011–15, the estimated median annual income for a household was $84,083, and the median income for a family was $90,833. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,077.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sites of interest

File:Stone arch bridge over the Contoocook River in Contoocook, New Hampshire. - panoramio.jpg

Stone arch bridge over the Contoocook River in the village center

For sites of interest, see Hopkinton, New Hampshire

Notable people

For notable people, see Hopkinton, New Hampshire