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Bethlehem, NH


Bethlehem New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Bethlehem Board of Selectmen
David Lovejoy, Chairman
PO Box 189
Bethlehem, NH 03574
Telephone (603) 869-3351 x10
Fax (603) 869-2280
E-mail tobeth@roadrunner.com
Web Site www.bethlehemnh.org

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 4 pm, Friday, 8 am - 12 noon

County Grafton
Labor Market Area Littleton NH-VT LMA, NH Portion
Tourism Region White Mountains
Planning Commission North Country Council
Regional Development Grafton County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District 2
Executive Council District 1
State Senate District 1
State Representative Grafton County District s1, 14

Incorporated: 1799
Origin: This community was first established in 1774 as Lloyd's Hills, the last of the provincial land grants. Probably because James Lloyd, for whom the town was named, was a loyalist, voters elected to change the name following the Revolution. The name Bethlehem was selected on the last Christmas Day in the century, and the town was so incorporated on December 27, 1799. According to the US Postal Service, Bethlehem is one of several US communities with holiday-themed names who have special holiday postmarks.
Villages and Place Names: Alderbrook, Five Corners, Maplewood, Pierce Bridge
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 171 residents in 1800
Population Trends: Population change for Bethlehem totaled 1,622 over 51 years, from 898 in 1960 to 2,520 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was between 1970 and 1980, when population increased by 56 percent. The 2011 Census estimate for Bethlehem was 2,520 residents, which ranked 119th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 27.9 persons per square mile of land area. Bethlehem contains 90.6 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2006 $2,088,453
Budget: School Appropriations, Not Available
Zoning Ordinance 1972/10
Master Plan 2004
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Library; Planning; Zoning
Appointed:Conservation
Public Library Bethlehem Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time Chief & volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Littleton Regional, Littleton 8 miles 25

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; Littleton Water & Light
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Bethlehem Village District
Sanitation Private septic & municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupMunicipal
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramYes
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES
2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $29.87
2011 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $29.27
2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings84.7%
Commercial Land and Buildings12.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other3.2%

(ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING
Total Housing Units 1,601
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 1,114
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 158
Five or More Units in Structure 187
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 142
(US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2011 2,520 88,923
2010 2,526 89,118
2000 2,206 81,826
1990 2,018 74,998
1980 1,784 65,806
1970 1,142 54,914
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011
Population by Gender
Male:   1,264 Female:   1,238
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 108
Age 5 to 19 456
Age 20 to 34 374
Age 35 to 54 778
Age 55 to 64 506
Age 65 and over 280
Median Age 46.3 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 90.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher 26.1%

(ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $
Per capita income $26,446
Median family income $59,139
Median household income $50,430
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $40,797
Female $35,417
Families below the poverty level 9.0%

(NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 2001 2011
Civilian Labor Force 1,380 1,478
Employed 1,335 1,402
Unemployed 45 76
Unemployment Rate 3.3% 5.1%

(NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
Annual Average Covered Employment 2001 2011
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 24 12
Average Weekly Wage $612 $982
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 186 343
Average Weekly Wage $402 $664
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 210 355
Average Weekly Wage $426 $675
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 184 190
Average Weekly Wage $549 $591
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 394 545
Average Weekly Wage $484 $645
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

(NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Bethlehem operates grades K-6; grades 7-12 are part of Profile Cooperative (Bethlehem, Easton, Franconia, Sugar Hill) SAU 35
Career Technology Center(s): Gallen Regional Voc. Center, Littleton; White Mountain Regional High, Whitefield Region: 3
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1 1 3
Grade Levels K 1-6 7-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment 195 89 181 136
2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 24
Nearest Community/Technical College: White Mountains
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Granite State College-Littleton

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Profile Junior/Senior High School Education 55 1976
White Mountain School Education 54
Bethlehem Elementary School Education 35
Pinetree Power Inc. Electric plant 20 1988
Town of Bethlehem Municipal services 15

(Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION
Road Access US Routes 3, 302
State Routes 18, 116, 142
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exits 39 - 40
Distance Local access
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Twin Mountain
Runway 2,640 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? No
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Lebanon Municipal Distance 67 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 1
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 103 miles
Portland, ME 107 miles
Boston, MA 154 miles
New York City, NY 347 miles
Montreal, Quebec 173 miles

(ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 80.9%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 7.7%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 2.0%
Other Means 1.9%
Worked at home 7.5%
Mean Travel Time to Work 25.1 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2007-2011)
Working in community of residence 76.7%
Commuting to another NH community 14.7%
Commuting out-of-state 8.5%
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
X Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Cannon Mountain, Bretton Woods
   
Other: Antiques; The Rocks Tree Farm; Hiking; Moutain Biking

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2013.
Community Response Received 06/18/12

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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