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Gilsum, NH


gilsum New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Gilsum
Olivia Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant
650 Route 10, PO Box 67
Gilsum, NH 03448
Telephone (603) 357-0320
Fax Not Available
E-mail gilsum@gilsum-nh.gov
Web Site https://gilsum-nh.gov

Municipal Office Hours Selectmen: Monday, 2-6, meet Monday at 6 pm; Town Clerk: Tuesday, 4-7, Wednesday, 9-12; second and last Thursday each month, 4-7; Tax Collector: Monday, 5-7

County Cheshire
Labor Market Area Keene, NH Micropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Monadnock
Planning Commission Southwest Region
Regional Development Monadnock Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 2
State Senate District District 8
State Representative Cheshire County Districts 9, 16

Incorporated: 1763
Origin: First granted by the New Hampshire proprietors in 1752, the town was given the name Boyle, after Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and a distinguished architect. No claims were settled within the prescribed time because of danger from Indian attacks. A new charter was issued in 1763 to Benjamin Sumner, who surveyed the area and established a settlement along with several relatives from Connecticut. One of those settlers, Captain Samuel Gilbert, became the town's first moderator. The name Gilsum was adopted in honor of Captain Gilbert and Mr. Sumner. Gilsum's Lower Village is the site of the much-photographed Stone Arch over the Ashuelot River.
Villages and Place Names: Lower Village, Roundys Corner
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 298 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Gilsum totaled 187 over 50 years, from 570 in 1970 to 757 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Gilsum was 776 residents, which ranked 205th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 46.6 persons per square mile of land area. Gilsum contains 16.7 square miles of land area and 0 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2022 $936,811
Budget: School Appropriations, 2021-2022 $1,432,096
Zoning Ordinance 1956/09
Master Plan 2001
Capitol Improvement Plan No
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Budget; Trust Funds; Cemetary; Library; Checklist
Appointed:Recreation; Planning; Zoning; Conservation
Public Library Gilsum Public

Emergency Services
Police Department Cheshire County Sheriff & part-time
Fire Department Volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Cheshire Medical Center, Keene 8 miles 94

Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramYes
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Limited
Cable Television Access Limited
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $23.57
2022 Equalization Ratio 72.2
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $16.72
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings87.0%
Commercial Land and Buildings8.9%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other4.1%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 349
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 317
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 11
Five or More Units in Structure 0
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 21
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 776 77,350
2020 752 76,458
2010 813 77,117
2000 779 73,993
1990 667 70,223
1980 652 62,116
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   452 Female:   374
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 57
Age 5 to 19 80
Age 20 to 34 189
Age 35 to 54 185
Age 55 to 64 143
Age 65 and over 172
Median Age 47.1 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 624
High school graduate or higher 95.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher 18.6%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $32,339
Median family income $76,250
Median household income $66,875
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $51,833
Female $39,900
Individuals below the poverty level 7.9%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 477 429
Employed 454 421
Unemployed 23 8
Unemployment Rate 4.8% 1.9%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment n 104
Average Weekly Wage n $910
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment n 26
Average Weekly Wage n $709
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 99 130
Average Weekly Wage $743 $869
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 27 21
Average Weekly Wage $824 $656
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 125 151
Average Weekly Wage $760 $840

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Monadnock Regional (Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Richmond, Roxbury, Swanzey, Troy) SAU 93
Career Technology Center(s): Cheshire Career Center (Keene); Fall Mountain RHS - CTE
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1
Grade Levels K 1-6 9-12
Total Enrollment 52
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 0 Total Capacity: 0
Nearest Community/Technical College: River Valley
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Keene State; Antioch New England; New England

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
W.S. Badger Co., Inc. Hand lotion, balm 1996
Freedom Motors Auto Repair
Gilsum Garage Auto Repair
Bill's Garage Auto Repair
Alternative Detailing Car Detailing
Chris Lane Enterprises Tree Removal

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 10
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-91 (VT), Exit 3 or 5
Distance 25 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Dillant-Hopkins, SwanzeyRunway6,201 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Lebanon Municipal Distance 54 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 1
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 62 miles
Portland, ME 154 miles
Boston, MA 112 miles
New York City, NY 230 miles
Montreal, Quebec 234 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 455
Drove alone, car/truck/van 73.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 11.2%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 0.4%
Other Means 0.4%
Worked at home 14.1%
Mean Travel Time to Work 29.4 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 20.0%
Commuting to another NH community 76.3%
Commuting out-of-state 3.7%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
Youth Sports: Baseball
Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Crotched Mountain
   
Other: Gilsum Rock Swap; Old Home Day; Natural Bear Dens

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 6/19/23

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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