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Laconia, NH


Laconia New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact City of Laconia
Scott Myers, City Manager
45 Beacon Street East
Laconia, NH 03246
Telephone (603) 527-1270
Fax (603) 527-1292
E-mail citymanager@city.laconia.nh.us
Web Site www.city.laconia.nh.us

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

County Belknap
Labor Market Area Laconia NH Micro-NECTA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council District 1 (All Wards)
State Senate District 7 (All Wards)
State Representative Belknap County Districts 3, 9 (All Wards)

Incorporated: 1855
Origin: The name Laconia was first used in documents granting the land between the Merrimack and Sagadahock Rivers to Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Some documents call the grant the Province of Maine, others call it the Province of Laconia, named after a region of Greece. In the 1620s explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain, in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada told of in Indian lore. These explorers were known as the Laconia Adventurers. The town was originally a portion of Meredith and Gilford named Meredith Bridge, and was incorporated as Laconia in 1855. Incorporated as a city in 1893, Laconia includes Weirs Beach, which bears the name of primitive fishing devices discovered at the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Villages and Place Names: Lakeport, Weirs Beach
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,806 residents in 1860
Population Trends: Population change for Laconia totaled 698 over 51 years, from 15,288 in 1960 to 15,986 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was five percent between 1970 and 1980. The 2011 Census estimate for Laconia was 15,986 residents, which ranked 15th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 795.3 persons per square mile of land area. Laconia contains 20.1 square miles of land area and 6.5 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2012-2013 $60,410,233
Budget: School Appropriations, Included with Municipal Appropriations
Zoning Ordinance 1948/07
Master Plan 2007
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By City Planner
Boards and Commissions
Elected:City Council
Appointed:Planning; Zoning; Library; Conservation; Assessors; Building Code; Housing; Parks & Recreation; Putnam Fund; Trust Funds; Water; Personnel
Public Library Laconia Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Municipal
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Lakes Region General, Laconia Local 104

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier Liberty Utilities
Water Supplier Laconia Water Works
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupMunicipal
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES
2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $20.56
2011 Equalization Ratio 97.1
2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $19.57
2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings82.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings16.7%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other1.1%

(ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING
Total Housing Units 9,679
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 5,324
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 1,892
Five or More Units in Structure 1,966
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 497
(US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2011 15,986 60,223
2010 15,951 60,088
2000 16,451 56,576
1990 15,831 49,294
1980 15,575 42,884
1970 14,888 32,367
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011
Population by Gender
Male:   7,620 Female:   8,499
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 664
Age 5 to 19 2,705
Age 20 to 34 2,978
Age 35 to 54 4,701
Age 55 to 64 2,338
Age 65 and over 2,733
Median Age 43.7 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 86.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher 22.6%

(ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $
Per capita income $27,711
Median family income $65,460
Median household income $48,517
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $43,798
Female $32,141
Families below the poverty level 8.3%

(NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 2001 2011
Civilian Labor Force 8,637 7,869
Employed 8,353 7,364
Unemployed 284 505
Unemployment Rate 3.3% 6.4%

(NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
Annual Average Covered Employment 2001 2011
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 2,988 1,625
Average Weekly Wage $683 $932
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 6,679 6,380
Average Weekly Wage $537 $747
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 9,667 8,006
Average Weekly Wage $583 $785
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 1,506 1,352
Average Weekly Wage $625 $810
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 11,173 9,357
Average Weekly Wage $588 $789
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

(NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Laconia operates grades K-12 SAU 30
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Technical Center, Laconia; Winnisquam Regional High School, Tilton Region: 8
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 3 1 1 3
Grade Levels P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment 946 476 623 244
2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 16 Total Capacity: 773
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Aavid Engineering Corp. Semiconductor heat sinks 620 1966
NH Ball Bearings, Inc. Spherical bearings 478 1968
Lewis & Sanders, Inc. Metal tubular assemblies 130 1956
Wilcom Products, Inc Telecommunications test equipment 85
Baron Machine Co., Inc. Machine parts, heat treating 70 1957
Lakes Region General Hospital Medical care services

(Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION
Road Access US Routes 3
State Routes 106, 107, 11, 11A, 11B
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
Distance 8 miles
Railroad State owned line
Public Transportation WTS
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Laconia Municipal
Runway 5,286 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 50 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 45 miles
Portland, ME 89 miles
Boston, MA 95 miles
New York City, NY 300 miles
Montreal, Quebec 237 miles

(ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 83.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 9.0%
Public transportation 0.3%
Walked 3.1%
Other Means 1.3%
Worked at home 2.7%
Mean Travel Time to Work 18.8 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2007-2011)
Working in community of residence 80.4%
Commuting to another NH community 18.5%
Commuting out-of-state 1.1%
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X 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
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Mount Washington Cruises; Weirs Beach; Scenic Railroad; Prescott Farm Audubon Center

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2013.
Community Response Received 07/26/12

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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