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Peterborough, NH


Peterborough New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Peterborough Community Development Office
Carol Ogilvie, Community Development Director
1 Grove Street, Town House
Peterborough, NH 03458
Telephone (603) 924-8000 x104
Fax (603) 924-8001
E-mail ocd@townofpeterborough.us
Web Site http://townofpeterborough.com

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

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Peterborough NH LMA
Tourism Region Monadnock
Planning Commission Southwest Region
Regional Development Monadnock Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District 2
Executive Council District 5
State Senate District 9
State Representative Hillsborough County District 24

Incorporated: 1760
Origin: This territory was chartered in 1737 by the Massachusetts legislature, and the first settlers arrived in 1739. The township was probably named from Charles Mordaunt, third Earl of Peterborough. Peterborough was incorporated in 1760 by Governor Benning Wentworth, with continuance for two years only. The incorporation was renewed in 1762, to continue until disallowed by the King. Peterborough had the first free public library supported by taxation, and the first mill in the state that wove cloth mechanically. It is home to the MacDowell Colony, a retreat for writers, artists, and composers. Guests have included Edward Arlington Robinson, Leonard Bernstein, and Thornton Wilder, whose play Our Town was inspired by Peterborough.
Villages and Place Names: Drury, Happy Valley, MacDowell Colony, Noone, North Village, West Peterborough
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 861 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Peterborough totaled 3,335 over 51 years, from 2,963 in 1960 to 6,298 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was a 29 percent increase between 1970 and 1980, which followed a 28 percent increase over the previous decade. The 2011 Census estimate for Peterborough was 6,298 residents, which ranked 51st among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 166.6 persons per square mile of land area. Peterborough contains 37.7 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2013 $13,594,586
Budget: School Appropriations, 2013 $11,003,553
Zoning Ordinance 1970/12
Master Plan 2012
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Planning; Library; Zoning; Budget; Recreation; Cemetery
Appointed:Conservation; Agricultural; Heritage; Capital Improvement; Economic Development; Master Plan; Greater Downtown TIF Advisory; West Peterborough TIF Advisory; Monadnock Community Healthcare TIF Advisory; Parks; Open Space; Water Resources; Fence Viewers
Public Library Peterborough Town

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full & part-time
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Monadnock Community, Peterborough Local 25

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Peterborough Water Works
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramYes
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessLimited
ResidentialLimited

(NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES
2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $27.34
2011 Equalization Ratio 96.2
2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $25.58
2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings76.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings22.0%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other1.8%

(ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING
Total Housing Units 3,065
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 2,044
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 536
Five or More Units in Structure 485
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 0
(US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2011 6,298 401,696
2010 6,284 400,721
2000 5,896 382,384
1990 5,257 336,549
1980 4,895 276,608
1970 3,807 223,941
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011
Population by Gender
Male:   2,845 Female:   3,424
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 280
Age 5 to 19 1,089
Age 20 to 34 666
Age 35 to 54 1,706
Age 55 to 64 1,078
Age 65 and over 1,450
Median Age 48.6 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 94.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher 57.4%

(ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $
Per capita income $39,520
Median family income $91,601
Median household income $68,469
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $59,444
Female $38,004
Families below the poverty level 2.3%

(NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 2001 2011
Civilian Labor Force 2,876 2,908
Employed 2,786 2,763
Unemployed 90 145
Unemployment Rate 3.1% 5.0%

(NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
Annual Average Covered Employment 2001 2011
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 1,105 795
Average Weekly Wage $727 $954
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 3,403 3,227
Average Weekly Wage $581 $880
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 4,508 4,023
Average Weekly Wage $617 $895
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 592 605
Average Weekly Wage $635 $835
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 5,101 4,628
Average Weekly Wage $619 $887
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

(NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Contoocook Valley Cooperative (Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple) SAU 1
Career Technology Center(s): Region 14 Applied Technology Center, Peterborough Region: 14
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1 1 1
Grade Levels K 1-4 5-8 9-12 P K 1-12
Total Enrollment 281 469 897 130
2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 7 Total Capacity: 346
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Franklin Pierce University; Keene State; Antioch New England

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
NH Ball Bearings Precision bearings 550 1946
Monadnock Community Hospital Health care services 668 1919
Peterborough Public School System Education 272
Eastern Mountain Sports Outdoor equipment and clothing 130 1967
Millard Group Inc. Mailing list brokerage 130 1987
Pheasant Wood Health Care Nursing home 100
Rivermead Retirement community 160 1995
Staff Development for Educators Educational seminars 170 1986

(Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION
Road Access US Routes 202
State Routes 101, 123, 136
Nearest Interstate, Exit Everett Tpk., Exits 7 - 8; I-89, Exit 5
Distance 27 miles; 33 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Jaffrey - Silver Ranch
Runway 2,982 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 38 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 36 miles
Portland, ME 132 miles
Boston, MA 73 miles
New York City, NY 241 miles
Montreal, Quebec 269 miles

(ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 81.1%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 6.1%
Public transportation 0.4%
Walked 3.1%
Other Means 1.6%
Worked at home 7.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work 23.6 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2007-2011)
Working in community of residence 75.4%
Commuting to another NH community 19.3%
Commuting out-of-state 5.2%
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X 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
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Mount Sunapee
   
Other: Miller State Park; MacDowell Colony; Shieling State Forest; Mount Monadnock

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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