 |
Community Contact |
Portsmouth Economic Development Commission
Nancy Carmer, Economic Development Program Manager
1 Junkins Avenue
Portsmouth, NH
03801
|
| Telephone |
(603) 610-7220 |
| Fax |
(603) 427-1593 |
| E-mail |
nmcarmer@cityofportsmouth.com |
| Web Site |
http://cityofportsmouth.com
|
| Municipal Office Hours |
Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
|
| County |
Rockingham |
| Labor Market Area |
Portsmouth NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion |
| Tourism Region |
Seacoast |
| Planning Commission |
Rockingham |
| Regional Development |
Coastal Economic Development Corp.
|
| Election Districts |
|
| US Congress |
District 1 (All Wards) |
| Executive Council |
District 3 (All Wards) |
| State Senate |
District 21 (All Wards) |
| State Representative |
Rockingham County Districts 25, 30 (Ward 1) 26, 30 (Ward 2) 27, 31 (Ward 3) 28, 30 (Ward 4) 29,30 (Ward 5) |
| Incorporated: 1631 |
| Origin: This territory was a part of the original land grant to John Mason and Francisco Gorges in 1622. A township grant was issued by the council of Plymouth (MA) in 1631 which covered what is now Portsmouth and the harbor, Greenland, Rye, New Castle, and Newington. First called Piscataqua, the settlement became known as Strawberry Banke because of the wild strawberries that were found there. The name Portsmouth was adopted in 1653 to honor John Mason, Captain of the Port in Portsmouth, England, and because it was a good harbor situated at the river's mouth. Already an important center of trade and shipping, Portsmouth became capitol of the province of New Hampshire in 1679, and was incorporated as a city in 1849. |
| Villages and Place Names: Atlantic Heights, Christian Shore, Creek Area, Elwyn Park, Meadowbrook, Pannaway Manor, Portsmouth Plains, Haymarket Square, Sagamore Hill, Strawbery Banke, the Woodlands
|
| Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 4,720 residents in 1790 |
| Population Trends: Population change decreased for Portsmouth by 6,052 over 51 years, from 26,900 in 1960 to 20,848 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was a 2 percent increase between 1970 and 1980; population declined by 21 percent between 1990 and 2000. The 2011 Census estimate for Portsmouth was 20,848 residents, which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. |
| Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 1,329.0 persons per square mile of land area, the third highest among the cities and towns. Portsmouth contains 15.6 square miles of land area and 1.2 square miles of inland water area. |
| MUNICIPAL SERVICES |
| Type of Government |
City Manager & Council |
| Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2013 |
$52,254,008 |
| Budget: School Appropriations, 2013 |
$38,302,260 |
| Zoning Ordinance |
1927/05 |
| Master Plan |
2005 |
| Capitol Improvement Plan |
Yes |
| Industrial Plans Reviewed By |
Planning Department |
| Boards and Commissions | |
| Elected: | City Council; School; Police |
| Appointed: | Planning; Conservation; Library; Economic Development; Historic District; Zoning |
| Public Library |
Portsmouth Athenaeum; Portsmouth Public |
| EMERGENCY SERVICES |
| Police Department |
Full-time |
| Fire Department |
Municipal |
| Emergency Medical Service |
Full & part-time |
| Nearest Hospital(s) |
Distance |
Staffed Beds |
| Portsmouth Regional, Portsmouth |
Local |
165 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| UTILITIES |
| Electric Supplier |
PSNH |
| Natural Gas Supplier |
Unitil |
| Water Supplier |
Portsmouth Water Department |
| Sanitation |
Municipal |
| Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant |
Yes |
| Solid Waste Disposal |
| Curbside Trash Pickup | Municipal |
| Pay-As-You-Throw Program | No |
| Recycling Program | Mandatory |
| Telephone Company |
Fairpoint |
| Cellular Telephone Access |
Yes |
| Cable Television Access |
Yes |
| Public Access Television Station |
Yes |
| High Speed Internet Service: |
| Business | Yes |
| Residential | Yes |
| (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES |
| 2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$17.27 |
| 2011 Equalization Ratio |
96.7 |
| 2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$16.33 |
| 2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type |
| Residential Land and Buildings | 56.5% |
| Commercial Land and Buildings | 38.6% |
| Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other | 4.8% |
| (ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING |
| Total Housing Units |
10,757 |
| Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached |
5,290 |
| Units in Multiple-Family Structures: |
|
| Two to Four Units in Structure |
1,846 |
| Five or More Units in Structure |
3,338 |
| Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units |
283 |
| (US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS |
| Total Population |
Community |
County |
| 2011 |
20,848 |
296,207 |
| 2010 |
20,779 |
295,223 |
| 2000 |
20,822 |
278,748 |
| 1990 |
26,252 |
246,744 |
| 1980 |
26,254 |
190,345 |
| 1970 |
25,717 |
138,951 |
| |
| Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011 |
| Population by Gender |
| Male: 10,097 |
|
Female: 10,802 |
| Population by Age Group |
| Under age 5 |
|
936 |
| Age 5 to 19 |
|
2,682 |
| Age 20 to 34 |
|
5,419 |
| Age 35 to 54 |
|
6,180 |
| Age 55 to 64 |
|
2,438 |
| Age 65 and over |
|
3,244 |
| Median Age |
|
40.5 years |
| Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over |
| High school graduate or higher |
|
96.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher |
|
48.4% |
| (ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $ |
| Per capita income |
$39,344 |
| Median family income |
$92,882 |
| Median household income |
$64,459 |
| Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers |
| Male |
$56,497 |
| Female |
$40,637 |
| Families below the poverty level |
5.6% |
| (NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE |
| Annual Average |
2001 |
2011 |
| Civilian Labor Force |
12,830 |
13,944 |
| Employed |
12,433 |
13,348 |
| Unemployed |
397 |
596 |
| Unemployment Rate |
3.1% |
4.3% |
| (NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES |
| Annual Average Covered Employment |
2001 |
2011 |
| Goods Producing Industries |
| Average Employment |
2,452 |
2,286 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$802 |
$1,287 |
| |
|
|
| Service Providing Industries |
| Average Employment |
23,399 |
24,316 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$775 |
$1,034 |
| |
|
|
| Total Private Industry |
| Average Employment |
25,851 |
26,602 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$778 |
$1,056 |
| |
|
|
| Government (Federal, State, and Local) |
| Average Employment |
1,824 |
1,966 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$718 |
$938 |
| |
|
|
| Total, Private plus Government |
| Average Employment |
27,675 |
28,568 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$774 |
$1,048 |
| n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards |
| (NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES |
| Schools students attend: |
Portsmouth operates grades K-12 |
SAU 52 |
| Career Technology Center(s): |
Portsmouth High School |
Region: 19 |
| Educational Facilities |
Elementary |
Middle/Junior High |
High School |
Private/Parochial |
| Number of Schools |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Grade Levels |
P K 1-5 |
6-8 |
9-12 |
P K 1-8 |
| Total Enrollment |
1,130 |
475 |
1,100 |
182 |
| 2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): |
Total Facilities: 20 |
Total Capacity: 1,379 |
| Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay |
| Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH |
| LARGEST BUSINESSES |
PRODUCT/SERVICE |
EMPLOYEES |
ESTABLISHED |
| HCA Portsmouth Regional Hospital |
Health care services |
1,079 |
1987 |
| Liberty Mutual Insurance |
Insurance services |
1,013 |
1969 |
| City of Portsmouth |
Municipal services |
1,339 |
|
| Portsmouth Consular Center, US Dept of State |
Passport, visa services |
1,380 |
|
| Bottomline Technologies |
Finance software |
350 |
|
| John Hancock |
Financial services |
400 |
|
| Lonza Biologies |
Contract pharmaceuticals |
727 |
|
| Thermo Fisher |
Analytical instruments & laboratory equipment |
280 |
|
| Direct Capital |
Commercial leasing |
220 |
|
| Alpha Flying PlaneSense |
Fractional Aircraft ownership |
270 |
|
| (Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION |
| Road Access |
US Routes |
1, 4 |
|
State Routes |
1A, 1B, 16, 33, 1 Bypass |
| Nearest Interstate, Exit |
I-95, Exits 3 - 7 |
|
Distance |
Local access |
| Railroad |
Guilford Rail Service |
| Public Transportation |
COAST; Wildcat Transit |
| |
| Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation |
| Pease International |
| Runway |
11,321 ft. asphalt/concrete |
| Lighted? |
Yes |
Navigational Aids? |
Yes |
| Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service |
| Manchester-Boston Regional |
Distance |
47 miles |
| Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport |
4 |
| |
| Driving distance to selected cities: |
| Manchester, NH |
45 miles |
| Portland, ME |
51 miles |
| Boston, MA |
57 miles |
| New York City, NY |
270 miles |
| Montreal, Quebec |
301 miles |
| (ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK |
| Workers 16 years and over |
|
| Drove alone, car/truck/van |
79.1% |
| Carpooled, car/truck/van |
4.8% |
| Public transportation |
1.7% |
| Walked |
5.7% |
| Other Means |
2.3% |
| Worked at home |
6.4% |
| Mean Travel Time to Work |
20.2 minutes |
| |
| Percent of Working Residents: |
(ACS 2007-2011) |
| Working in community of residence |
71.5% |
| Commuting to another NH community |
10.3% |
| Commuting out-of-state |
18.2% |
| RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS |
| Municipal Parks |
| YMCA/YWCA |
| Boys Club/Girls Club |
| Golf Courses |
| Swimming: Indoor Facility |
| Swimming: Outdoor Facility |
| Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity |
| Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility |
| Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility |
| Bowling Facilities |
| Museums |
| Cinemas |
| Performing Arts Facilities |
| Tourists Attractions |
| Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H) |
| Youth Sports: Baseball |
| Youth Sports: Soccer |
| Youth Sports: Football |
| Youth Sports: Basketball |
| Youth Sports: Hockey |
| Campgrounds |
| Fishing/Hunting |
| Boating/Marinas |
| Snowmobile Trails |
| Bicycle Trails |
| Cross Country Skiing |
| Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area |
| Overnight or Day Camps |
| |
|
|
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock |
| |
|
|
Other: Strawbery Banke; Harbor & Isles of Shoals Cruises; Historic Homes; Fish Pier; Trolley; Sailing; Kayaking; Music Festival; Shopping |
Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2013.
Community Response Received 07/23/12
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.
