Dalton, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Dalton is a town
in Coos County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 979 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Berlin
, NH–VT
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
's castle. The name was changed to Apthorp in 1770, after the Apthorp family. The name Dalton was chosen in 1784, in honor of Tristram Dalton
.
, the town has a total area of 28 square miles (72.5 km²), of which 27.5 square miles (71.2 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is water, comprising 2.00% of the town. The town's highest point is the summit of Dalton Mountain, at 2146 feet (654.1 m) above sea level
. The town includes the hamlet
of Cushman, which is located on the Connecticut River
, opposite Gilman, Vermont
. Dalton lies fully within the Connecticut River
watershed
.
Approximately 82% of the town's land—14390 acres (58.2 km²) out of a total land area of 17624 acres (71.3 km²)—is undeveloped farm land, forest land or unproductive land enrolled in the state's current use program. The 14390 acres (58.2 km²) of undeveloped land enrolled in current use is owned by 200 property owners, resulting in an average parcel size of 71.95 acres (291,171.6 m²) per current use owner. According to the town's property ownership records (available from the town clerk at town hall, 741 Dalton Road, Dalton, NH), the town's largest landowner, together with family members, owns in excess of 1000 acres (4 km²) of land.
of 2000, there were 927 people, 374 households, and 253 families residing in the town. The population density
was 33.7 people per square mile (13.0/km²). There were 520 housing units at an average density of 18.9 per square mile (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.76% White, 0.76% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 374 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $29,097 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,234. About 2.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Coos County
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 979 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Berlin
Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, NH–VT
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Berlin micropolitan area
The Berlin Micropolitan Statistical Area is the core based statistical area centered on the urban cluster associated with the city Berlin, New Hampshire in the United States...
.
History
Dalton was incorporated in 1764 under the name Chiswick, named for the Duke of DevonshireDuke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
's castle. The name was changed to Apthorp in 1770, after the Apthorp family. The name Dalton was chosen in 1784, in honor of Tristram Dalton
Tristram Dalton
Tristram Dalton was an American politician who served as a Senator from Massachusetts.-Early life:Dalton was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He attended Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard College in 1755...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 28 square miles (72.5 km²), of which 27.5 square miles (71.2 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) is water, comprising 2.00% of the town. The town's highest point is the summit of Dalton Mountain, at 2146 feet (654.1 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The town includes the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Cushman, which is located on the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, opposite Gilman, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Dalton lies fully within the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Approximately 82% of the town's land—14390 acres (58.2 km²) out of a total land area of 17624 acres (71.3 km²)—is undeveloped farm land, forest land or unproductive land enrolled in the state's current use program. The 14390 acres (58.2 km²) of undeveloped land enrolled in current use is owned by 200 property owners, resulting in an average parcel size of 71.95 acres (291,171.6 m²) per current use owner. According to the town's property ownership records (available from the town clerk at town hall, 741 Dalton Road, Dalton, NH), the town's largest landowner, together with family members, owns in excess of 1000 acres (4 km²) of land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 927 people, 374 households, and 253 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 33.7 people per square mile (13.0/km²). There were 520 housing units at an average density of 18.9 per square mile (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.76% White, 0.76% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 374 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $29,097 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,234. About 2.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.