Goshen, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Goshen is a town
in Sullivan County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 810 at the 2010 census.
). The name Goshen may have been taken from Goshen
, Connecticut
, where many residents had relatives.
, the town has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which 22.5 sq mi (58.3 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) is water, comprising 0.40% of the town. The long ridge of Mount Sunapee
occupies the eastern edge of town. The highest point in Goshen is an unnamed knob on the ridge (near Goves Mountain) where the elevation reaches 2529 feet (770.8 m) above sea level
. Goshen lies almost fully within the Connecticut River
watershed
, though a small corner in the southeast of town is in the Merrimack River
watershed.
of 2000, there were 741 people, 279 households, and 219 families residing in the town. The population density
was 32.9 people per square mile (12.7/km²). There were 389 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.03% White, 1.62% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.13% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,625, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $22,727 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,561. About 6.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over.
maintain a combined elementary and middle school, called Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School, located in Lempster. The school serves kindergarten through 8th grade.
After 8th grade, students are given the choice to attend several neighboring high schools, including Newport High School, Sunapee Senior High School
, and Kearsarge Regional High School
.
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 Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,458 people, 16,530 households, and 11,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 29/; . There were 20,158 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, 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 810 at the 2010 census.
History
Incorporated in 1791, Goshen was first settled in 1768 as a part of Saville (now SunapeeSunapee, New Hampshire
Sunapee is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,365 at the 2010 census. Sunapee is home to part of Lake Sunapee...
). The name Goshen may have been taken from Goshen
Goshen, Connecticut
Goshen is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,697 at the 2000 census.Each July, the Connecticut Agricultural Fair is held in town. It is also home to the Goshen players.-Geography:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, where many residents had relatives.
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 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which 22.5 sq mi (58.3 km²) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.258998811 km²) is water, comprising 0.40% of the town. The long ridge of Mount Sunapee
Mount Sunapee
Mount Sunapee is a -long mountain ridge in the towns of Newbury and Goshen in western New Hampshire. Its highest peak, at the north end of the mountain, is above sea level. The mountain has three secondary peaks, White Ledges at ; North Peak at ; and South Peak at...
occupies the eastern edge of town. The highest point in Goshen is an unnamed knob on the ridge (near Goves Mountain) where the elevation reaches 2529 feet (770.8 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...
. Goshen lies almost 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...
, though a small corner in the southeast of town is in the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
watershed.
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 741 people, 279 households, and 219 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 32.9 people per square mile (12.7/km²). There were 389 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.03% White, 1.62% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.13% 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 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,625, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $22,727 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 $20,561. About 6.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Goshen and the neighboring town of LempsterLempster, New Hampshire
Lempster is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,154 at the 2010 census. Settlements include the town center and the village of East Lempster.- History :...
maintain a combined elementary and middle school, called Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School, located in Lempster. The school serves kindergarten through 8th grade.
After 8th grade, students are given the choice to attend several neighboring high schools, including Newport High School, Sunapee Senior High School
Sunapee Senior High School
Sunapee Middle–High School is a high school and middle school located in Sunapee, New Hampshire. Established in 1974, the school had approximately 136 students in grades 9-12 and 109 students in grades 6-8 during the 2009-2010 school year. There are approximately 37 staff and faculty members...
, and Kearsarge Regional High School
Kearsarge Regional High School
Kearsarge Regional High School is a high school located in North Sutton, New Hampshire, serving the Kearsarge Regional School District. Kearsarge Regional High School serves students from the neighboring towns of New London, Wilmot, Newbury, Springfield, Warner and Bradford.Sports at the high...
.
Notable residents
- Goshen is the birthplace of John Williams Gunnison, U.S. Army officer and explorer of the American West. Several places in Colorado and Utah, including the Gunnison RiverGunnison RiverThe Gunnison River is a tributary of the Colorado River, long, in the Southwest state of Colorado. It is the fifth largest tributary of the Colorado River, with a mean flow of 4320 ft³/s .-Description:...
, are named for him. The home he inhabited in Goshen still stands. Gunnison Lake (given the nickname "The Goshen Ocean" by locals) in Goshen is named after him.