Westmoreland, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Westmoreland is a town
in Cheshire County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 1,874 at the 2010 census. Westmoreland is historically an agricultural
town, with much arable farmland
.
of Massachusetts
as Number 2, second in a line of Connecticut River
fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian
attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When New Hampshire became an independent province, the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth
as Westmoreland, named for John Fane
, 7th Earl of Westmorland
.
The Park Hill Meetinghouse
, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere
bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England
, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779, and renovated in 1826.
Westmoreland was home to Mary Josephine Ray
(1895–2010), who was the second-oldest person in the world at the time of her death.
, the town has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which 35.9 sq mi (93 km²) is land and 1 sq mi (2.6 km²), or 2.71%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River. Hyland Hill, elevation 1510 feet (460.2 m) above sea level
and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and although it is now private land, it is a local hiking and hunting destination.
Westmoreland is served by state routes 12
and 63
.
of 2000, there were 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 families residing in the town. The population density
was 48.7 people per square mile (18.8/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 576 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples
living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,875, and the median income for a family was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% 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 Cheshire County
Cheshire County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 73,825 people, 28,299 households, and 18,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 31,876 housing units at an average density of 45 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 1,874 at the 2010 census. Westmoreland is historically an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
town, with much arable farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
.
History
Once known as Great Meadow, this town was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan BelcherJonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher was colonial governor of the British provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.-Early life:Jonathan Belcher was born in Cambridge, Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 1682...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
as Number 2, second in a line of 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...
fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When New Hampshire became an independent province, the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
as Westmoreland, named for John Fane
John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland
John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland was an English nobleman, styled The Honourable John Fane from 1691 to 1736....
, 7th Earl of Westmorland
Earl of Westmorland
Earl of Westmorland is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. The title was first created in 1397 for Ralph Neville. It was forfeited in 1571 by Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland for leading the Rising of the North. It was revived in 1624 in favour of Sir Francis...
.
The Park Hill Meetinghouse
Park Hill Meetinghouse
Park Hill Meetinghouse is a historic meeting house on Park Hill in Westmoreland, New Hampshire.It was built in 1764 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779, and renovated in 1826.
Westmoreland was home to Mary Josephine Ray
Mary Josephine Ray
Mary Josephine Ray was the world's second-oldest verified living person at the time of her death...
(1895–2010), who was the second-oldest person in the world at the time of her death.
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 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which 35.9 sq mi (93 km²) is land and 1 sq mi (2.6 km²), or 2.71%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River. Hyland Hill, elevation 1510 feet (460.2 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...
and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and although it is now private land, it is a local hiking and hunting destination.
Westmoreland is served by state routes 12
New Hampshire Route 12
New Hampshire Route 12 is a north-south state highway running across the western portion of New Hampshire from the Massachusetts state line to the Vermont state line at the Connecticut River.-Route description:...
and 63
New Hampshire Route 63
New Hampshire Route 63 is a long north–south state highway in Cheshire County in southwestern New Hampshire. It runs from Winchester to Westmoreland.The northern terminus of NH 63 is in Westmoreland at New Hampshire Route 12...
.
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 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 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 48.7 people per square mile (18.8/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% 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 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 576 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% 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, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,875, and the median income for a family was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 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 $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Clinton BabbittClinton BabbittClinton Babbitt was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, Babbitt attended the common schools and was graduated from Keene Academy. He moved to Wisconsin in 1853 and settled near Beloit in Rock County...
, congressman - Goldsmith BaileyGoldsmith BaileyGoldsmith Fox Bailey was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. When he was three years old, his widowed mother moved with him to Fitchburg....
, congressman - Nathaniel S. BentonNathaniel S. BentonNathaniel Seley Benton was a New York politician who served as a New York State Senator and Secretary of State of New York....
, politician - Joseph Buffum, Jr.Joseph Buffum, Jr.Joseph Buffum, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and attended the public schools and the local academy. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1806...
, congressman and judge - Martin ButterfieldMartin ButterfieldMartin Butterfield was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, he attended the common schools and moved to Palmyra, Wayne County, New York in 1828 and engaged in the hardware business and also in the manufacture of rope and cordage...
, congressman - Levi K. FullerLevi K. FullerLevi Knight Fuller was the 44th Governor of Vermont from 1892 to 1894.-Early life:Born in Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, and attended Brattleboro High School and later apprenticed as a machinist in Boston, also working as telegrapher to finance additional studies in engineering and...
, governor of Vermont - John M. GoodenowJohn M. GoodenowJohn Milton Goodenow was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, Goodenow attended the public schools.He engaged in mercantile pursuits.He studied law....
, congressman - Thomas B. MarshThomas B. MarshThomas Baldwin Marsh was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served as the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1835 to 1839...
, religious leader - Mary Josephine RayMary Josephine RayMary Josephine Ray was the world's second-oldest verified living person at the time of her death...
, centenarian - Everett WarnerEverett WarnerEverett Longley Warner was an American Impressionist painter and printmaker, as well as a leading contributor to US Navy camouflage during both World Wars.-Early years:...
, artist and printmaker