Colebrook, New Hampshire
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Image:Colebrook Seal.JPG Colebrook is a town located in Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,321. It is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River, and home to Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area in the northwest. Colebrook includes the villages of Kidderville, Upper Kidderville, and Factory Village.
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History
Image:Looking North on Main Street, Colebrook, NH.jpg First granted in 1762 by New Hampshire's first Colonial Governor, Benning Wentworth, the territory was named "Dryden," after English poet and playwright, John Dryden. Due to the inability of grantees to settle the area, it was regranted in 1770 by his nephew, Governor John Wentworth, to new colonizers, who renamed the grant "Coleburne" after Sir George Colebrooke, the East India Company's chairman of the board. It would be incorporated as "Colebrook" June 11, 1795, and for many years was the shire town for the Northern Judicial District of Coos County. Today, it has a district court of the Lancaster superior court.
According to the 1874 Gazetteer, Colebrook was the "Potato Capital" of New Hampshire, producing over 120,000 bushels per year, most of which were milled into starch. The town was also witness to some of the last of the great log drives.
Historic Sites & Museums:
- Colebrook Area Historical Society Museum, located in the Town Hall building
- Poore Family Homestead Historic Farm Museum
Geography
Image:Monadnock Mountain from Dugway Hill.jpg Colebrook is the hub of northern Coos County. Roads from Maine, Vermont, New York, Montreal and Quebec all converge here, with the eastern approach to the town through famous Dixville Notch. To the north is Stewartstown, east is Dixville and south is Columbia. The town is accessible via U.S. Route 3, New Hampshire Route 26 from the east, and SR 145 from Stewartstown.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 106.2 km² (41.0 mi²). 106.2 km² (41.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.07% water. Colebrook is drained by Beaver Brook and the Mohawk River, which flows into the Connecticut River. The highest point in Colebrook is Van Dyck Mountain, elevation 2760 feet (841 meters). The town's western view is dominated by Monadnock Mountain, elevation 3140 feet (957 meters), in Lemington, Vermont.
Demographics
Image:Monadnock House, Colebrook, NH.jpg At the first census of 1790 there were 29 residents. As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,321 people, 1,035 households, and 607 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.9/km² (56.6/mi²). There were 1,312 housing units at an average density of 12.4/km² (32.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49% White, 0.00% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,035 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.76.
Image:Parsons Street, Colebrook, NH.jpg In the town the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,244, and the median income for a family was $42,260. Males had a median income of $31,833 versus $20,383 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,390. 12.0% of the population and 6.5% of families were below the poverty line. 14.5% of those under the age of 18 and 20.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
