Hanover, New Hampshire
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Image:Dartmouth College Baker building.jpg Hanover is a town located on the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, U.S.. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 10,850. It is best known as the home of Dartmouth College. Hanover borders the towns of Lyme, Canaan, Enfield, and Norwich, Vermont, as well as the city of Lebanon. Norwich and Hanover share the first and one of the few inter-state school districts in the nation.
Norwich and Hanover are two of the small number of towns that travellers must pass through while hiking the Appalachian trail. Hanover is also the home of the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL).
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History
At one point in its history, the southwest corner of Hanover was known as Dresden. In the late 18th century, Dresden was one of a group of neighboring New Hampshire communities that briefly defected to Vermont, when the Republic of Vermont was an independent nation. This status was short-lived, however, as New Hampshire threatened the Republic of Vermont with war, with the aid of the other 12 states, if the communities were not returned. As a result, Vermont rejected the communities' defections, and they were returned to New Hampshire in the US. As an interesting historical note, the name "Dresden" is still used in the Dresden School District, an interstate school district serving both Hanover and Norwich, Vermont. Since 1769, the town has been home to Dartmouth College.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 130.0 km² (50.2 mi²). 127.1 km² (49.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.9 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.23% water. The highest point in Hanover is the north peak of Moose Mountain (2,305 feet above sea level).
The tap water of downtown Hanover is supplied by several local reservoirs. Unfortunately, the town has made little effort to continually improve its municipal utilities, (the majority of the town's waterpipes, for instance, are over a hundred years old and made of clay) and as a result, the tap water frequently smells of fish and is often a pale shade of brown. Despite the unpleasant taste, odor and appearance of the water, town officials continually remind tourists and locals alike that downtown Hanover’s tap water is potable. Outside the downtown area, residents rely on private wells that are not maintained by the town.
There are a great many trails and nature preserves in Hanover, and the majority of these trails are suitable for snow shoes and cross-country skis.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 10,850 people, 2,832 households, and 1,761 families residing in the town. The population density was 85.3/km² (221.0/mi²). There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 23.5/km² (60.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.98% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 6.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. 2.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,832 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 37.6% from 18 to 24, 16.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $72,470, and the median income for a family was $99,158. Males had a median income of $63,409 versus $35,771 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,393. 9.1% of the population and 0.6% of families were below the poverty line. 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
See also: Hanover (CDP), New Hampshire
