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Laconia, New Hampshire

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Laconia, New Hampshire
Official seal of Laconia, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Belknap County, New Hampshire
Location in Belknap County, New Hampshire
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyBelknap County
Incorporated1855
Government
 • City CouncilMatthew J. Lahey, Mayor
Elevation
502 ft (153 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
16,411
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
Websitewww.cityoflaconianh.org

Laconia is a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire, USA. The population was 16,411 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Belknap CountyTemplate:GR. Laconia, situated near Lake Winnipesaukee, includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June, the city hosts Laconia Motorcycle Week, one of the country's largest rallies, and each winter, the Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby.

History

Bird's-eye View in 1911

A large Abenaki Indian settlement called "Acquadocton Village" once existed at the point now known as "The Weirs," named by colonists for fishing weirs discovered at the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River. Early explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada mentioned in Indian lore. About 1652, the Endicott surveying party visited the area, an event commemorated by Endicott Rock, a local landmark. A fort would be built at Laconia in 1746. But ongoing hostilities between the English, French, and their respective Native American allies prevented settlement until 1761, after which it remained for many years a part of Meredith and Gilford called "Meredith Bridge."

File:Belknap County Courthouse, Laconia, NH.jpg
Belknap County Courthouse in 1906

Beginning in 1765, lumber and grist mills were established on Mill Street, with taverns built soon thereafter on Parade Street. About 1822, the court house was built, which would become county seat at the creation of Belknap County in 1840. In 1832, the Belknap Mill was built to manufacture textiles; largely unaltered, the structure is today a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local industry produced lumber, textiles, shoes, hosiery, knitting machinery and needles. But the city's largest employer would be the Laconia Car Company, builder of rail, trolley and subway cars. Started in 1848, it lasted until the 1930s. The railroad entered town in 1849, carrying both freight and an increasing number of summer tourists to popular Weirs Beach.

Church Street in c. 1912

In 1855, Laconia was incorporated as a town from land in Meredith Bridge, Lakeport, Weirs and part of Gilmanton. The name was probably taken from the old Laconia Company, formed by Captain John Mason and the Masonian Proprietors to sell parcels of land during the colonial era. The Great Fire of 1860 destroyed most of Main Street from Mill to Water streets, followed by the Great Lakeport Fire of 1903, a blaze so fierce that fire companies were brought by train from as far away as Dover. Laconia would be incorporated as a city in 1893.

Notable Inhabitants

Geography

File:The Weirs & Lake Winnipesaukee.jpg
Lake Winnipesaukee in c. 1920

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.8 km² (26.6 mi²). 52.5 km² (20.3 mi²) of it is land and 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²) of it is water, comprising 23.70% of the town. Laconia is drained by the Winnipesaukee River. It is bounded in the southwest by Winnisquam Lake, and by Lake Winnipesaukee in the northeast. The highest point in Laconia is an unnamed 960 foot (293 meter) hill in the northern part of the city, southwest of Weirs Beach.

Demographics

Shore Path in c. 1915

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 312.4/km² (809.3/mi²). There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 162.9/km² (421.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.79% White, 0.55% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 6,724 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.

Webster Square in c. 1915

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,796, and the median income for a family was $45,307. Males had a median income of $31,714 versus $22,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,540. About 7.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of Interest

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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