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Bristol, New Hampshire

Coordinates: 43°35′28″N 71°44′12″W / 43.59111°N 71.73667°W / 43.59111; -71.73667
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Bristol, New Hampshire
Town
Central Square in 2012
Central Square in 2012
Official seal of Bristol, New Hampshire
Seal
Motto: 
"The Gateway to Newfound Lake"
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Location in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 43°35′28″N 71°44′12″W / 43.59111°N 71.73667°W / 43.59111; -71.73667
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyGrafton
Incorporated1819
Government
 • Board of SelectmenLeslie Dion, Chair
Don Milbrand
Wayne Anderson
JP Morrison
Rick Alpers
 • Town AdministratorNicholas Coates
Area
 • Total
22.4 sq mi (57.9 km2)
 • Land17.1 sq mi (44.3 km2)
 • Water5.3 sq mi (13.6 km2)  23.43%
Elevation
466 ft (142 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
3,054
 • Density140/sq mi (53/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03222
Area code603
FIPS code33-07700
GNIS feature ID0873552
Websitewww.townofbristolnh.org

Bristol is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,054 at the 2010 census.[1] It is home to Wellington State Park, Sugar Hill State Forest, and Profile Falls on the Smith River. Surrounded by hills and lakes, Bristol includes the lower two-thirds of Newfound Lake, a resort area.

The primary settlement in town, where 1,688 people resided at the 2010 census,[1] is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Bristol census-designated place (CDP) and is located at the intersection of New Hampshire routes 3A and 104.

History

Bristol was taken from Bridgewater and New Chester (now Hill) and incorporated 24 June 1819. Colonel Peter Sleeper, Benjamin Emmons and others commenced a settlement here in 1770.[2]

Extensive deposits of fine sand or clay similar to the "Bristol sand" used in Bristol, England, to make fine china and pottery gave the town its name. Here the sand was used to make a superior quality brick, marketed as Bristol brick. With water power from the Pemigewasset River, the town was a center of manufacturing in the early days for goods such as paper, leather, woolens, flannel, bedsteads and piano stools.[3]

On January 16, 1884, the town of Bristol voted to accept the gift of a library building and land from Josiah Minot and Solomon Sleeper and to manage and maintain a public library. The Minot–Sleeper Library became the first building erected to specifically house a public library in the Lakes Region at the time, when it was officially opened to the community in 1885. On August 15, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in celebration of the library's expansion. In February 2013, the new addition was ready for use.

Bristol is one of four towns with shoreline on Newfound Lake, which has been a tourist destination since the mid-19th century. Farmers at first rented rooms and provided meals, but in the 1870s, hotels including the Hotel Bristol and G. G. Brown Hotel were built. In 1874, Bristol was the terminus of the Franklin and Bristol Branch railroad. The New Hampshire Central Railroad was planned to pass through Bristol.[2] In the 1920s, W. F. Darling created a compound of about one hundred cottages for rent, first known as Hiland Park and later as Bungalo Village. In 2004, the compound was sold to a proprietor who sold individual cottages to permanent owners.[citation needed]

  • The Hotel Bristol in 1911
    The Hotel Bristol in 1911
  • Central Square in 1906
    Central Square in 1906
  • The Ledges in 1912
    The Ledges in 1912
  • Minot–Sleeper Library c. 1910
    Minot–Sleeper Library c. 1910

Geography

1884 bird's-eye view of Bristol

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.4 square miles (58.0 km2), of which 17.1 square miles (44.3 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (13.7 km2) is water, comprising 23.43% of the town.[4] Bristol is drained by the Pemigewasset River (forming the southeastern boundary of the town), the Smith River (on the town's short southern boundary) and the Newfound River, draining Newfound Lake and most of the center of town. The highest point in town is Bristol Peak, elevation 1,803 feet (550 m) above sea level. Bristol lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[5]

Bristol is served by state routes 3A and 104.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1820675—
183079918.4%
18401,15344.3%
18501,103−4.3%
18601,1241.9%
18701,41626.0%
18801,352−4.5%
18901,52412.7%
19001,6005.0%
19101,478−7.6%
19201,428−3.4%
19301,61012.7%
19401,6321.4%
19501,586−2.8%
19601,470−7.3%
19701,67013.6%
19802,19831.6%
19902,53715.4%
20003,03319.6%
20103,0540.7%
2017 (est.)3,047[6]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,054 people, 1,283 households, and 851 families residing in the town. There were 2,488 housing units, of which 1,205, or 48.4%, were vacant. 1,089 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% white, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8]

Of the 1,283 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were headed by married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36, and the average family size was 2.81.[8]

In the town, 21.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% were from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.[8]

For the period 2011-2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $50,080, and the median income for a family was $56,161. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,627 versus $35,921 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,353. 8.7% of the population and 5.0% of families were below the poverty line. 15.4% of the population under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[9]

The Newfound River descending from the town center

Education

It is within the Newfound Area School District.[10] Schools in Bristol include Bristol Elementary School, Newfound Memorial Middle School, and Newfound Regional High School.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Article in Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire (1875)
  3. ^ Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 429–430. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
  4. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Bristol town, New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Minor Civil Divisions – New Hampshire". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Bristol town, Grafton County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Bristol town, Grafton County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Central Office". Newfound Area School District. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  11. ^ "Pattee, Fred Lewis". Penn State Libraries. Pennsylvania State University. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
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