Peterborough, NH

more resources...

Peterborough, NH

Community Contact	Peterborough Office of Community Development Carol Ogilvie 1 Grove Street, Town House Peterborough, NH 03458
Telephone	924-8000x104
Fax	(603) 371-9035
E-mail	ocd@townofpeterborough.us
Web Site	http://townofpeterborough.com
Municipal Office Hours	Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
County	Hillsborough
Tourism Region	Monadnock
Planning Commission	Southwest Region
Regional Development	Monadnock Business Ventures
Election Districts
US Congress	District 2
Executive Council	District 5
State Senate	District 11
State Representative	District 44

Incorporated: 1760

Origin: Although not known for certain, this town was probably named from Charles Mordaunt, third Earl of Peterborough. Other possibilities include it having been named Peter's Borough for Peter Prescott, clerk of the Masonian Proprietors, or for St. Petersburg in Russia. Peterborough was among the soldier's towns named during the term of Governor Jonathan Belcher when New Hampshire was still a province of Massachusetts. The town had the first free public library supported by taxation, and the first mill in the state that wove cloth mechanically. It is home to the MacDowell Colony, a retreat for writers, artists, and composers. Guests have included Edward Arlington Robinson, Leonard Bernstein, and Thornton Wilder, whose play Our Town was inspired by Peterborough.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 861 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Peterborough's population grew about the statewide average rate over four of the last five decades. Decennial growth rates ranged from a seven percent increase between 1980-1990 to a 29 percent increase between 1970-1980. Overall, Peterborough's population increased by a total of 3,327 residents, going from 2,556 in 1950 to 5,883 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Peterborough was 5,975 residents, which ranked 55th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 156.5 persons per square mile of land area. Peterborough contains 38.0 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.

Villages and Place Names: Drury, Happy Valley, MacDowell Colony, Noone, North Village, West Peterborough

Type of Government	Selectmen
2002 Annual Budget	$7,000,352
Zoning Ordinance	1970/04
Master Plan	2003
Capitol Improvement Plan	Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By	Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:	Board of Selectmen
Appointed:	Planning Board; Zoning Board; Conservation Commission; Library Trustees; Cemetery Trustees

Public Library

Peterborough Town

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department	Full-time
Fire Department	Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating	5/9
Emergency Medical Service	Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s):
Monadnock Community, Peterborough
Distance: Local	Staffed Beds: 43

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier	PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier	None
Water Supplier	Peterborough Water Works

Sanitation	Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant	Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup	None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program	Yes
Mandatory Recycling Program	Mandatory

Telephone Company	Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access	Yes
Cable Television Access	Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:
Business	unknown
Residential	unknown

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000)	$35.70
2003 Equalization Ratio	61.4
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000)	$21.77

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings	73.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings	24.5%
Other Property including Utilities	2.0%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units	2,551

2002 Single-Family Units	1,719
Building Permits Issued	17
2002 Multi-Family Units	811
Building Permits Issued	7
2002 Manufactured Housing Units	21

DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population	Community	County
2003	5,975	394,663
2000	5,883	380,841
1990	5,239	336,073
1980	4,895	276,608
1970	3,807	223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male	2,685	Female	3,198

Population by Age Group
Under age 5	318
Age 5 to 19	1,285
Age 20 to 34	706
Age 35 to 54	1,842
Age 55 to 64	512
Age 65 and over	1,220
Median Age	42 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher	93.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher	41.3%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income	$26,154
Median 4-person family income	$54,375
Median household income	$47,381

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male	$42,178
Female	$27,422

Families below the poverty level

6.4%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average	1993	2003
Civilian Labor Force	2,595	3,103
Employed	2,477	2,984
Unemployed	118	119
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.8%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES	1993	2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment	1,040	900
Average Weekly Wage	$571	$763

Service Providing Industries
Average Employment	3,231	3,542
Average Weekly Wage	$479	$617

Total Private Industry
Average Employment	4,271	4,441
Average Weekly Wage	$502	$647

Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment	379	615
Average Weekly Wage	$555	$703

Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment	4,650	5,056
Average Weekly Wage	$506	$654
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

Schools students attend:	Grades K-12 are part of Contoocook Valley Cooperative (Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple)	District: SAU 1
Career Technology Center(s):	Contoocook Valley Regional High School	Region: 14

Educational Facilities	Elementary	Middle/Junior High	High School	Private/Parochial
Number of Schools	1	1	1	3
Grade Levels	K R 1-4	5-8	9-12	K-12
Total Enrollment	347	577	1,068

NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003:

Total Facilities: 7

Total Capacity: 332

Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua

Nearest Colleges or Universities: Franklin Pierce; Keene State; Antioch New England

LARGEST EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT/SERVICE	EMPLOYEES	ESTABLISHED
NH Ball Bearings	Precision bearings	450	1946
Monadnock Community Hospital	Health care	400	1919
Peterborough Public School System	Education	266
Eastern Mountain Sports	Outdoor equipment and clothing	224	1977
Millard Group Inc.	Mailing list brokerage	210	1987
Harborside Health Care	Nursing home	90
Rivermead	Retirement community	100	1995
Staff Dev for Educators	Educational Seminars	175

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access	Federal Routes	202
	State Routes	101, 123, 136
Nearest Interstate, Exit		I-293, Exit 4
	Distance	36 miles
Railroad	No
Public Transportation	No
Nearest Airport		Jaffrey
Runway			2,982 feet
Lighted?	Yes	Navigational Aids?	Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport			Manchester
Distance			40 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH	38 miles
Portland, ME	132 miles
Boston, MA	72 miles
New York City, NY	238 miles
Montreal, Quebec	262 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK	(US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van	81.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van	6.4%
Public transportation	0.3%
Walked	3.9%
Other Means	0.4%
Worked at home	7.4%
Mean Travel Time to Work	23.3 minutes

Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence	55%
Commuting to another NH community	41%
Commuting out-of-state	4%

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X	Municipal Parks
	YMCA/YWCA
	Boys Club/Girls Club
X	Golf Courses
	Swimming: Indoor Facility
X	Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X	Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X	Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
	Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X	Bowling Facilities
X	Museums
X	Cinemas
X	Performing Arts Facilities
	Tourists Attractions
X	Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X	Youth Sports: Baseball
X	Youth Sports: Soccer
X	Youth Sports: Football
X	Youth Sports: Basketball
X	Youth Sports: Hockey
	Campgrounds
X	Fishing/Hunting
	Boating/Marinas
	Snowmobile Trails
X	Bicycle Trails
X	Cross Country Skiing
X	Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area

	Nearest Ski Area(s): Mount Sunapee

	Other: Miller State Park; MacDowell Colony; Shieling State Forest, Mt. Monadnock

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/24/04

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

Penny for your thoughts?
How about a chance to win a new iPod!