MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

'Milford' is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA, on the Souhegan River. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 13,575. It is the retail and manufacturing center of a six-town area known informally as the Souhegan Valley.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

External links

History

Milford separated from neighboring Amherst in 1794. Like most towns named Milford in the United States, its name comes from the fact that it grew around a mill built on a ford - in this case on the Souhegan River.
Milford was once home to numerous granite quarries, which produced a stone that was used, among other things, to make the pillars for the Treasury building in Washington, D.C. - pillars that can still be seen on the American $10 bill. Its nickname remains "The Granite Town," although only one small quarry is in operation as of 2007.
Like many New England riverside towns, Milford developed several thriving textile mills in the 19th century. That industry left New England by World War II, but Milford remains the commercial and retail center for surrounding towns. Major employers included casting company Hitchiner Manufacturing Co. and metal cable manufacturer Hendrix Wire and Cable Inc.
Milford is home to the Milford State Fish Hatchery. The town also holds the Souhegan Valley Boys & Girls Club, built on the former home of the now-bankrupt private theater American Stage Festival.

Milford was a stop on the underground railroad for escaped slaves. It was also the home of Harriet E. Wilson, who published the semi-autobiographical novel ''Our Nig: Or, Sketches in the Life of a Free Black'' in 1859, making it the first novel by an African-American published in the country.
The Milford Oval, officially called Union Square even though it is triangular in shape (the "oval" name dates from the 19th century, when it was that shape), is the town center, with the Pillsbury Bandstand as its centerpiece and the Souhegan River as backdrop.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 65.5 km² (25.3 mi²). 65.3 km² (25.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water, comprising 0.24% of the town. Milford is drained by the Souhegan River. The town's highest point is near its western border, on the summit of ''Boynton Hill'' (814 feet / 248 meters above sea level).

Demographics

''This article describes the town of Milford as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available that describes the more densely populated central settlement within the town. See: Milford (CDP), New Hampshire''.

As of the census² of 2000, there were 13,575 people, 5,201 households, and 3,547 families residing in the town. The population density was 207.1/km² (536.5/mi²). There were 5,316 housing units at an average density of 81.4/km² (210.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.76% White, 0.90% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.
There were 5,201 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,343, and the median income for a family was $61,682. Males had a median income of $42,244 versus $28,220 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,425. About 3.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

External links

★ Milford, NH ''Official Website''

★ Milford Historical Society

★ Milford Public Library

★ The Cabinet - Current articles from Milford's local paper

★ Milford Fish Hatchery

★ New Hampshire State Page for Milford, NH

★ New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Community Profile