Chesterfield is a town in Cheshire
County
, New
Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 3,542 at the 2000
census.
It
includes the village of Spofford
. Chesterfield is home to Chesterfield Gorge
Natural Area, and parts of
Pisgah
State Park and Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest.
History
Street Scene c.
Granted in
1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of
Massachusetts
, this town was the site of "Fort Number 1," first
in the line of forts bordering the Connecticut River. After New Hampshire became a separate province, the town would be
incorporated in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Chesterfield," named
for Philip
Stanhope, 4th Earl of
Chesterfield. The town contains some of the finest
farmland in Cheshire County, yet once was home to small
manufacturing, notably
spinning wheel
parts and handtools.
In 1772, Philip Embury conducted the first
Methodist religious services in New Hampshire at
the James Robertson farm in Chesterfield, and in 1803,
Francis Asbury preached here.
Asbury Church
is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and is recognized for its historic puritan design. Asbury Church is considered
the "Mother Church of Methodism" in New Hampshire, and is the
oldest Methodist church in New Hampshire. The town has had
continual Methodist Sunday services for over 225 years.
Chesterfield Academy, established in 1794, was for decades one of
the most celebrated in the state.
Spofford Lake
is one of the region's largest and oldest
resorts. Chesterfield is the birthplace of former
Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone, born in 1872.
Geography
According to the
United
States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which
is land and (4.21%) is water. Chesterfield is bounded on the west
by the
Connecticut River. The
highest point in the town is near its southern border, atop Davis
Hill, at above
sea level. Chesterfield
lies fully within the
Connecticut
River watershed.
Demographics
Pine Grove Springs Hotel,
Spofford Lake, c.
As of the
census of 2000, there were 3,542
people, 1,366 households, and 1,005 families residing in the town.
The
population density was 77.7
people per square mile (30.0/km²). There were 1,632 housing units
at an average density of 35.8/sq mi (13.8/km²). The racial
makeup of the town was 97.80%
White, 0.23%
African American, 0.56%
Native American, 0.17%
Asian, 0.08% from
other races, and 1.16% from two
or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 0.56%
of the population.
There were 1,366 households out of which 32.7% had children under
the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were
married couples living together, 6.9% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families.
20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.01.
Old Cabin Home & Fairview
Cottage, Spofford Lake, in 1917
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age
of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to
64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was
40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,351, and the
median income for a family was $58,516. Males had a median income
of $44,087 versus $26,547 for females. The
per capita income for the town was
$25,051. About 4.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were
below the
poverty line, including 4.5%
of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
References
Sites of interest
External links
Wikis
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