Belknap County (West side of Lake Winnipesaukee)
Tilton, NH
( 06/05/2006 1:41 PM )
A part of Sanbornton until 1869, this town was known as Sanbornton Bridge and Bridge Village. It was incorporated as Tilton, in honor of Nathaniel Tilton, whose grandson Charles was a prominent citizen of the town. Nathaniel established an iron foundry and the area's first hotel, the Dexter House. Charles donated many statues to the town, including the Tilton Arch, and his estate is now part of the Tilton School. Tilton includes the village of Lochmere.
Sanbornton, NH
( 06/05/2006 1:54 PM )
Granted in 1748, this town was named Sanborntown, after John Sanborn, a close friend of Governor Benning Wentworth. It was one of the first four towns to be given a charter by the Masonian Proprietors. The town was the site of the colonial army winter quarters during the Canada Expedition in 1746. Sanbornton includes the villages of North Sanbornton and Gaza, named for the biblical land.
New Hampton, NH
( 06/05/2006 1:56 PM )
Granted in 1765, this town was first named Moultonborough Addition, after Colonel Jonathan Moulton, who held the position of town moderator. In 1777, he renamed the town New Hampton, after his native home of Hampton, New Hampshire. The New Hampton School, established in 1821, is located in New Hampton.
Meredith, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:31 PM )
Meredith was first known as Palmer's Town, in honor of Samuel Palmer, a teacher of surveying and navigation, who had laid out much of the land surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee. One of the first towns to have a charter granted by the Masonian Proprietors, many new settlers were from Salem, Massachusetts, and the town was renamed New Salem. In 1768, the land was regranted and named after Sir William Meredith, who opposed taxation on the colonies.
Laconia, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:27 PM )
First explored in the 1620's, Laconia was for many years a part of Meredith and Gilford known as Meredith Bridge. Early explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain, in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada told of in Indian lore. These explorers were known as the Laconia Adventurers, Laconia being a region of ancient Greece. Incorporated as a city in 1893, Laconia includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. "Weirs" is the name of primitive fishing devices discovered at the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Gilmanton, NH
( 06/05/2006 1:59 PM )
First known as Gilmantown, the town was home to the Gilman family, of which there were 24 members receiving land grants. At one time it was the second-largest town in the state, following Portsmouth. The original town was larger than it is now, with villages and parishes including Belmont, Gunstock Parish (Gilford), Hurricane, Tioga, Factory Village, and Lakeport. A parish first called Averytown, the site of an unprofitable iron-mining enterprise, is still known as Gilmanton Iron Works.
Gilford, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:08 PM )
Once a part of Gilmanton called Gunstock Parish, the town was named for a key battle at the end of the revolution, the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina. Sargent Lemuel B. Mason, who had fought in that battle, had retired to Gunstock Parish. In 1812, he successfully proposed incorporation of a new town to be named Gilford. North Carolina's Guilford Court House has long since been renamed Martinsville. The original name is used by the Gunstock recreation area on Belknap Mountain.
Center Harbor, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:34 PM )
Center Harbor gets its name from two sources: from its location, centered between Meredith and Moultonborough Harbors, and also for the Senter family, who were owners of a large amount of property in the area. The town was a landing place for lake steamers and stagecoaches, making it a popular summer resort. Center Harbor was a favorite spot of John Greenleaf Whittier, and the home of Dudley Leavitt, author of the first Farmer's Almanac in 1797.
Belmont, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:02 PM )
First chartered in 1727 as a parish of Gilmanton, known as Upper Gilmanton. In 1859, the voters of the town petitioned to rename the town Belmont, to honor Mr. August Belmont, a New York financier, in hopes that he might make a financial contribution to the town. Mr. Belmont, however, never even bothered to acknowledge the act. The town borders Lake Winnisquam.
Barnstead, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:05 PM )
Granted in 1727, the town was established to deal with rapidly expanding population in the seacoast area. A majority of new settlers came from either Barnstable on Cape Cod or Hampstead on Long Island, and the town's name is a conjunction of the two. The town includes three villages, South Barnstead, Center Barnstead, and Barnstead; and is home to at least nine lakes and ponds.
Alton, NH
( 06/05/2006 2:36 PM )
Originally called New Durham Gore, because of Mount Major's rocky terrain, the town was settled by a group from Roxbury, Massachusetts. The name Roxbury had already been used, so the town was named for the Alton family. The town fronts Alton Bay, the southeastern point of Lake Winnipesaukee, and its 19.3 square miles of inland water area is the largest of any town in New Hampshire.