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Laconia, NH

Laconia, NH
Community Contact City of Laconia
Eileen Cabanel, City Manager
45 Beacon Street East
Laconia, NH 03246
Telephone 527-1270
Fax (603) 527-1292
E-mail citymanager@city.laconia.nh.us
Web Site www.cityoflaconianh.org
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
County Belknap
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council
Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 1 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 4 (All Wards)
State Representative
 District 30 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1855
Origin: 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.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,806 residents in 1860
Population Trends: Laconia has grown very slowly over the last five decades. The city's 11 percent increase over the fifty-year period was the fifth lowest positive growth rate, with decennial growth ranging from a three percent decrease between 1960-1970 to a five percent increase between 1970-1980. Laconia grew by a total of 1,666 residents, going from 14,745 in 1950 to 16,411 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Laconia was 17,134 residents, which ranked 15th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 828.4 persons per square mile of land area. Laconia contains 20.1 square miles of land area and 6.0 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Interlaken Park, Lakeport, Pendleton Beach, Weirs Beach, Paugus Bay

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
2004 Annual Budget $43,850,196
Zoning Ordinance 1948/01
Master Plan 1992
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By City Planner

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 City Council; Police Commission
Appointed:
 Planning Board; Zoning Board; Library Trustees; Conservation Commission; Board of Assessors

Public Library Laconia Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 3/9
Emergency Medical Service Other

Nearest Hospital(s):
Lakes Region General, Laconia
Distance: Local Staffed Beds: 106

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop.
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Laconia Water Works

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Mandatory Recycling Program
 Voluntary

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

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $17.89
2003 Equalization Ratio 96.0
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $16.93

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 83.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 15.5%
Other Property including Utilities
 1.5%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 8,700
   
2002 Single-Family Units 4,826
Building Permits Issued
 60
2002 Multi-Family Units 3,610
Building Permits Issued
 4
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 264
   
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 17,134 60,356
2000 16,411 56,325
1990 15,743 49,216
1980 15,575 42,884
1970 14,888 32,367

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 7,969 Female 8,442

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 869
Age 5 to 19
 3,186
Age 20 to 34
 3,203
Age 35 to 54
 4,746
Age 55 to 64
 1,579
Age 65 and over
 2,828
Median Age
 38.8 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 81.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 19.6%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $19,540
Median 4-person family income $45,307
Median household income $37,796

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $31,714
Female
 $22,818

Families below the poverty level 7.5%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
 7,468 8,185
Employed
 6,889 7,862
Unemployed
 579 323
Unemployment Rate
 7.8% 3.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
 
Average Employment
 2,800 2,328
Average Weekly Wage
 $482 $750
 
 
Service Providing Industries
 
Average Employment
 6,337 6,748
Average Weekly Wage
 $382 $567
 
 
Total Private Industry
 
Average Employment
 9,137 9,075
Average Weekly Wage
 $412 $614
 
 
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
 
Average Employment
 1,156 1,596
Average Weekly Wage
 $505 $676
 
 
Total, Private plus Government
 
Average Employment
 10,293 10,672
Average Weekly Wage
 $423 $623
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Laconia operates grades K-12 District: SAU 30
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Tech Ctr.; Winnisquam Agricultural Ed Ctr. Region: 08

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 3 1 1 3
Grade Levels
 P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
 1,075 619 800
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 18 Total Capacity: 640
Nearest Community/Technical College: Laconia
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Aavid Engineering Corp. Semiconductor heat sinks 620 1966
NH Ball Bearings, Inc. Spherical bearings 478 1968
Lewis & Sanders, Inc. Metal tubular assemblies 130 1956
Wilcom Products, Inc Telecommunications test equipment 85
Baron Machine Co., Inc. Machine parts, heat treating 70 1957
Freudenberg-NOK Automotive seals
1999
Lakes Region General Hospital Medical Care














TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes 3
  State Routes 106, 107
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
  Distance 7 miles
Railroad State owned line
Public Transportation Yes
Nearest Airport Laconia
Runway
     5,286 feet
Lighted?
 Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport
Manchester
Distance

50 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 45 miles
Portland, ME
 109 miles
Boston, MA
 95 miles
New York City, NY
 292 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 242 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 78.9%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 12.1%
Public transportation
 0.8%
Walked
 3.7%
Other Means
 1.6%
Worked at home
 3.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work 21.3 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
 52%
Commuting to another NH community
 45%
Commuting out-of-state
 2%
   
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks

YMCA/YWCA

Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility

Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities

Museums
X Cinemas

Performing Arts Facilities
X 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
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
   

Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   

Other: Mount Washington Cruises; Weirs Beach; Scenic Railroad; Prescott Farm Audubon Center

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 07/09/04

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.