Live Webcam

Meredith, NH

Meredith, NH
Community Contact Town of Meredith
Carol Granfield, Town Manager
41 Main Street
Meredith, NH 03253
Telephone 279-4538
Fax (603) 677-1061
E-mail cgranfield@meredithnh.org
Web Site www.meredithnh.org/
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.
County Belknap
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council
Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1
Executive Council
 District 1
State Senate
 District 2
State Representative
 District 30
Incorporated: 1768
Origin: 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.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 881 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population growth in Meredith was below the statewide average rate over three of the last five decades. Decennial growth rates ranged from a four percent increase between 1980-1990 to a 60 percent increase between 1970-1980. Meredith's population increased by a total of 3,721 residents, going from 2,222 in 1950 to 5,943 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Meredith was 6,352 residents, which ranked 49th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 150.1 persons per square mile of land area. Meredith contains 40.3 square miles of land area and 14.2 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Bear Island, East Bear Island, Leavitt Park, Lovejoy Sands, Meredith Center

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen/Town Manager
2003 Annual Budget $9,881,032
Zoning Ordinance 1971/02
Master Plan 2002
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planner/Engineer/CEO

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

Public Library Meredith Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time Chief
Town Fire Insurance Rating 6/9
Emergency Medical Service Commercial

Nearest Hospital(s):
Lakes Region General, Laconia
Distance: 10 miles Staffed Beds: 106

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop.
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Meredith Water Dept.

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
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) $16.23
2003 Equalization Ratio 89.4
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $14.47

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 90.4%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 9.0%
Other Property including Utilities
 0.6%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 4,292
   
2002 Single-Family Units 3,570
Building Permits Issued
 42
2002 Multi-Family Units 446
Building Permits Issued
 0
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 276
   
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 6,352 60,356
2000 5,943 56,325
1990 4,837 49,216
1980 4,646 42,884
1970 2,904 32,367

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 2,938 Female 3,005

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 290
Age 5 to 19
 1,158
Age 20 to 34
 787
Age 35 to 54
 1,971
Age 55 to 64
 738
Age 65 and over
 999
Median Age
 42.5 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 89.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 30.3%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $24,867
Median 4-person family income $54,764
Median household income $42,758

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $35,766
Female
 $26,772

Families below the poverty level 4.2%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
 2,622 3,204
Employed
 2,465 3,112
Unemployed
 157 92
Unemployment Rate
 6.0% 2.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
 
Average Employment
 688 726
Average Weekly Wage
 $438 $782
 
 
Service Providing Industries
 
Average Employment
 1,606 1,935
Average Weekly Wage
 $330 $494
 
 
Total Private Industry
 
Average Employment
 2,294 2,661
Average Weekly Wage
 $362 $572
 
 
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
 
Average Employment
 266 374
Average Weekly Wage
 $501 $612
 
 
Total, Private plus Government
 
Average Employment
 2,560 3,035
Average Weekly Wage
 $377 $577
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Inter-Lakes Cooperative (Center Harbor, Meredith, Sandwich) District: SAU 2
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
 1 1 1 1
Grade Levels
 P K R 1-4 5-8 9-12 K-8
Total Enrollment
 410 419 406
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 3 Total Capacity: 173
Nearest Community/Technical College: Laconia
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Vutek Color ink machinery
300
1988
Meredith Village Savings Bank Banking
166
1869
Golden View Nursing home
125
 
Hampshire Hospitality Holdings Hospitality
100
1983
Meredith Harley Davidson Motorcycle retail, repair, service
67
1983
Remcom/North Corporation Machine electrical connectors
65
1983
Annalee Mobilite Dolls, Inc. Soft sculpture dolls
50
1962
Ippolito's Furniture Furniture sales
36
1978
Comstock Industries, Inc. Metals, plastics manufacturing
24
1979
Salmon Press Job printing, newspapers
17
1880

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes 3
  State Routes 25, 104
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 23
  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

57 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 58 miles
Portland, ME
 113 miles
Boston, MA
 108 miles
New York City, NY
 305 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 228 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 78.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 11.1%
Public transportation
 0.0%
Walked
 3.8%
Other Means
 0.6%
Worked at home
 6.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work 22 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
 40%
Commuting to another NH community
 56%
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

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
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer

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: Annalee Doll Museum; Scenic RR

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 10/25/04

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.