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Winchester, NH

Winchester, NH
Community Contact Town of Winchester
Marjorie Austin, Town Clerk
1 Richmond Rd
Winchester, NH 03470
Telephone 239-6233
Fax (603) 239-4146
E-mail not available
Web Site www.keenenh.com/winchester
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
County Cheshire
Tourism Region Monadnock
Planning Commission Southwest Region
Regional Development Monadnock Economic Development Corp.
Election Districts
US Congress
 District 2
Executive Council
 District 5
State Senate
 District 10
State Representative
 District 26
Incorporated: 1733
Origin: Originally named Arlington, in honor of Charles Fitzroy, Earl of Arlington, this town was one of those established in 1733 as protection for the Massachusetts border at the Connecticut River. After becoming part of the New Hampshire province in 1741, the town was granted to Colonel Josiah Willard, commander of Fort Dummer. Following the wars, it was incorporated as Winchester, for Charles Paulet, Marquis of Winchester, third Duke of Bolton, and constable of the Tower of London.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,209 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Winchester's population grew below the statewide average rate over each of the last five decades. Decennial growth rates ranged from a one percent increase between 1950-1960 to a 21 percent increase between 1970-1980. Over fifty years, Winchester's population grew by a total of 1,756 residents, going from 2,388 in 1950 to 4,144 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Winchester was 4,258 residents, which ranked 86th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 76.7 persons per square mile of land area. Winchester contains 55.0 square miles of land area and 0.6 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Ashuelot, Camp Forest Lake, Curits Corner, Scotland

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
2004 Annual Budget $2,990,263
Zoning Ordinance 1971/03
Master Plan 1996
Capitol Improvement Plan No
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning/Zoning Boards

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

Public Library Conant Public; Thayer Public

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

Nearest Hospital(s):
Cheshire Medical Center, Keene
Distance: 12 miles Staffed Beds: 146

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Winchester Water Dept.

Sanitation Private septic & Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
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
 Yes
Residential
 Yes

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $35.67
2003 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $35.08

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 80.3%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 16.7%
Other Property including Utilities
 3.0%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 1,771
   
2002 Single-Family Units 1,137
Building Permits Issued
 13
2002 Multi-Family Units 315
Building Permits Issued
 2
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 319
   
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 4,258 75,965
2000 4,144 73,825
1990 4,038 70,121
1980 3,465 62,116
1970 2,869 52,364

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 2,038 Female 2,106

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 259
Age 5 to 19
 900
Age 20 to 34
 769
Age 35 to 54
 1,234
Age 55 to 64
 394
Age 65 and over
 588
Median Age
 37 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 78.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 12.9%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $16,012
Median 4-person family income $43,393
Median household income $37,364

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $30,399
Female
 $20,682

Families below the poverty level 10.0%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
 2,044 2,063
Employed
 1,900 1,974
Unemployed
 144 89
Unemployment Rate
 7.0% 4.3%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
 
Average Employment
 166 392
Average Weekly Wage
 $463 $494
 
 
Service Providing Industries
 
Average Employment
 270 334
Average Weekly Wage
 $245 $392
 
 
Total Private Industry
 
Average Employment
 436 725
Average Weekly Wage
 $328 $447
 
 
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
 
Average Employment
 173 51
Average Weekly Wage
 $361 $508
 
 
Total, Private plus Government
 
Average Employment
 609 777
Average Weekly Wage
 $337 $451
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Winchester operates grades K-12 District: SAU 38
Career Technology Center(s): Cheshire Ctr. of Applied Science; Fall Mountain HS Region: 13

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 1 1 1
Grade Levels
 P K R 1-5 6-8 9-12
Total Enrollment
 321 175 160
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 54
Nearest Community/Technical College: Claremont
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Keene State; Franklin Pierce; Antioch New England

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Kulick's Inc. Grocery store, mall 55 1909
Crestwoods Co. Lumber mill 50
Paper Service Company Paper mill 45
Winchester Roll Products, Inc. Pressure vessels 25 1984
Atlantic Paper Mills of NH, LLC Paper mill 23 1994
Town of Winchester Municipal services 22 1753
Plum Pak Packaging/Manufacturing 215-240 2000
RiteAid Drugstore
2000









TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes
  State Routes 10, 78, 119
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-91, Exit 3
  Distance 14 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Keene
Runway
     6,201 feet
Lighted?
 Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport
Worcester, MA
Distance

52 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 70 miles
Portland, ME
 163 miles
Boston, MA
 91 miles
New York City, NY
 200 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 259 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 82.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 11.5%
Public transportation
 0.8%
Walked
 1.6%
Other Means
 0.7%
Worked at home
 2.7%
Mean Travel Time to Work 27 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
 23%
Commuting to another NH community
 55%
Commuting out-of-state
 22%
   
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

Cinemas

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

Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing

Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
   

Nearest Ski Area(s): Mount Snow & Okemo, VT
   

Other: Covered bridges; Historical Society; Pisgah State Park; Forest Lake; Pickle Festival

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/23/04

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.