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Swanzey, NH

Swanzey, NH
Community Contact Town of Swanzey
Elizabeth Fox, Town Administrator
PO Box 10009, Town Hall
Swanzey, NH 03446-0009
Telephone 352-7411
Fax (603) 352-6250
E-mail efox@town.swanzey.nh.us
Web Site www.town.swanzey.nh.us
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 9 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 27
Incorporated: 1753
Origin: First granted in 1733 as Lower Ashuelot, this town was one of the fort towns established by Governor Belcher of Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1753, and named Swanzey at the suggestion of Governor Brenton of Rhode Island. The governor was a large land owner in Brenton's Farm, now Litchfield, and Swansea, Massachusetts, named for Swansea in Wales.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,157 residents in 1790
Population Trends: After a 29 percent increase between 1950-1960, Swanzey's population grew slightly below the statewide average rate. The smallest increase came between 1990-2000, when the population increased by nine percent. Over fifty years, Swanzey's population increased by a total of 3,994 residents, going from 2,806 in 1950 to 6,800 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Swanzey was 7,030 residents, which ranked 44th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 153.4 persons per square mile of land area. Swanzey contains 44.9 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: East Swanzey, West Swanzey, Westport, North Swanzey

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
2003 Annual Budget $8,352,663
Zoning Ordinance 1947/04
Master Plan 2003
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

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

Public Library Mt. Caesar Union; Stratton Free

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Volunteer
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s):
Cheshire Medical Center, Keene
Distance: 5 miles Staffed Beds: 146

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier North Swanzey Fire Precinct; West Swanzey Water Co.

Sanitation Private septic & Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
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
 Limited
Residential
 Limited

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $36.10
2003 Equalization Ratio 61.0
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $21.99

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 82.5%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 15.8%
Other Property including Utilities
 1.7%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 2,867
   
2002 Single-Family Units 2,099
Building Permits Issued
 21
2002 Multi-Family Units 493
Building Permits Issued
 0
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 275
   
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 7,030 75,965
2000 6,800 73,825
1990 6,236 70,121
1980 5,183 62,116
1970 4,254 52,364

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 3,354 Female 3,446

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 401
Age 5 to 19
 1,467
Age 20 to 34
 1,132
Age 35 to 54
 2,283
Age 55 to 64
 636
Age 65 and over
 881
Median Age
 38.4 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 83.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 20.6%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $20,150
Median 4-person family income $51,500
Median household income $44,819

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $32,421
Female
 $25,607

Families below the poverty level 3.0%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
 3,564 3,667
Employed
 3,403 3,562
Unemployed
 161 105
Unemployment Rate
 4.5% 2.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
 
Average Employment
 264 314
Average Weekly Wage
 $372 $602
 
 
Service Providing Industries
 
Average Employment
 554 858
Average Weekly Wage
 $359 $565
 
 
Total Private Industry
 
Average Employment
 818 1,172
Average Weekly Wage
 $363 $575
 
 
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
 
Average Employment
 376 705
Average Weekly Wage
 $486 $575
 
 
Total, Private plus Government
 
Average Employment
 1,195 1,877
Average Weekly Wage
 $402 $575
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Monadnock Regional (Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Richmond, Roxbury, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy) 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
 2 1 1 1
Grade Levels
 P K 1-6 7-8 9-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
 704 431 856
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 5 Total Capacity: 134
Nearest Community/Technical College: Claremont
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Keene State; Franklin Pierce; Antioch New England

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
William F Fenton Inc Automobile dealership 90 FT/25 PT 1985
Monadnock Regional School District Education 400 1962
Laidlaw Transit Bus transportation 100 2000
State of New Hampshire Dept. of Transportation and liquor store 92
Port-o-Lite Millwork 40 1952
Town of Swanzey Municipal services 30 FT/35 PT 1753

















TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes
  State Routes 10, 12, 32
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-91, Exit 3
  Distance 23 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Keene
Runway
     6,201 feet
Lighted?
 Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport
Manchester
Distance

60 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 61 miles
Portland, ME
 154 miles
Boston, MA
 95 miles
New York City, NY
 224 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 249 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 81.3%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 12.0%
Public transportation
 0.0%
Walked
 3.0%
Other Means
 0.2%
Worked at home
 3.5%
Mean Travel Time to Work 22.2 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
 19%
Commuting to another NH community
 74%
Commuting out-of-state
 7%
   
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks

YMCA/YWCA

Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses

Swimming: Indoor Facility

Swimming: Outdoor Facility

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

Bowling Facilities
X Museums

Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities

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

Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
   

Nearest Ski Area(s): Mount Ascutney (VT)
   

Other: Cheshire Fair; covered bridges

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/15/04

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.